When someone does something to you, in word or deed, that really bothers you, what should you do? First, take the time to answer two questions. Was what was done motivated by kindness and not malice? Is there some truth in what was done that you need to take to heart? The New Testament book of James says, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and…
Conflict is one thing most of us hate. In fact, there are some people we would rather kill than have an open conflict with them. Isn’t that an extreme statement? Sadly, I think it is a true statement. We may not kill them physically, but we assassinate them in our heart and with our words to other people. William Blake, an 18th century English poet, wrote a poem that beautifully captures the process of unresolved…
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you have a wonderful day. I am thankful that Jesus, the Son of God became the Son of Man. Jesus became one of us and he shared in our joy and pain. He understands what it feels like to be tired, rejected, shamed, beaten, and unjustly accused. Every time Jesus was sinned against was an opportunity for him to respond in a sinful way, but he…
When you consider the magnificence of the natural world whether it be oceans, mountains, forests, fields, rivers or the stars, you may feel insignificant by comparison. However, remember you can see God’s greatest creation when you look at your spouse, children, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even when you look in the mirror. The psalmist expressed this same conflict of perspectives in Psalm 8. Psalm 8:3-8 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your…
Imagine that you are thirsty, your throat is parched, and your lips are brittle and bleeding. In fact, you are dying of thirst. You are surrounded by jars of fresh water, but you do not realize that water will quench your thirst and save your life. So you gorge yourself on salty pretzels and peanuts, hoping that they will satisfy. Sounds crazy doesn’t it, but that is how I envision Amos 8:11-12, if we apply…
Below is a fictional story that was inspired by a chapter in the Bible. Stories can be a great tool for Bible teachers to use to engage their students in active learning. Before you get to the end of the story, see if you can guess what Biblical event inspired this story The Jeremy Blinker Story Jeremy Blinker eased into his favorite chair to get ready to watch the game. Jeremy looked around his family…
John the Baptist preached repentance. Ordinary people were fascinated by John and his teaching. His listeners were not religious and many of them were far from God. John told them if they repented they would also do the deeds that reflected their repentance (Luke 3:8). So the people asked what they should do. John gave them very clear answers. Luke 3:11-14 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two…
After the Hebrew slaves came out of Egypt, God established his covenant through Moses with Israel. God gave Israel, The Ten Commandments and many other ordinances and statutes that formed the Law of Moses. However, even under the Law of Moses God expected his people to live by faith in him, and not in their ability to keep the law. The problem was that as a nation they did not have faith in God. So…
Challenging problems are one of a teacher’s best tools to spur student learning. You have many options for creating problem solving opportunities for your students such as using projects, case studies, fictional scenarios, and role plays. The goal is to create a learning activity that encourages your students to apply what they have learned and equally important, to identify where they lack understanding and skills. For eighteen years, I was a quality management consultant and…
This summer, I was scheduled to lead a Bible teacher’s workshop in Louisville, Kentucky at a local church. However, as with almost everyone’s plans in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to do things differently. We rescheduled the workshop for next spring and we’ll meet via Zoom. So now I have more time to work on my material! My contact at the church requested that the workshop include discussion on how to motivate teachers, parents,…