The Art of Teaching the Bible

Book was in great shape. Haven't had a chance to read it yet. After glancing through it, it looks like it's going to be helpful.

Blair's book places Bible teaching within a theological framework and treats both teacher and student with equal respect, reminding us the best learning experiences occur when healthy interaction is encouraged between teacher and students. Blair's ideas on how to make the study of the Bible meaningful and relevant are woven into a discussion of learning styles, models of Biblical interpretation, creating an effective learning environment, and building one's own Bible study (without using a published curriculum). Highly recommended for anyone with interest or responsibility in leading Bible studies, whether connected with a church or for private study.

Christine Eaton Blair provides her reader with a good introduction to varying approaches to teaching the Bible in a Christian setting from a Christian perspective. The subtitle, "A Practical Guide for Adults," should be taken seriously but, perhaps, should have been "A Practical Guide for Teaching Adults." The philosophy and approaches she presents are oriented toward adult learners -- children and youth have different life experiences and educational orientations and will need a different approach. Blair provides an overview of different goals of teaching the Bible: conversion, identity with Bible people, justice/faith in action, and spiritual growth. She points out that no single teaching approach accomplishes all of those goals--so differing goals necessitate different teaching models. She provides an overview of adults as learners, stressing that they are not "blank canvases" upon which the teacher may paint. Teaching adults involves enhancing their perspectives, not creating those perspectives. Their life experience and their interests should be respected. In a brief book like this not enough is said, so additional resources may be necessary for the teacher to understand the nature of the adult learner. Blair presents her own "Five Rs" model of teaching which includes "remembering," "revisiting the text," "reflecting critically," "reinterpreting," and "responding." Although she does not cite Thomas Groome's "Shared Christian Praxis", there are remarkable similarities found in this model. She addresses different types of teaching: for cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning (my terms, not hers). Then she concludes with a list of tips for teachers. Blair illustrates her work with examples. There her work seems more oriented towards concerns of mainline denominations rather than more conservative, evangelical denominations. This was not a problem for me, but may be awkward for a more conservative reader. A minor printing problem is that the title of the fourth chapter found on the right hand page is continued into the fifth chapter. This made scanning the book quickly a problem for me. (But, I really don't need to share my own personal quirks here, do I?) This should be corrected in later printings. This book should be a good resource for teachers of adult learners in the church and other Christian organizations. It would also make a nice textbook for preparation of Bible teachers. If this is an area of interest, it is worth your time.

This newly published work is a careful, clear, and concise guide to both the art and the science of teaching the Bible to adults. Dr. Blair presents information on the theological basis of biblical interpretaion, current adult learning theory, and educational methodology, in a way that is creative and challenging and, at the same time, readily accessible. One of Dr. Blair's gifts as a teacher is her skill at synthesizing information and placing it within understandable frameworks. In this book, she creates a synthesis of several sub-disciplines of theology and education, from which she builds a very useable framework for wholistic Bible study that balances intellect and creativity, tradition and innovation. And she does this all in a very compelling way: using imaginative metaphors but without employing unnecessary jargon or needlessly obscure terminology. The result is a very useful and inspiring guide for teaching, evaluating curriculum, and developing one's own methods and techniques to lead adult learners in listening to, reflecting on, and responding to the Word of God.

In The Art Of Teaching The Bible, Christine Blair (Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Austin Presbyterian Seminary) shows how adult educators can motivate adults to utilize the necessary tools and theological principles for studying and interpreting biblical texts for themselves. Blair presents four models (Conversion; Common Identity with Bible People; Justice/Faith in Action; Spiritual Growth into a Holy Life). Then she examines how and when adults learn best. This is followed by the "5 Rs" of Bible Study: Remembering, Revisiting the Text, Reflecting Critically, Reinterpreting, Respond. Blair then concludes with a chapter on storytelling and a chapter offering nine specific teaching tips. The Art Of Teaching The Bible is very highly recommended, invaluable reading for anyone charged with a responsibility for teaching the Bible whether in a formal seminary classroom, church school setting, or an informal Bible study group.