Danville Enlightener

VOL. VIII, No. 3

January 21, 2007

Why Have Bible Classes

Why have Bible classes? is a question every congregation must ask itself. For years now brethren have debated whether there was scriptural authority for organized Bible classes such as we have here at Danville. The debate was especially intense during the first half of the twentieth-century.  In parts of the country where I have preached this issue was still alive, therefore I was compelled to thoroughly study this matter. After such studies I became fully persuaded that the “Bible Class Arrangement” of teaching is scriptural.

In the Scriptures one will find specific commands and generic commands. Those who oppose organized Bible classes demand specific authority for the practice. This is a mistake because everyone will readily admit that there is no specific authority for classes. However, there is generic authority in the Scriptures for Bible classes. For example, Jesus authorized us to teach in the great commission (Matt 28:18-20). The Bible says to “teach” and this falls under a generic command. Therefore one could teach or preach by the use of an overhead projector, PowerPoint presentation, radio, or in a Bible class arrangement. Thus, classes are authorized by means of generic authority and this makes them as scriptural as if there was specific authority.

Establishing Bible authority for classes, however, is not the objective of this article. This is written to force us to consider something more than simply determining whether classes are authorized, and that is “Why have them?”

Often Bible classes are simply mediums for having round-table discussions. The “teacher” becomes the moderator and the class becomes a forum. And if someone in the class wishes to move the discussion off the text, fine. Success is measured, not by how much Bible is actually taught, but by how much discussion there was. I believe discussion in class is important,  but  I believe there must be more than simply

discussions; teachers must teach. When Jesus said “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20), he meant what he said: TEACH. That is, teach the commands of the Lord; the Bible. Bible classes ought to be about teaching the Bible.

Ezra was an excellent teacher of God’s word. He, along with others, set out to teach the commands of God to those working in Jerusalem after the captivity. Consider what these teachers did; “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading,” (Neh 8:8).

These teachers taught! They read the text and helped the people understand that text. This does not eliminate discussion, instead it enhances it.

In addition to the text in Nehemiah consider Jesus who is the master teacher. One illustration of the Lord’s teaching skills is found in Lk 10 when he addresses the matter of eternal life. A lawyer had asked Jesus: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk 10:25). Jesus did three things every teacher of the Bible ought to do. (1) He gave Bible facts, (2) He helped the man understand those facts, and (3) he then encouraged the man to apply those understood facts. Let us consider all three.

GIVING BIBLE FACTS (Lk 10:26). In response to the man’s question Jesus asked him: “What is written in the law?” This was directing the man to the Bible (Deut 6:5 & Lev 19:18) that was then quoted in verse 27. Every Bible class teacher must begin with the Bible. It does not make any difference what age is being taught, use the Bible. Do not use in class “Bible story books,” or commentaries – use the Bible. Your focus must be on Scripture or that focus is misdirected.

Next we find Jesus assisting the man to UNDERSTAND THOSE FACTS Lk 10:26 – “What is your reading of it?” Jesus did not eliminate discussion, instead he encouraged it, but that discussion was predicated upon the Scriptures. Bible teachers must help students (children or adults) think correctly about the text. Jesus is not asking the man “What does the passage mean to you?” Instead, Jesus is trying to help him understand what God means by the verses under discussion.

Then we find the Master Teacher encouraging the man to APPLY what he now understands Lk 10:37 – “Go and do likewise.” In order to help in this Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan and then told this man to practice what he now knows to be truth. Every Bible class teacher, regardless of class or age being taught, must encourage students to apply what has been learned.

If these are not being done, if teachers are not imparting Bible facts, helping students to understand those facts and encouraging behavioral changes, then the teacher has not taught. The “teacher” could’ve conducted the class without the students.

Without doubt there is Bible authority to use the class arrangement, but this does not answer the question, “Why have Bible classes?” This must be answered by every teacher who enters a class; “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment,” (Jas 3:1).

-- jrb

"As I See It"

Here we go again. Norman Timberlake should be dead but he isn’t. Timberlake is a convicted murderer who was scheduled to die by lethal injection last Friday (Jan 19) but the Indiana Supreme Court stopped the cop killer’s execution. Instead of paying for his horrendous crime, he will probably be watching the Colts and Patriots this evening.

Timberlake was convicted of the 1993 murder of an Indiana state trooper, Michael Greene, during a traffic stop along I-65 after Greene arrested a friend of Timberlake’s. Unlike what Timberlake gave Officer Greene, he received a fair trial and was found guilty of murder.  Appeal after appeal was filed and rejected during which time he has been supported for 14-years. Recently, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended that Governor Mitch Daniels deny clemency to the convicted killer. But that didn’t prevent the Indiana Supreme Court from obstructing justice.

Their decision was based upon a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1986 that banned executions of the mentally retarded. Now, low-and-behold, some court-appointed psychiatrist has determined Timberlake suffers from active and chronic paranoid schizophrenia. The court found that even though Timberlake understands he is being executed, he suffers from “diminished capacities” and therefore should not be executed. PULEEZE!

I don’t care what Amnesty International says, I could care less what some psychiatrist determined and I do not become the least bit squeamish when it is suggested that this condemned man might sense a little pain when the needle is inserted. When Timberlake decided to kill another human being he forfeited his right to continue living upon this earth.

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God he made man,” (Gen 9:6). I’m sure he does not want to die, but the moment that Norman Timberlake put a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun to the chest of Officer Greene, a husband and father, and pulled the trigger (the gun was so close it left burns on the Trooper’s chest through his uniform), he gave up his right to life. Michael Greene bled to death while heroic efforts to save his life failed. Now, Timberlake has a sudden respect for the sanctity of life.

AS I SEE IT, putting killers like Norman Timberlake to death is the will of God and the state of Indiana is wrong in not carrying out his execution.