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Biblical Literacy for a Multi-Level Youth GroupContents Sample Whole-Group Lesson: Managing the Message“On-Ramp”: Description and Targeted Content for Direct Instruction“Scaffolding”: Examples of Different Biblical GenresBasic Biblical Literacy—Skills ListBasic Biblical Literacy—Background Knowledge List? Paige Britton 2017Permission granted to copy and alter materialpaige.britton@ Whole-Group Lesson: Managing the MessageMake the goal of biblical literacy a public one and a team project for your youth group. I would suggest even making this the theme of a whole-group lesson, so that you raise awareness of the importance of biblical literacy and foster concern among the youth for one another’s growth. (If it just doesn’t seem feasible to make this a whole-group lesson, given your YG situation, you could incorporate each element suggested below into different meetings.)Group Activity: Illustrate and promote the message with a lively activity that requires cooperation and interdependence. Wrap up this activity with readings from the Epistles about the church as a body with many parts that functions best when the parts are working together for each other’s good.Define biblical literacy for the students – “The skills and the background knowledge we need to make sense of the Bible.”Whole-group thinking activity: Help students understand that knowledge of the Bible falls on a spectrum of experience, from “little” to “more.” Nobody has “arrived” yet at perfect biblical literacy – we all have room to grow, including adults. Illustrate the range of biblical literacy by asking 4 questions of increasing difficulty.Teaching Note: With teens, you may just want to give them a moment to answer privately to themselves rather than saying their answers out loud. Or you could have everybody do thumbs up if they think it’s easy, thumbs down for hard. Share the answers to the questions after going through all four. Explain: This exercise shows that we each know the Bible to different degrees, depending on our experience with it. Some things will be easy for us, and there will always be some things that we haven’t learned yet. Everybody has room to grow.Explain: I’ll ask you four questions about the Bible. The first one I’d guess that everyone here knows (but a person who has had no contact with Christianity or the church may not know it); the second one most of you will know, based on your general experience reading the Bible; the third one only a few will know, maybe because you have studied this part of the Bible recently;and the fourth one only a person who has studied a lot and is ready to be a Bible teacher would know.Say: Think of (or write down) the answer to any of these if you know it (but don’t say it out loud): (I’m leaving it up to you to develop the specific questions that you think would work, but here’s the general idea of what they should contain:)(A question that almost anyone could answer, even with only a casual acquaintance with Christianity)(A question that requires some experience reading or hearing lessons on the narratives in the Bible)(A question that gets into basic material in the epistles)(A question that dives down into an obscure book, like Ecclesiastes or Hebrews or one of the minor prophets)Ask: Did any of these questions seem hard to you? Did any of them seem easy? (Give the answers.)POINT: these questions are only “easy” or “hard” depending on your experience with the Bible. As you grow in your biblical literacy, what once seemed a “hard” question may become an “easy” one. We all have the possibility of growth. (But of course we don’t all have to aim at pastor’s level of understanding – that really depends on our calling & purpose in the Body of Christ – back to the metaphor of the body & its members.)Summary: biblical literacy exists on a spectrum, so nobody has arrived at perfect understanding, and everybody can grow.Tools in the Toolkit: Biblical Literacy, or the tools we need to make sense of the Bible, is made up of lots of little pieces that we don’t even think about after a while. These are the “tools in our toolkit.”Large-group brainstorming: If you were part of a church as a child, what were the things you learned in Sunday school about the Bible that are second nature to you now? (Hint: imagine yourself teaching children about the Bible for the first time. What would they need to know in order to read it well and find things easily?)Possible answers: chapter and verse numbers, how to find things, names of the books and their order, the difference between OT & NT, names of famous people, famous stories, memorized verses, special vocabulary, geography, Jewish or Roman cultureThese are the tools in your toolkit! Sometimes one of your friends may need you to loan them a tool, or show them how to use it.Walking in Each Others’ Shoes: Remember that learning a new skill can be frustrating, especially if you’re a teen or adult.Partner activity: Interview each other using these questions. (Print the attached interview and distribute.) Jot down your partner’s responses. Then report back to the group about your partner, if you’re willing. What’s something you began to learn in the past couple of years? (for example, an instrument, a sport, or a language) How did it feel to be a beginner learning this new skill? Was it hard or easy to learn?Did you ever want to quit? Why? What motivated you to keep going, if you did?(As kids share, collect a list on the board of the emotions that people mention. Share your own story of difficult learning.)Wrap-up: (After kids share) We need to remember that this is what it’s like to learn new things – often emotionally frustrating.Whole-group discussion: How would it (how does it) feel for an older student to have to start from scratch with the Bible, in a youth group where it seems like everybody already got those early lessons? Imagine yourself having to deal with this. How would you want your youth group to treat you, and what would you want them to do for you, so you could keep up with everyone and not feel embarrassed for not knowing?Biblical illustrations: By the way, ALL of the people who got converted in the book of Acts had to do a lot of catch-up on their biblical literacy, and they were all adults. (This includes the Apostle Paul!!) The Gentiles especially had a lot to learn, because they didn’t even know the Jewish Bible (our OT). So remember that there is NO SHAME in having to learn this new skill as an older student. You’re just like those early Christians in Acts! What do you think motivated them to keep on going? (Elaborate on this as time permits.)Goals & Plans for our Biblical Literacy Project: (or whatever catchy name you devise!) Share with the students what you’re going to put into place:On-Ramp / Tutoring Time: (needs a name)Meeting at [place] every [day/time] for [no longer than 15 mins]A time for Q&A and learning or reviewing the basics of biblical literacy Open to everybody who wants to check their skills and grow (Maybe at a separate time:) Personally invite a few friendly kids to be tutors. [See attached for more info about this idea.] Biblical Literacy Boost: (Or you come up with a better name!)Whenever you’re in one of our Bible studies, you’ll hear about these details before the lesson begins (and ask for them if they aren’t given) – Vocabulary, History, Geography, and Bible Details – to help you make sense of what we’re studying. Partner InterviewWhat’s something you began to learn in the past couple of years? (for example: an instrument, a sport, a game, a language) How did it feel to be a beginner learning this new skill? Name some of the emotions you felt.Was it hard or easy to learn?Did you ever want to quit? Why? What motivated you to keep going, if you did?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Partner InterviewWhat’s something you began to learn in the past couple of years? (for example: an instrument, a sport, a game, a language) How did it feel to be a beginner learning this new skill? Name some of the emotions you felt.Was it hard or easy to learn?Did you ever want to quit? Why? What motivated you to keep going, if you did?On-Ramp: Direct Tutoring TimeOffer students a regular opportunity for some direct instruction in biblical literacy. Make it visible, energetic, brief, and friendly, perhaps a station to visit during free time at a large-group meeting. Target one specific skill to teach and practice (whether one-on-one as students stop by, or as a small gathered group). Review previous lessons, target vocabulary or other details from the day’s lesson, answer students’ questions.Recruit peer tutors and use this time to train them to pass along biblical literacy skills to friends, whether or not beginning students take advantage of this offering. Here are a few whimsical ideas that you might try during this time. Refer to the lists of Biblical Literacy Skills and Background Knowledge in this packet for more areas to target for direct instruction.Table of Contents – find it, notice OT & NT, have students mark down the groupings in their own Bibles (Books of Moses, Wisdom, Gospels, etc.) – maybe provide a poster as a guide; the goal here is to call attention to it and write those groupings in for future reference.Open it up – open Bible in the middle. What book? (Try a couple times. It’s usually Isaiah or Psalms.) What kind of book? (Check TOC) What are the next books? (prophets) What are the previous books? (Wisdom) Open last half of Bible halfway through: Gospels. A little before Gospels: Minor ProphetsJewish Holidays: following the Jewish calendar, provide food (this one will be popular!) and challenge students to locate specific references to the holiday in their Bibles, given Book, Chapter & Verse references. Explain a little of the historical context for the holiday.Drama: Retell a parable or other narrative, and have students prepare to act it out for the whole group.Memory Game: Make sets of paired people/things on index cards (e.g., husbands & wives; friends; people & towns; people & positions). Arrange them facedown on the table and challenge kids to locate matches of those that go together (e.g., Abraham/Sarah; David/Jonathan; David/Bethlehem; David/King).Chronology: Write major biblical events from redemptive history on index cards. Challenge kids to help each other to arrange these in order. Increase the number of cards included each time.Bible Book Order: Teach a song for memory, or target small sets of books and have students try to arrange index cards in the right order/recite the order from memory. Increase the number of books included each time.OT/NT: Use Bible trivia to help students distinguish between OT and NT books, characters, events, etc. Give each student a card with “OT / NT” written on it, and have them indicate which part of the Bible your statement or question describes. (Pause to give context if they get it wrong.)Map Quest: Use maps of Israel, NT World, and the Ancient Near East (one at a time). Target regions or cities that you want students to be familiar with, and challenge them to locate these places and maybe tell you what happened there. See my website photos of maps that I painted – utterly free for you to download and take to a copy shop. I like to get laminated placemat-sized copies on cardstock for small group Bible studies.Scaffolding: Examples of Different Biblical GenresWhen teaching any mixed-level Bible study, provide a list like the following so that students can be prepared with some tools for understanding before encountering the text. Briefly run over this list beforehand with everybody, and refer back to it as you encounter these details (especially vocabulary). The list should be displayed or printed out so that it’s visible for the whole lesson. The following are examples taken from different genres of biblical literature.Narrative: OT = Gen. 40 (Joseph in Jail)Vocabulary: cupbearerHistory: Ancient Egypt, PharaohsGeography: Egypt, Nile valleyBible Details: OT narrative, Abraham’s familyNarrative: NT = Mark 5:1-20 (Man of the Tombs)Vocabulary: (ESV) unclean spirit, tombs, shackles, adjure, LegionHistory: Roman Empire, Jews & Gentiles Geography: Galilee, Sea of Galilee, Gerasenes, DecapolisBible Details: NT Narrative, Gospel, exorcismParable = Mark 4:1-20 (The Sower)Vocabulary: (ESV) parable, sower, thirtyfold, perceive, tribulation, persecutionHistory: Jesus’ ministryGeography: GalileeBible Details: NT, GospelPoetry = Psalm 23Vocabulary: rod & staff, anoint Geography: BethlehemHistory: David, shepherdsBible Details: OT, Wisdom literature, PsalmsProphecy = Isaiah 53Vocabulary: (ESV) acquainted, esteemed, smitten, transgressions, iniquities, chastisement, shearersGeography: Israel, AssyriaHistory: ExileBible Details: OT, major prophet, prophecy Epistle = Eph. 6:10-20 (Armor of God)Vocabulary: (ESV) cosmic powers, withstand, breastplate, supplication, perseverance, ambassadorGeography: Mediterranean areaHistory: Apostle Paul, early church, Roman EmpireBible Details: NT, EpistleBasic Biblical Literacy – Skills List(Obviously this list isn’t exhaustive for adult-level biblical literacy, but it covers the basic things that youth might be expected to be able to do.)Table of contents: find it, mark down the groupings of books (e.g., 5 books of Moses, Wisdom Literature, Minor Prophets, Gospels, Epistles, etc.)Old Testament / New Testament: be able to articulate the difference and what kinds of books are found in each.Names of OT books & orderNames of NT books & orderChapter and Verse numbers: with lots of practice looking things up.General location in Bible: What’s in the middle? What’s near the middle? How to find the NT fast? What’s at either end?Genres: Narratives (what to expect, how to apply)Genres: Poetry (what to expect, how to apply)Genres: Parables (what to expect, how to apply)Genres: Epistles (what to expect, how to apply)Genres: Prophecy (what to expect, how to apply)Other Bible features (maps, concordance, footnotes, study notes)Basic Study Skills 1: when to read, how much to read, what to do (write, pray, etc.) – personal planningBasic Study Skills 2: How to find something specific in the Bible (using Table of Contents, concordance) – word or topic searches, find elusive verseBasic Study Skills 3: What steps to take when you don’t understand something – what can you do on your own? Who can you ask for help?Basic Biblical Literacy – Background Knowledge List(I’m assuming that these are still building years for ALL of your students’ theological understanding, so I’m just including the most basic things on this list. Even some of these items could be worth a review with your whole group, though!)10 CommandmentsIdentity and Works of JesusLoving sovereignty of God (Creator, Judge, Savior, Father)Sermon on the MountMajor OT Figures Major NT FiguresMajor OT Narratives (Some OT & NT narratives may be general knowledge, or kids may remember stories like Noah’s Ark from early childhood. Have them try to retell what they remember, and then compare their memories with the actual text.)Major NT NarrativesHigh points of redemptive history (Creation, Fall, Flood, Patriarchs, Exodus, Conquest, Monarchy, Split Kingdom, Exile, Jesus, Early Church)Well-known Parables (Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Sower, Lost Sheep, House on the Rock, etc.)Jewish cultural detailsTabernacle and TempleSacrificial system (vocabulary, rituals, people involved)Roman cultural detailsMaps: Ancient Near EastMaps: New Testament WorldMaps: PalestineImportant Messianic propheciesWell-known Psalms (23, 100, 139, etc.)World History (Geography, governments, travel, trade, military, major empires) ................
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