Drs. Watson and Kelly cover the topic and goals of the recent Bible Teaching Conference held in January 2025.
Several special guest join us and introduce their topics of teaching at the Bible Teaching Conference 2025: Gospel-Centered Teaching. If you are interested in any of these topics, below are the resources mentioned in this episode if you would like to engage further!
It is important for teachers to model how to study the Bible and to help learners construct their own understanding, rather than just delivering information to students.
Teaching Old Testament law in a modern context can be a challenge. Drs. Kelly and Watson emphasize the importance of understanding the broader principles behind the laws, such as holiness and purity, rather than focusing solely on specific commands. The 10 Commandments reflect God's character and the ethical life He intended for His people. The law should be seen as a guide to becoming the kind of people God desires, not just a set of rules to follow.
People often carry the faith of their childhood with them throughout the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is very important to teach children to know and love God, and parents and teachers play a huge role in that. Drs. Kelly and Watson stress the need for authentic, lived-out faith rather than just adherence to rules. Their conversation underscores the transformative power of personal faith and the role of community in fostering spiritual growth, particularly in the context of family and educational settings.
How to help people read the Bible on an emotional level to enhance their reading of the Truth.
The Old Testament can sometimes seem a little intimidating. We often read Paul's words and he frequently quotes the Old Testament, but for some it can be hard to seeing God in the OT as loving. However, it is absolutely essential that we study and teach the Old Testament because it provides the history and context for our brokenness and the depth of healing Jesus brings.
Walk through the process of translating the Bible, the complicated task of bringing across complete concepts into a new language and culture. There is a lot you need to know about context and linguistic ranges of meaning. Why are accurate translations important and how does it relate to you teaching others about the Bible?
Jesus often taught in parables, and his parables are rich in truth for Bible teachers. However, teaching the parables can have some challenges. Some approach parables allegorically, expecting every element of the story to have a spiritual application. This can be problematic because the parable becomes hard to interpret. Some approach teaching the parables in a word by word, line by line, or verse by verse style looking for various points from the story. This often misses the point of the parable. Interpreting a parable takes work, often the context of the time gives essential information in finding the point of the story.
In this episode of The Bible Teaching Podcast, Dr. Kelly and Dr. Watson focus on a few passages in the book of Micah and the themes relating to God's presence, transformation, and teaching methodologies. Micah teaches about the importance of heart sincerity over mere adherence to religious rituals. Teaching should aim to facilitate a deeper relational understanding of God rather than just imparting knowledge or behavioral modifications.
In this episode, Dr. Gregg Watson and Dr. Paul Kelly talk about understanding scripture within the broader context. They emphasize the importance of grasping the big picture before delving into the details, dissecting every verse can sometimes obscure the author's intended message. Using the analogy of the armor of God from Ephesians, they illustrate how each piece contributes to the larger theme of spiritual warfare and the necessity of prayer in facing spiritual challenges.
In this episode of The Bible Teaching Podcast, Dr. Watson and Dr. Kelly emphasize the need to delve into the historical and cultural context of the Biblical text, consider the ancient language and the specific circumstances for which it was written. It can be dangerous to quickly skip over important details in the text. Theology should grow out of the text rather than precede it, spend time meditating on and interacting with the text to gain a deeper understanding.
In this episode of the Bible Teaching Podcast, Dr. Watson and Dr. Kelly talk about the challenges of approaching questions related to God's chosen people and their mission. Using the book of Jonah as an example, they explore the concept of 'chosenness' and highlight the need to align one's perspective with God's intention for reconciliation with a broken world. God's grace extends to unexpected places, like Nineveh, and it's important that we also have empathy and compassion for all people.
You can not teach every kind of book the same way. Different teaching methods for different kinds of literature.
The format should drive the content and the structure of your lectures. Poetry uses symbolism, imagery, and hyperbole to evoke responses. You can't find straightforward theological statement like you can in Narratives. Narratives are God’s Revelation to humans, but Lamentations, for example, are human's response back to God. The way you teach poetry needs to be different.
What does it mean to teach and why do we do it? Jesus taught by providing a broad narrative and then asking people; how do you live this story out in your lives? Is this the way we should teach the Bible too?
Do you know the difference between teaching and preaching? Preaching is helping people to understand the Bible and think of application for themselves. Teaching is looking for learning to happen, not just reciting what's been read. But Christians today have a hard time articulating faith beyond an emotional level.
Humans so often and easily forget God, that God continually uses leaders, prophets, and judges to remind us of who God is. Teaching can help people not only know about God but to know God. After all, who Jesus is and what He does is why we have the Bible and why we must teach it.
We need to understand and accept the foundation of the Bible gives us before we create our own application. Application is important but you need a deep understanding of the text first before you teach the passage. Knowledge and application are essential to a good Bible study but it's difficult jumping to application too quickly without spending time in the Word first.
