Effective Bible Teaching, 2nd Edition

James C. Wilhoit (Author), Leland Ryken (Author) Release Date: 9/1/12

Overview

Why does Bible study flourish in some churches and small groups and not in others? In this updated edition of a trusted classic, two Christian education specialists provide readers with the knowledge and methods needed to effectively communicate the message of the Bible. The book offers concrete guidance for mastering a biblical text, interpreting it, and applying its relevance to life. Its methods, which have been field-tested for twenty-five years, help pastors, teachers, and ministry students improve their classroom skills. Readers will learn how to develop the "big idea" of a passage and allow the text itself to suggest creative teaching methods. This new edition has been updated throughout and explores the changed landscape of Bible study over the past two decades. Readable and interdisciplinary in approach, this book will help a new generation of Bible students teach in a purposeful and unified way.

Part 1: Effective Teaching
1. The Changing Landscape of Bible Study
2. The Church's Unfinished Task
3. The Tasks of the Effective Teacher
4. The Teacher: The Human Element in Teaching
Part 2: The Methods of Effective Bible Teaching
5. Discovering Unity in Biblical Passages: The Genre and Structure of a Passage
6. Thematic Unity in Biblical Passages: Teaching the Big Idea
7. Bridging the Gap
8. Principles of Biblical Interpretation
9. Understanding the Methods of Inductive and Directed Bible Studies
10. Leading Inductive Bible Studies
Part 3: The Bible We Teach
11. What Kind of Book Is the Bible?
12. Types of Writing in the Bible
13. Teaching the Stories of the Bible
14. Teaching the Poetry of the Bible
15. Teaching Other Genres of the Bible
Indexes

Endorsements

"For a quarter of a century, Wilhoit and Ryken's Effective Bible Teaching has been a great resource for helping lay Bible teachers better understand how to study and teach God's Word in order to foster increased understanding, spiritual growth, and wholehearted obedience. In light of evidence pointing at the limited impact of the Bible in the lives of those who claim to love and follow Christ today, this update is a much-needed and welcomed resource. It should be read widely and used to shape and deepen the teaching of the Bible in a variety of settings including small groups and Sunday schools."

Kevin E. Lawson, director of graduate programs in Christian education studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; editor, Christian Education Journal

Praise for the First Edition

"From cover to cover, this book is packed full with bull's-eye analyses of what makes poor teaching and concrete action steps to successful teaching each time at bat. Watch out! This book will make 'The Yawner' an extinct species in your classroom."

Howard G. Hendricks, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Christian Education and Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary

Authors

James C. Wilhoit

James C. Wilhoit (PhD, Northwestern University) is emeritus professor of Christian education at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where he taught for over thirty-five years. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Effective Bible Teaching and Discovering Lectio Divina.

Leland Ryken