{"id":3680,"date":"2023-04-01T06:43:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T11:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educationalrenaissance.com\/?p=3680"},"modified":"2023-05-06T10:18:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T15:18:14","slug":"teaching-a-narration-based-bible-lesson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educationalrenaissance.com\/2023\/04\/01\/teaching-a-narration-based-bible-lesson\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching a Narration-Based Bible Lesson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cChild,\u201d said Aslan, in a gentler voice than he had yet used, \u201cperhaps you do not see quite as well as you think. But the first step is to remember. Repeat to me, in order, the four signs.\u201d <\/p>\nThe Silver Chair <\/em>by C.S. Lewis<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Teaching a Bible lesson can be a teacher\u2019s most intimidating class of the day. On the one hand, the biblical text is probably quite familiar, leading to great confidence. But on the other hand, the weight of the responsibility\u2013teaching truths from the Word of God to children\u2013can be overwhelming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One cannot help but think of Jesus\u2019 caution in the Gospel of Matthew: \u201cWhoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea\u201d (Matthew 18:6). Or, consider the warning from James\u2019 letter: \u201cNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness\u201d (James 3:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible is clear that teaching is a high office, and that teaching children is especially weighty. When it comes to teaching the Bible itself<\/a>, teachers ought to take special care that their lessons are reverent, edifying, and biblically supportive. One way they can do so is through the teaching tool of narration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I will offer four types of emphasis a teacher can make when designing a Bible lesson and then walk through how a teacher can use narration to cultivate reverence for holy scripture in students and unlock opportunities for students to encounter biblical truth for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Emphases of a Bible Lesson<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, there are four general types of emphasis a teacher can take when designing a Bible lesson. These four are: Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Spiritual Formation, and Discipleship. It is worth pointing out that these emphases are not mutually exclusive, and there is overlap between the categories. But as a teacher plans a Bible lesson, my encouragement is to choose one or two of the emphases rather than try to cover all four every time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are brief descriptions of each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biblical Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The purpose of a lesson focused on biblical studies is to help a student grow in his or her understanding of how to uncover the original meaning of a text, what biblical scholars<\/a> call exegesis. The tools at hands are word studies, historical-cultural backgrounds, literary elements, and more. These lessons will elevate a student\u2019s biblical literacy and enable them to approach the biblical text with care for what the author was originally trying to communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theological Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A theology-focused Bible lesson moves at a quicker pace through the exegetical work of biblical studies in order to lead students to reflect theologically on the passage. What does the text teach or imply about our understanding of God, creation, and humanity? These lessons may underscore classical doctrines like God\u2019s triune nature and the hypostatic union of Christ. Or they may broaden a student\u2019s canonical understanding of scripture<\/a>: how all the books of the Bible fit within a single narrative of God\u2019s providential action throughout history.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Formation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A lesson with spiritual formation aims is interested in helping shape a student\u2019s spiritual life and relationship with God. As God granted young King Solomon with a discerning mind<\/a> (literally a \u201chearing heart\u201d), this approach to scripture develops in students a a sensitivity to the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. Through discussions on the character of God and prayerful readings of scripture (e.g. lectio divina), teachers can help foster an intimacy with their Heavenly Father. We want students to know God personally, not simply know about Him propositionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discipleship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, a Bible lesson with a discipleship emphasis focuses on the practical application of being a follower of Jesus. To be a disciple is to be a student, sitting under the instruction of a teacher. For Christians, our teacher is Jesus himself and we are called to submit our lives to His instruction and authority. Christian discipleship is, therefore, the goal of putting all of life\u2019s challenges, doubts, decisions, and relationships under the lordship of Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you know which emphasis or emphases to use when teaching a Bible lesson? It primarily depends on the biblical passage the class is studying. Some passages require more biblical studies setup in order for students to understand the original meaning of the text. Others lend themselves more toward the practical application aims of discipleship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondarily, it depends on the sort of balance you aim to strike as a teacher. As you create your pacing chart for the year and map out units of lesson plans, analyze the frequency of the four emphases. If you notice that you tend to focus on the practical, balance out your plans with a word study or theological discussion. If you can feel that your lessons have been overly academic, create a lesson in which students reflect in a prayerful reflection exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elements of a Narration-Based Bible Lesson<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With these four emphases of a Bible lesson in mind, let us now examine how we might teach a Bible lesson using narration. As Jason here at Educational Renaissance puts it in A Classical Guide to Narration<\/a><\/em> (Circe Institute, 2020), narration, simply put, is “a teaching practice in which students are asked to communicate back the substance of content they have learned” (11). It has two core components: the exposure of students to content and the students’ narration of that content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a teacher commits to teaching the Bible using narration, she ought to include some core elements. These elements can be found in Charlotte Mason’s writings, especially in Part 5<\/a> of Home Education<\/em>, as well as in other places<\/a>. In what follows, I will distill the core elements of using narration when teaching Bible based on Charlotte Mason’s writings and my experience using the tool myself in the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text in the Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first element of a narration-based Bible lesson is to keep the text in the center. So often in education today, lessons are child-centered (what does the child want to learn?) or teacher-centered (what do I want to teach?). But a narration-based lesson is ultimately about the text. What does the text say and how can I help my students walk away with a greater understanding of what it means? Additionally, how can my students walk away with an affinity toward the text in a way they previously did not? In order for narration to be used, both teacher and student most approach the text with an attitude of reverence and willingness to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Strategic Setup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one plans a text-centered, narration-based Bible lesson, the next key element to consider is how to prepare students to narrate the text as fluently as possibly. This will vary greatly depending on the biblical passage being studied. As I prepare to teach a Bible lesson, I often ask myself, \u201cWhat road blocks do I anticipate might get in the way of a student narrating smoothly?\u201d Here the emphasis on biblical studies described above can be helpful. As biblical scholars will tell you, there is distance<\/em> between the Bible, as a collection of ancient documents, and our 21st century vantage point. In order to bridge the gap, consider these questions as you plan your pre-narration setup:<\/p>\n\n\n\n