Comments on: Question: How Do I . . .

By: Matt Horne

Matt Horne — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:12:01 +0000

Thanks for the ideas! We do have some Bibles in our room, but part of me feels like they know we have them, so they don’t bring theirs. We actively use them, searching the scriptures for the answers to questions we pose.

Erick, I totally agree. I am worried that since they don’t bring them to church, they don’t crack them at home during the week.

I’ve pretty much decided that I’m going to bribe them. I’m going to set out a plan for the summer, so that if they have a quiet time and read some of their Bibles every day for however many days, they’ll get to go to the special party we plan (Six Flags for free?) and will be entered for a door prize or two (like an iPod or whatever) when they get to the party.

I know that if they spend a month or two in the word every day, that they’ll fall in love with it (and God, because he wrote the thing).

By: Theresa McMichen

Theresa McMichen — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:36:15 +0000

We are struggling with that right now. However, I have found that the more I ask them all to open their Bibles and use them, the more likely they are to bring them! I try to do what I am asking them to do. If they don’t have one, I get up and get one from the back until everyone has one. They are catching on! If they forget them, some of them will go to the back and pick one up before class!!

By: Erick C

Erick C — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:32:27 +0000

You should first figure out if they actually own a Bible. If not, then talk to the parents about getting one, and let them know which Bible would work for them. You can also buy one yourself as a personal gift to a student.

Note: Make sure to get the right version (preferably the one you teach from) and one that the student likes (both inside and out). Comments, notes, or articles can help, but too many “Teen Bibles” have so much color and corny “extras” that I find students don’t like carrying it.

If students don’t bring one, don’t make it that big of a deal. You shouldn’t expect the uncommitted to bring one. It’s like trying to get students to stop watching a tv show or talking a certain way. The change on the outside has to come from an inner transformation. And if you ask them where their Bibles are, encourage honest answers (like “I didn’t want to bring it” or “I don’t care) instead of accepting “I forgot” (unless that’s the truth).

Some other thoughts:
** It’s nice to have a class set (again, of the version you use) so that students and visitors can follow along.
** Try having a class that actually introduces and explains the Bible to students. Talk about the different OT and NT genres (Law, History, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospel, Epistle) and the order it’s in. You can also include information about its date and how it came to be the way we have it today. Finally, include the different translation philosophies and explain why we have different versions today. Maybe knowing more about the Bible can get them interested in reading or bringing it.
** If you ask students to read in class, some students may not bring a Bible because they don’t want to read out loud. Things tend to go smoother when you read and others can follow along, either in their own Bible, a borrowed one, or on a screen.

The bottom line is that you want them to want to bring their bibles, but you can’t make them bring a Bible. Assume that if they don’t bring their Bible to church, then they don’t read it during the week. Their growing desire for learning God’s word on their own will only come with their growing desire for knowing Christ. That’s what your focus should be.