Applying the Bible in Sunday School

I have learned, as a teacher, that I need to do three things as I present a Sunday school

lesson.

1. Explanation. I need to explain God’s Word and help the students discover the truths of the Scriptures.
2. Illustration. I need to help the students understand the concepts by giving visual illustrations, telling stories, eliciting stories from the class or using examples to illustrate the truth being presented.
3. Application. The teacher must help the student with the “so what?” question. What does this truth have to do with me? Why should I believe this and what should I do as a result of this teaching.

Bible application is sometimes left out of a Bible lesson and the lesson is incomplete unless the students have gained a feel for the “so what” of the passage.

Many, if not most, curriculum plans have a section of application that usually follows the explanation and illustration sections of the teaching plans. It may be a set of questions for reflection, an activity to draw out discussion or a small group discussion time to reflect and apply the truths.

A resource I love to use is the Life Application Bible, which is published by Tyndale House. Take a look at a couple of paragraphs of their introduction to the “Life Application Bible. ”

“What, then, is application? Application begins by knowing and understanding God’s Word and its timeless truths. But you cannot stop there. If you do, God’s Word may not change your life, and it may become dull, difficult, tedious, and tiring. A good application focuses the truth of God’s Word, shows the reader what to do about what is being read, and motivates the reader to respond to what God is teaching. All three are essential to application.”

“Application is putting into practice what we already know (see Mk 4:24 and Heb 5:14) and answering the question, “So what?” by confronting us with the right questions and motivating us to take action (see 1Jn 2:5,6 and Jas 2:17). Application is deeply personal—unique for each individual. It is making a relevant truth a personal truth, and involves developing

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a strategy and action plan to live your life in harmony with the Bible. It is the Biblical “how to” of life.”

So as you teach the Bible in Sunday school, be sure you don’t skip over the application section of the lesson.

• Ask good questions.
• Ask for stories and examples of the Bible truths being applied in the lives of your students.
• Give action-oriented tips and suggestions for application.
• Follow up with your students and help them discover actions to apply the Bible to their lives.
• Don’t let the end of the class session come around until you have tried to do a little Bible application each Sunday.

______________________

By Richard Nations, Church Health Team Leader, Baptist Convention of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa.

Quoted from “Why the Life Application Study Bible is Unique.” Life Application® Notes and Bible Helps. Published by Laridian Bible Software. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Copyright 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.