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Role of bible study tools
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I have bad experiences with many bible studies in which the leaders simply try to fit the text to some preconceived dogma, or as an exercise to demonstrate their superior knowledge via commentaries. This post aims to suggest the alternative usage of extra-biblical material in bible studies.
A manuscript study should inspire people to gain insight directly from
scriptures with as little outside influence as possible. The
experience of having God speak directly to them would inspire them
toward the reality and intimacy with God. The danger of having all the
extra commentary and biblical help right at the beginning is that
people would easily fall into the trap of relying on these
interpretations, and displace what God could have show them directly.
This would take away the excitement and passion generated for having
experienced God directly.
That is not to say there is no place for the resources.
My hope is that people would have a first hand experience first, and use the resources later as "comparing notes with others".
For
the same reasoning, I would encourage the leaders not to use outside
resources in the primary part of preparation. This would allow them to
discover scripture on same footing as the participants, and thus convey
the same passion and excitement for any discovery. Only when
everything is done would the leader be allowed to look at the resources
and "check your answers" or have a second opinion. If the leader had
relied solely on resources to prepare the study, the participants will
invariable get the idea that bible studies are simply academic
exercises of reading more commentaries, rather than personal discovery
of the Living God.
I eat my own cooking: It is with the above opinion that I
approach the bible, and everyone of my encounters is filled with gems of
discovery. Because of this I am prompted to start so many websites to
share different aspects of discovery. I hope that others will benefit
the same way (or more) as my personal experiences with the Living Word. |
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