I haven’t had a lifetime of experience teaching college students theology and Scripture, but through the decade that I’ve worked with students in various contexts, I have seen that a great challenge in student ministry is teaching in a way that produces true understanding. We understand as ministry leaders that when we teach biblical doctrine, the goal is to get from the head to the heart and out through the hands. That task is probably the greatest challenge we face because it is, ultimately, out of our control. We are dependent on the Holy Spirit to grant that connection.
We still have a role to play in that process, though. Our desire for our students should be like Paul’s for the Colossian church as he wrote in Colossians 1:9-10,
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
We, like Paul, are tasked with seeking to impart spiritual understanding to others that we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to provide. The way we teach students either puts us in the Holy Spirit’s way or allows us to be part of what He uses to make those connections in the minds and hearts of students. Therefore, I want to give three simple tips to teach for understanding for those who desire to invest in college students today.
“The way we teach students either puts us in the Holy Spirit’s way or allows us to be a part of what He uses to make those connections in the minds and hearts of students.”
Reese Hammond
Stay in the Text
For our students to understand biblical truth well, we must be committed to consistent biblical hermeneutics (interpretation) and exegesis (explanation). We want them to understand what the text says, not what we merely think it says.
This is the foundational element to teaching for understanding. For many texts of Scripture, the meaning is fairly straightforward when the flow and basic grammar of the text are properly read. Yet I’ve listened as students give a plethora of inaccurate answers to some of these basic texts. We do students a disservice when we allow them to stick with answers that aren’t driven by the text rather than consistently and patiently guiding them back to what the text says.
We need to understand the proper methods of biblical interpretation and explanation ourselves. We must hold ourselves accountable to Scripture so that we will rightly divide the Word of Truth for the sake of our student’s faith (see 2 Timothy 2:15).
Define Your Terms
There are many biblical words that are directly theological in their meaning. We can’t be apathetic toward solid theology, nor should we be afraid to expect our students to grasp biblical concepts and theological definitions. College students are adults who can drive, drink, go off to war, and spend 12+ hours a week sitting in higher education classes; they can understand the Bible.
It’s important that we take the time to define biblical terms, show why these terms are important, and understand their theological meaning in their context.
For instance, when we read about ‘propitiation’ in 1 John 2:2, we must grab it by the horns and help our students understand what it means (the covenantal sacrifice that satisfies the wrath of God) and why John uses it (so that his readers will have confidence in their fight against sin and the forgiveness they have in God). It is a biblical word that must be defined and understood for the sake of our student’s growth. If we don’t pause to work through the meaning, context, and usage of the word “propitiation” with our students, they may go their entire Christian lives having 1 John 2:2 or 4:10 memorized without actually grasping what it says!
Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray
The role of prayer can’t be overlooked or forgotten. We are trying to do the impossible every time we open the Scriptures to instruct others in biblical truth. Paul constantly prays for this. Over and over again he prays for spiritual understanding for the churches that he has invested in. Colossians 1:3-14 is a prime example of this. You can access a full list of Paul’s prayers for the churches here.
"If our efforts are going to bear fruit, we must also pray the way Paul did." -@ReeseHammond #collegiatedisciplemaker How to Teach the Bible for Understanding in the College Context Click To TweetIf our efforts are going to bear fruit, we must also pray the way Paul did. As we move forward as ministry leaders and disciple-makers, let us not forget that the understanding of biblical truth to move lives to faith and obedience must come from the Spirit. As He uses us as His means to do so, we must trust that process and stay deeply committed to prayer for the maturity and growth of our students.
