Training Day Curriculum - Ministry Exchange (MX)

Training day
Training Day is a midyear training event designed to equip students to lead
themselves, nonChristians and small groups in Bible discussions. Self
admittedly this training is limited and a mere shadow of the quality
provided students during a summer week long camp. We expect Training Day
to work optimally for community colleges establishing new leaders for the
spring semester and universities looking to inspire potential leaders. The
development of this version was greatly enhanced by the resources provided
by Evan Keller.

Training Day is divided into three sections

1. Bible Study- this section allows students to experience a model Bible discussion in small groups which is then debriefed and referenced during the training. A short but specifically model Bible study should be performed during this section. (40 min) 2. EDR Lab- this section breaks down the EDR method of Bible discussions giving students a chance to plan their own Bible study. Each phase begins with a definition, accompanied with principles, solidified with a quiz, followed by TIPs on leading this phase and ending with an exercise in planning a Bible discussion. (90-100 min) 3. Motivation- this short section attempts to motivate students to take their next step towards leadership hoping many choose to lead Bible discussions on campus. It is wise for the staff to have specific applications with varying levels of commitment. (i.e. go to a conference, help BSL prepare for small group, attend leadership meetings, bring cookies to outreach, led a Bible study in the Spring, etc.) (10-15 min)

bible study Do a short bible discussion for an illustration to dissect

2 Timothy 2:1-7 or 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

intro EDR
(this part can be shortened or deleted depending on time)
What did you notice about the Bible study method.the way it was done?

We just completed a Bible Study that followed:
EDR phases and describe each phase-1) Encounter, 2) Discern, 3) Respond

1. What do you think may be challenging about leading a Bible study this

way?
2. What do you anticipate will be fun about leading a study this way?

Typical Bible study: top down method (hierarchal), bit controlling, too
analytical, sometimes misses where group is at, less open to Spirit leading

Fits a Modern audience
Post Modern campuses: Communal bible discussions- “we’re in it together.”

the Phases

Encounter

Let me define an Encounter Exercise: An encounter exercise is an
interesting approach to a passage that helps a small group get into it and
see clues that point to the central message of the text. (PP)

Ask yourself: (PP)
Will my encounter exercise help the group see things in the passage that
are important to its central message?
Will it drive them deeper into the passage or into personal speculation?

Here are some more example encounter exercises for the Bible study we just
finished. (PP)

In small groups: “Why is this phase helpful?”

Principles for e:

1. The goal of your encounter exercise is to get your group to take a hard look at what’s going on and to experience it personally. 2. When choosing an encounter exercise, the primary goal is not to be fun and creative, but to pick the exercise that will best match your passage.

Common Mistakes:

. Choosing exercise that leads people to think about the ideas in passage rather than the passage itself (listening to a love song before studying 1 Cor 13) . Sharing how past experiences relate to passage are good for community but don’t help people see the text is saying.

Illus. Group looking at passage but not experiencing it or having fun but
not looking at passage.

Quiz (PP)
Ok now that you guys are all experts on Encountering I have a quiz for you.

Tips (give these throughout or after quiz)

– “What do you see? What jumps out at you?” helps to open people up if
they are shy – While preparing on own make a list of top 5 key observations that are
essential to understanding text. – Giving students a mission, “find all the verbs related to Jesus” – make a list of Character traits for the different characters
These are tips depending on whether you’re leading a GIG or BS: (optional)
GIGs BS
You also give your input (be excited) give them time (silence
is not always bad)
One-on-one – pretend it’s not your Bible study if looking
down or thoughtful.good
Don’t worry if every detail isn’t exposed Exercise- small groups

Individually study passage for 5 minutes and write a one sentence summary
statement for the central message of this text.decide as a small group
which statement you agree on.
In Small Groups list 20 observations in 2 minutes for selected passage.
Narrow down the list of 20 to 5-8 key observations
Find 2-4 encounter modes ideas for selected passage

Point out encounter ideas page in packet.

Matthew 4

18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-for they
were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish
for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he
went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his
brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,
and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and
followed him.

Discern
Discern what God means to communicate to your group by giving meaning to
what you observe in the passage. (PP)
After a jury hears all the evidence, they begin piece it together and come
to some conclusions. Start this most critical step by asking your group to
share their observations and questions, then look to the text to answer the
key questions.

Ask yourself:
Will my discern question help the group wrestle with the passage’s central
message?
Or will it generate discussion on incidental or unrelated ideas? (PP)

Show other examples of Bible study just finished (PP)

In Small Groups- What do you think may be challenging about leading
questions this way?

Principles for d

1. The leader must anticipate the group’s questions but allow group to form their own. 2. Ask questions that lead the group into a deeper understanding of the text. You don’t have to cover every single truth in the passage, but address the questions that help the group discover and wrestle with the main truths.
3. At the end of the discern step, sum up what God has been saying to your group through the passage. Why is this important?

Summing up is important because it brings focus to an often scattered
discussion, tying the loose threads into something they can hold onto.
Crystallizing what you hope they’ll take away from the study leads right
into the respond step – giving them a strong word – a truth capsule – to
respond to.

Asking Good Questions:
Refer to bookmarks given to students
(Optional to teach.may also refer to it during quiz)

Asking Good Questions- group’s in it together! Ask: – Have students share the questions that have come to their minds as they entered the text (write down individually, pairs, whole group) – Specific/open-ended (effective question checklist on bookmark) may have to reword ?’s Examples: Does Jesus touch the leper? Why does Jesus touch the leper? Selecting: Key Questions – Leader/group finds questions that lead to deeper understanding of text – Leader must know the text well (already has a list of top 5 questions prepared) – Leader asks ?s, assign questions to whole group, invite pairs to ask group which questions to use Answer: (don’t like pairs to answer questions, breaks group up.not
community) – Focus on text – Use commentary – Leader must anticipate most questions

Quiz (PP)
Now that you’re an expert in discerning I have another quiz for you.

Tips (give these throughout or after quiz) 1. Don’t try to work through too many questions, maybe 4-7 discern questions. You wanna go deep without going forever or being rushed. 2. Give example ?’s for group 3. If someone gets away from text/quotes pastor – “Where do you see that in the text?” 4. If group doesn’t come up with questions then you read off leader’s prepared 5 key questions

These are tips depending on whether you’re leading a GIG or BS: (optional)
GIGs BS
You also give your input too (be excited) give them time
(silence is not always bad)
One-on-one – be vulnerable if looking down or
thoughtful.good
May have to answer own question Don’t always pair up!
(becomes repetitive)
“What do you think? Have you ever felt like ___?”

Exercise-

Come up with 20 questions for selected passage

Refine the list of 20 to 5-8 Key Questions
Respond
In the respond step, lead your group to respond to what you’ve heard God
saying to them in the discussion. When God speaks, we must respond. (PP)

Ask yourself: (PP)

1. Will my respond question help the group respond to the central message of the passage? 2. Will it help them form responses that are personal and specific?

Show examples of respond questions for Bible study just finished. (PP)

Principles for r

1. Be changed by Jesus 2. Since the study is a communal discovery, the leader cannot be certain ahead of time of exactly what the group will discover. Must listen to Holy Spirit. prepared to suggest several different potential applications. 3. Collection of three to four potential application ideas based on prior study of the text.

Quiz
Now that you can respond to scripture here’s your last quiz.

Exercise-

Develop 3-5 responses for selected passage

Tips (give these throughout or after quiz)
Share your own application of the passage
Personal contemplative (sometimes have to share.sometimes not)
Write on back of manuscript
“How would your week have been different if you applied this passage?”
“How does this affect how we reach out on campus?”

These are tips depending on whether you’re leading a GIG or BS: (optional)
GIGs BS
Share the gospel! Go in circle to encourage them
to share
Give them spiritual activity (pray, read __) Communal
applications: feeding poor, prayer walk..
“What is your next step in relationship w/Jesus

motivation
God’s Word is LIVING.
Your goal is to hear from Jesus through His Word and through your group.
Expect Him to speak!

God is speaking, and when he speaks, from creation to the present, things
change
Taking nonfollowers and making them followers
Followers and making them leaders
Leaders and making them world changers

Which was it for you tonight?
Nonfollower to Follower
Will some of you awaken your heart to God’s Word, allow it to speak to you,
allow Jesus to call you away from your nets to a life of radical following.

Is he calling you to sit daily before his Word

Follower to Leader
Maybe you’ve been following but now God is calling you to “fish for men”.to
step up and lead others to the one who has the words of eternal life.

Is he calling you to begin attending leadership meetings Is he calling you to go to Spring Conference Is he calling you to meet regularly with your BSL, learning and helping them prepare for small group?

Leader to WorldChanger
Maybe you’ve been a leader, but now God is raising you up to become a
leader of leaders. An equipper of those who will follow in your footsteps,
calling you to leave a legacy for the next generation of students on this
campus.

Is he calling you to mentor someone in your Bible study? Is he calling you to delivering the Word beyond the campus to the workplace wherever he might place you, to begin lunchtime Bible discussions.