But of what we
see and hear, we remember fifty percent. We remember seventy percent of what we
say, and ninety percent of what we say if we also do what we are talking about.
(I have forgotten the source of the chart, but have seen this kind of thing
several times.)
For example,
after Bible class ends, would you be more likely to remember a comment or
question you made, or would you remember as well the same question or comment
if someone else made it?
The purpose of
this lesson is to consider the importance of personal participation and
involvement in Bible teaching.
*****************************************************
We learn more
when we do things, say things, answer questions, and use our physical senses to
be actively involved in the learning process. Understanding this principle
should help us as Bible teachers and as Bible students.
Bible Examples
>>>>>>>>>
Consider specific
examples. Would the lesson have been learned as well if someone simply stated
the lesson to the student, or was it more effective because the learner was
actively involved?
Old Testament
Examples
===============
Genesis 22:1-19 –
Abraham and Isaac: God told Abraham to take Isaac to a mountain, build an
altar, bind Isaac, and slay him (verses 1,2). Abraham demonstrated his fear for
God because he would not withhold Isaac. If God had simply said, "Abraham,
you should love Me more than you love Isaac," would Abraham have
remembered the lesson as well?
Genesis 41;
Daniel 2 – Dreams: God sent a dream to inform Pharaoh of seven years of plenty
then seven years of famine. Joseph interpreted the dream and was made governor.
God sent Nebuchadnezzar a dream of a statue, which Daniel interpreted to
describe four world kingdoms and then God’s kingdom. So Nebuchadnezzar honored
God and promoted Daniel. Would the lessons have been as effective if Joseph and
Daniel just spoke to the rulers without the dreams?
Exodus 12 (note
verses 25-27) – The Passover: Each Israelite family was commanded to kill a
sheep and sprinkle the blood on the door posts and the lintel. Did God need
this to know which houses to skip? It was a teaching tool. Each year this was
repeated as a means of teaching future generations.
Exodus 14:21-31 –
Crossing the Red Sea: God parted the waters and Israel walked through on dry
ground. When Pharaoh’s army attempted to do so, the waters collapsed and
drowned them. Then the people believed in God and in Moses (verses 29-31).
Leviticus
23:39-43 – Feast of Booths: All Israelites should live in temporary dwellings
for seven days as a reminder that God provided for them when He brought them
out of Egypt.
Leviticus 4:27-29
– Sin offerings: When people committed sin, they must bring an animal, lay
hands on it, and kill it. Then the priest would offer it as a sacrifice.
2 Samuel 12:1-7 –
Nathan’s rebuke of David: Nathan told a story that motivated David to reach a
verdict and declare a punishment. Nathan then applied the verdict to David
himself.
Jonah 1,2 –
Jonah: God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh. He refused and fled by ship. God
sent a tempest so Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish.
After three days, the fish vomited Jonah on dry land. Then Jonah went and
preached to Nineveh. If someone just told Jonah he should go preach to Nineveh,
would Jonah have learned the lesson as well?
New Testament
Examples
======================
Matthew 14:15-21
– Feeding of the five thousand: When disciples asked about food for the
multitude, Jesus told them to feed them. He took a boys’ lunch and had the
disciples distribute food to the people. Who would remember this event better:
people who just heard about it or the people who were personally involved?
Matthew 17:24-27
– Paying the temple tax: When Peter asked about the temple tax, Jesus had Peter
catch a fish, find money in its mouth, then go pay the tax. Would Peter have
learned as much and remembered as well if Jesus just said He would go pay the
tax?
Luke 5:1-11 –
Call of apostles: When Jesus told the disciples to let down their nets, they
had a great catch where there had been no fish before. Jesus then called them
to follow Him and become fishers of men. If He had just told them to teach
other people His message but without having them catch the fish, would they
have learned the lesson as effectively?
John 11 – Raising
of Lazarus: Jesus told the people to take away the stone (verse 39). After He
raised Lazarus, He told the people to remove the grave clothes and set Lazarus
free (verse 44). Why did He not miraculously roll the stone back and remove the
grave clothes Himself? He expected the people to do what they could do for
themselves.
John 20:27,28 –
Doubting Thomas: Hearing that Jesus was alive was not enough for Thomas. Jesus
had him put his finger in the holes in his hands and put his hand in His side.
Thomas then confessed that Jesus is Lord and God. Would Thomas remember the
lesson?
Matthew 16:15-18;
Luke 20:2-7 – Questions: Scripture records multitudes of examples in which
Jesus or other faithful teachers involved their students by asking questions.
This is just a
few of many examples in which Jesus and other Bible teachers illustrate the
value of involving students in the learning process. When you watch, you see
instance after instance.
Why is this?
Consider how you have learned important lessons. Mothers teach their daughters
how to cook by having them work with them in the kitchen. Fathers teach their
sons how to fix the car by having them work on the car with them. Why do it
this way?
The more physical
senses are involved in the learning process and the more we actually do, the
more we must use our minds. When our minds become engaged, we think a lesson
through. This leads us to understand and remember. We remember what we say and
do more than we remember what others say and do.
Lessons and
Applications
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
First, we should
avoid mistaken or even dangerous conclusions.
Bible examples of
teaching sometimes did consist simply of speaking a message, as in the Sermon
on the Mount. So do not dismiss the value of teaching even if it uses little
participation.
Also, as with
other activities in service to God, some people are naturally more skilled than
others. So do not expect everyone to teach with the same level of ability as
others.
This also means
that some (not all) of the suggestions we will make are just suggestions – not
all this is a matter of right and wrong.
However, since
these are Biblical principles, each of us should work diligently to improve and
develop the abilities we have, as in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25).
Lessons for
Teachers
=============
Plan your
teaching to involve students in active participation.
*************************************************
Do not leave the
students’ participation up to chance. Deliberately plan ahead what activities
you will use to teach important lessons. Have students do whatever they can
Scripturally and profitably do. Use your ingenuity.
Try not to do any
activity or answer any question yourself, if you can get a student to do it.
Use activities
that reinforce what is true and worthwhile.
**********************************************
Good teaching
principles are sometimes used to reinforce what is false or unimportant.
A group of
teenagers was asked what they remembered most from their earliest days of
attending Bible class. The most common answer was: gluing cotton wool on
pictures of paper sheep! They remembered the activity but do they remember the
spiritual lesson?
The goal is not
simply involvement for its own sake. Teaching activities should not just
involve students, but should lead them to learn and remember worthwhile Bible
truths.
Use effective
visual aids.
********************
We remember
twenty percent of what we hear, but fifty percent of what we see and hear. So
if students can see the main point as we say it, they learn and remember
better.
This can be done,
not just in a class, but in preaching.
Students will
remember words they see, but an effective picture is better. But better yet are
objects students can handle or activities that they can do. People remember
only fifty percent of what they see and hear but ninety percent of what they
say and do.
Give students
appropriate assignments to help them prepare for studies.
*****************************************************
Homework should
not be just busywork to give people something to do. Good homework involves the
student in the learning process. Good assignments require students to look up
Scriptures, use their minds to think and search for answers, then write answers
down.
All this requires
the student to be active in the learning process. Activities and discussions in
class should not just review the homework, but should build on what the student
has learned at home. The goal is involvement that helps students learn and
remember Bible teaching.
Have students
state what they have learned.
************************************
The students
remember only twenty percent of what you say but seventy percent of what they
say. So, as you discuss a lesson, let the students state what the Bible teaches
so they remember it. Ask the students to tell you the story or explain the
answers to the questions.
When we as
teachers have spent hours preparing material, the natural tendency is to want
to expound to the students what we have learned. We may think we can state the
material better than they can. But students learn more if we lead them to the
truth, then let them tell us what they learned. Then we can reinforce the truth
by our additional explanations.
Use lots of good
questions.
**********************
Perhaps the
easiest way to involve students is by asking good questions. The Bible is
loaded with examples. When a question is asked, immediately minds become
engaged: wheels begin to turn. Then, when a student answers the question, he is
saying what he has learned. Which means he will remember it seventy percent of
the time.
What if students
are not in the position to speak up, as in preaching? How about the use of
rhetorical questions? Just asking the question challenges minds to become
active. You find this done repeatedly in Scripture.
Asking good
questions is a skill every teacher needs to develop. I challenge you as
teachers to make a deliberate planned effort to improve your ability to ask
questions.
Lessons for
Students
=============
Do these
principles apply only to teachers? What about the students? Understanding these
principles can help any student learn more from any Bible study opportunity.
Attend every
study opportunity the church offers and arrive on time.
*****************************************************
The church offers
learning opportunities, but you only learn if you are involved. And if you come
late or leave early, you miss some benefit. So if at all possible, be here and
be on time.
Stay awake and
pay attention.
*************************
The more actively
you are involved, the more you learn. Obviously, you are more involved if you
are listening and paying attention. The more you let your mind wander, the less
you learn.
Some people say
they can close their eyes or think about other things and still learn. But the
more passive you are, the less you learn. You learn more when you focus and
stay actively.
Prepare ahead of
time for the study.
******************************
If the teacher
gives homework assignments, come prepared. Even without homework, if you know
what subject will be discussed, read and study ahead of time.
Come prepared to
make comments or ask questions.
Remember, the
more actively you are involved, the more you learn.
Participate in
discussion periods.
**************************
Make good
comments and ask good questions.
If the teacher or
other students ask questions, challenge yourself to think of answers.
Do not monopolize
the discussion, since that takes away other people’s opportunities.
But do not just
sit back and let other people participate. Be an active student.
Look up
Scriptures and make notes.
*****************************
As the teacher or
preacher turns to read a passage, you find it too in your Bible and read along.
Make notes about points that are especially worth remembering.
Applying these
principles will help you learn more no matter who the teacher is. If you think
a teacher could improve, consider first what you can do to improve your
learning.
If you understand
that active participation leads to better learning, then become an active
participant!
Lessons for Church
Activities
==================
Church activities
are designed to encourage active participation.
****************************************************
1 Corinthians
10:16,17 – The Lord's Supper requires active participation. We do not just
listen to words that remind us of Jesus’ death, but "we all" – all
Christians everywhere around the world participate.
1 Corinthians
16:2 – Giving requires each of us to lay by in store. Could God finance the
work of the church without us? Of course! But giving teaches us important
lessons.
Ephesians 5:19 –
Singing actively involves us in teaching and praise. We speak one to another.
This is an advantage of congregational singing over choirs, quartets, and
instrumental music. Instead of simply sitting and being entertained, every
member should participate.
2 Timothy 2:24 –
Teaching requires a servant of the Lord to learn to teach others. We have
different degrees of ability, but all should develop their ability to the full.
Could God spread the gospel without us? Yes, but active involvement in teaching
helps us learn. The person who learns the most is always the teacher. One
reason is that he is the most actively involved.
2 Thessalonians
3:14,15 – Church discipline involves participation. We do not just tell a
person he is in error, we refuse to have social companionship with him. We hope
this will teach him his error, and will warn all other members to avoid the sin
that he committed.
When we
understand the value of active participation, then we will appreciate our need
to participate in all the activities of the local church to the extent of our
ability and opportunity.
Church activities
should involve as many as possible according to their ability.
*****************************************************
Sometimes people
think those who are the most experienced or the most talented should lead most
of the teaching, prayers, singing, classes, etc. We may think they do the best
job so people learn most. So sometimes one person has several leadership duties
in the same assembly: make announcements and lead singing or lead singing and
lead prayer, etc.
But we have
learned that people learn and grow best when they are actively involved.
Instead of having one person lead in several ways, while other people have no
leadership responsibility at all, we should involve as many as we can according
to their ability.
Understanding the
value of participation should lead us to assign work activities to involve as
many people as we can. Spread the workload! When we do, more work is
accomplished.
Lessons from Life
Experiences
==================
Interestingly, God
uses the principle of active involvement to teach us important lessons in life.
Sometimes we learn and remember lessons best in this way.
Obedience and
service
*******************
Hebrews 5:8 –
Though Jesus was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Because Jesus personally experienced obedience, He is better able to help us
with the problems we experience. (Hebrews 2:18)
James 1:22 – But
be doers of the word, and not hearers only...
God requires a
life of active participation and involvement in works of service. Many
important lessons are best learned only by personal involvement. We remember
just twenty percent of what we hear but ninety percent of what we say and do.
When people deny
the need for obedience, among other things they have failed to appreciate the
principle of learning by active involvement.
Chastisement and
suffering
**********************
Job 42:5 – Job
said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees
You." Though Job was righteous, God allowed Satan to cause him great
suffering. As a result, Job learned that, even when he suffered, he should
trust God and not doubt or criticize Him. Would he have learned the lesson as
well if someone just said this? (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Hebrews 12:11 –
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it.
We may sometimes
wonder why God allows us to suffer as we do in this life. One reason is that,
like Job, we learn important lessons about life when we personally participate.
God uses life
experiences to teach us to understand and appreciate truths more fully than we
could ever have learned by someone simply telling us.
Conclusion
=======
Many of the most
important lessons that we learn require active participation and personal
involvement. Perhaps the most important lesson is that God requires us to
personally devote our lives to His service in order to receive eternal life.
You and I can be saved only if we are willing to dedicate our lives to actively
involvement in faithful obedience and service to Him. Are you willing to make
that sacrifice with your life?
(c) Copyright
David E. Pratte, 2017 You are free to keep copies of this material on computer and/or in printed form for your own further study. If you have any other requests about the use of this material, please read our copyright guidelines at www.gospelway.com/copyrite.htm.
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