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Preface

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2).

Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this hope in mind, The Bible Teachers Guide (BTG) series was created. The series includes both expositional and topical studies, resources to help teachers preparing to lead small groups or give sermons, or simply for an individual’s devotional study.

We based each lesson around the hermeneutical principle that the original authors wrote in a similar manner as we do today—with the intention of being understood. Each paragraph and chapter of Scripture centers around one main thought often called the Big Idea. After finding the Big Idea for each passage studied, readers will discover the Big Question, which will lead the small group through the entire gamut of the text. Alongside the Big Question, notice the added hermeneutical questions such as Observation Questions, Interpretation Questions, and Application Questions. Observation questions point out pivotal aspects of the text. Interpretation questions lead us into understanding what the text means through looking at the context or other Scripture. Application questions lead us to life principles coming out of the text. Not all questions will be used, but they have been given to help guide the teacher in the preparation of his own lesson.

The purpose of this guide is to make the preparation of the teacher easier, as many commentaries and sermons contributed to the development of each lesson. After meditating on the Scripture text and the lesson, the small group leader can follow the suggested teaching outline, if preferred:

  1. Introduce the text and present the big question in the beginning of the study.
  2. Allow several minutes for the members to search out answers from within the text, questions, or ways God spoke to them.
  3. Then facilitate the discussion of the findings and lead the group along through observation, interpretation, and application questions provided in the guide.

The leader may prefer to teach the lesson, in part or in whole, and then give application questions. The leader can also choose to use a “study group” method of facilitation, where each member prepares beforehand and shares teaching responsibility (see Appendices 1 and 2). Some leaders may find it most effective first to corporately read each main section in a lesson, then to follow with a brief discussion of the topic and an application question.

Again, The Bible Teachers Guide can be used as a manual to follow in teaching, a resource to use in preparation for teaching, or simply as an expositional devotional to enrich one’s own study. I pray that the Lord may bless your study, preparation, and teaching, and that in all of it you will find the fruit of the Holy Spirit abounding in your own life and in the lives of those you instruct.

Copyright © 2015 Gregory Brown

The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added [by the author].
Published by BTG Publishing all rights reserved.
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