This syllabus is ONLY intended as a sample. All information contained within is
subject to change the next time this course is offered.
Teaching and Bible Study Methods
Urshan Graduate School of Theology
“All Scripture is…useful for teaching…so that the [person] of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)
“It was he who gave some to be…teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service”
(Ephesians 4:11-12, NIV)
“We proclaim Him…teaching everyone…so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ”
(Colossians 1:28, NIV)
BI603
June 9-13, 2008
Jeffrey Brickle, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
James Littles, Professor of Practical Theology
Office Phone: 314-921-9290 Office Hours: by appointment
Course Description: The primary purpose of this team-taught course is to help students become
more engaging and effective instructors who are well-equipped to teach in any setting to any
sociological group. The course will lay a biblical foundation for teaching, develop a philosophy
of teaching/learning, explore various Bible study methods, including the use of software
programs, aid in constructing age-appropriate curricula, and explore creative ways to enhance
classroom dynamics.
Course Objectives: This course has the following objectives:
1. To exegete the biblical text and biblical world with teaching in mind.
2. To exegete the teaching context in a way that attends to globalism and diversity
represented in the contemporary world.
3. To articulate a personal philosophy of education in the church.
4. To articulate a personal philosophy of the educator.
5. To determine information needs for various biblical teaching contexts, distinguishing
those of the audience from those of the instructor. In addition, students will be able to
evaluate the quality and effectiveness of resources in light of Christian values,
individual perspectives, and philosophical and cultural trends.
Course Requirements:
1. The course will abide by the policies set forth in the 2007-2008 UGST Student and
Degree Handbook. Note in particular the sections on “Academic Standards,”
“Attendance,” and “Classroom Courtesy.” Attendance and punctuality are required
for on-campus students. Please make every effort to be consistently on-time for every
class. If an emergency arises and you will be late or absent, please notify the
appropriate instructor as soon as possible. After 3 hours of missed sessions, a
student’s grade will be penalized; after 6 hours, a student will receive a failing grade.
2. Overall success in this course demands staying engaged during class sessions.
Laptops are certainly welcome in class, but students will not be permitted during class
time to engage in non-course related activities such as web surfing, checking email or
working on out-of-class assignments.
3. Students will be expected to stay current with all assignments (see below) and adhere
to all assigned deadlines. Lectures and discussions will presuppose completion of the
assigned reading and writing requirements. Late written assignments will be assessed
a 2 percentage points-per-day penalty. Because of scheduling constraints, late oral
presentations will not be accepted. Late final projects will not be accepted after June
24.
Grading Components:
1. Apostolic CE Aims
Revised Draft 15%
2. Story-Linking
Outline 5%
Class Presentation 25%
3. Audience Context
Case Study 15%
4. Approaches to Teaching
Responses to Roncace/Gray 15%
5. Final Project 25%
Required Course Texts:
1. Habermas, Ronald. Teaching for Reconciliation: Foundations and Practice of Christian
Educational Ministry, revised 10th anniversary edition. Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf & Stock,
2001. ISBN: 1579108202
2. Wimberly, Anne E. Streaty. Soul Stories: African American Christian Education, revised
edition. Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 068749432X
3. Roncace, Mark and Patrick Gray, editors. Teaching the Bible: Practical Strategies for
Classroom Instruction. Atlanta, Ga.: Society of Biblical Literature, 2005. ISBN:
1589831713
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Pre-Seminar Assignments: Please see the separate document entitled, “Pre Seminar Reading
and Writing Assignments.” In summary, students are expected to have on hand the first day of
class the following documents based on their research and critical responses to assigned readings:
(1) a 3-5 page double-spaced draft of their understanding of Apostolic CE aims (see 1.b); (2) a
lesson outline in draft form in preparation for the class presentation (2.d); (3) an audience context
analysis case study consisting of 3-5 double-spaced pages (3.a-d); and (4) written responses to
Roncace/Gray, consisting of 3-6 double-spaced pages total (4.b).
In-Class Assignments: During our seminar, discussions, group work (including preparation time
in the library Wednesday afternoon), and consultations will encourage and offer opportunities to
revise drafts of pre-seminar assignments, all of which will become part of each student’s final
portfolio packet. In particular, each student will (1) turn in a revised version of their aims for
Apostolic CE by the end of the last day of class; and (2) give a 35 minute contextually-based oral
presentation, followed by 15-20 minutes of follow-up discussion, on Friday, June 13. In
addition, although not explicitly stated in “Pre Seminar Reading and Writing Assignments,”
students have the option of revising their (1) audience context analysis case study and (2)
responses to the Roncace and Gray readings and submitting these by the end of the last class
session.
Final Project: The final project, which is due no later than midnight, Monday July 14, will
consist of EITHER (1) a contextually-based teaching session, made available to the instructors
on DVD or youtube, approximately 35 minutes in length, before a minimum of 5 people. This
session will entail a different method and different genre from the oral presentation given in
class. OR, if option #1 is unfeasible, (2) two detailed lesson plans for #1 above. Option #1 is to
be preferred over #2; the latter option should be pursued only if #1 is not possible.
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TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Class begins at 8:00 a.m., Monday, June 9. Lunch breaks are held daily from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The following guest speakers have agreed to give one-hour presentations on age-appropriate
learning methods: Dale Harrah (children); Nathaniel Binion (youth); Raymond Crownover
(adults); and Rudy Theissen (seniors). The exact schedules are to be determined, but these
presentations will be slotted in during our class sessions from Monday through Thursday.
Monday:
8:00 – 8:30 Lectio Divina: Littles
8:30 – 11:00 Course introduction and syllabus overview: Brickle
11:00 - Noon Goals and assessment: Littles
1:30 – 5:30 Biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations of education: Brickle
Tuesday:
8:00 – 8:30 Lectio Divina: Littles
8:30 – Noon Educational ministry foundations (Habermas, Part 1)
1:30 – 5:30 Story-linking (Wimberly)
6:00 - ? Social
Wednesday:
8:00 – 8:30 Lectio Divina: Brickle
8:30 – Noon Demographics: Brickle
1:30 – 4:30 Group work in library: preparation for presentations
4:30 – 5:30 Group consultation: Brickle
Thursday:
8:00 – 8:30 Lectio Divina: Brickle
8:30 – 11:30 Bible Study Methods: Brickle
11:30 – Noon Group 1 consultation: Brickle
1:30 – 2:00 Group 2 consultation: Brickle
2:00 – 5:30 Teaching Methods (Roncace/Gray): Brickle
Friday:
8:00 – 8:30 Lectio Divina: Brickle
8:30 – Noon Student presentations
1:30 – 5:00 Student presentations
5:00 – 5:30 Conclusion
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