Comments on: Do I Really Know Me? http://amchurchadultdiscipleship.net/archives/233 A Place for Thirsty Souls Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:43:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brian http://amchurchadultdiscipleship.net/archives/233/comment-page-1#comment-307 Brian Wed, 20 May 2009 13:57:01 +0000 http://amchurchadultdiscipleship.net/?p=233#comment-307 Most Bible classes focus on acquiring knowledge, rather than spiritual transformation. Typically, the teacher approaches the subject matter from an academic standpoint and tries to lay out all the history, background, and proof-texts associated with the topic, OR it quickly descends into basic reminders of the same essential "truths" we've learned since childhood (God is love, Jesus died for our sins, we need to be good, etc...). We rarely focus on HOW to undergo spiritual transformation and honestly analyze and share how much or little the Spirit is moving within our lives. I don't want to sound too negative, but the teacher almost always gets more out of the class than the participants. Much of our religious approach in the Church of Christ has emphasized knowledge acquisition and not inner transformation - until that changes the Bible classes, sermons, and small group gatherings won't do a lot for widespread transformation. Most Bible classes focus on acquiring knowledge, rather than spiritual transformation. Typically, the teacher approaches the subject matter from an academic standpoint and tries to lay out all the history, background, and proof-texts associated with the topic, OR it quickly descends into basic reminders of the same essential “truths” we’ve learned since childhood (God is love, Jesus died for our sins, we need to be good, etc…). We rarely focus on HOW to undergo spiritual transformation and honestly analyze and share how much or little the Spirit is moving within our lives. I don’t want to sound too negative, but the teacher almost always gets more out of the class than the participants. Much of our religious approach in the Church of Christ has emphasized knowledge acquisition and not inner transformation – until that changes the Bible classes, sermons, and small group gatherings won’t do a lot for widespread transformation.

]]> By: Cynthia Fish http://amchurchadultdiscipleship.net/archives/233/comment-page-1#comment-299 Cynthia Fish Sat, 02 May 2009 14:04:45 +0000 http://amchurchadultdiscipleship.net/?p=233#comment-299 Yes, I agree that people are pretty guarded in public; however in a bible class setting it only takes a few people sharing honestly about their ideas, thoughts, and struggles to thaw out a frozen class. Some people are only attending out of obligation or guilt, some attend out of a sincere desire to learn, some are mature in the Lord, while some are immature. Bible class isn't like a math or history class - but yet we treat it like one. That's why people claim that it doesn't change lives. The term Bible class links it to school study in our minds. I know that changing the name isn't going to change the perception (it's too ingrained in us to call it bible class) - it's going to take a few people honestly sharing out loud in a class to get people to really pay attention and be more introspective. Perhaps that introspection will bring about a commitment to change behavior. Well, that and maybe homework assignments.(wink) Yes, I agree that people are pretty guarded in public; however in a bible class setting it only takes a few people sharing honestly about their ideas, thoughts, and struggles to thaw out a frozen class. Some people are only attending out of obligation or guilt, some attend out of a sincere desire to learn, some are mature in the Lord, while some are immature. Bible class isn’t like a math or history class – but yet we treat it like one. That’s why people claim that it doesn’t change lives. The term Bible class links it to school study in our minds. I know that changing the name isn’t going to change the perception (it’s too ingrained in us to call it bible class) – it’s going to take a few people honestly sharing out loud in a class to get people to really pay attention and be more introspective. Perhaps that introspection will bring about a commitment to change behavior.

Well, that and maybe homework assignments.(wink)

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