Monday, December 28, 2009

In Louisville at Youth Convention

Down in Louisville till Thursday at the area Wesleyan youth convention, giving out information on Wesley Seminary @IWU and answering questions. Seeing lots of former students...

So here's a question for anyone idly passing through: what would the perfect upper level Bible class look like from a student's perspective at a Wesleyan college? Let me throw out for starters: 1) you would learn the content of those books. What's your #2? 3, 4...

4 comments:

Bob MacDonald said...

learn the content? Can you be more specific? I haven't thought of a summary framework that I would like but it is more than 'content'. I will never cease to learn what is contained. What I would need is a way of discounting my anticipation that I already knew it. Something that convinces me that I do not have anything wrapped up in my historical view or confessional view or sociological view or whatever...

just a first reaction to your quick post

Ken Schenck said...

You're thinking way more deeply than me, Bob. I was just trying to get the ball rolling by mentioning content, by which I only meant that a person would know the most basic things--like that Hebrews 11 was the faith chapter. I was hoping you all (especially potential upper level Bible students) might tell me what they would really like to get from such a course.

I'll add a number 2, which I think for a Christian ministry major ranks fairly low on the list--to know critical issues relating to the books you are studying (thus in a course on the General Epistles, one would at least be aware of the issue of pseudonymity). Let me add a third, also probably a little lower on the list: an upper level Bible course would reinforce basic exegetical skills learned in some "Bible study method" gateway course.

These are all the boring pro forma things. What are the things a student would really love to learn from a Bible course?

ChrisTabone said...

1. Learn the content of the book

2. Learn what the those from the times of the early church to the times of Luther, Wesley, Calvin, etc. had to say about the book

3. Learn how to make is relevant for preaching to a congregation.

4. Learn ??? that's all I got for now

Bob MacDonald said...

Hi Ken - 'deep' might be dangerous - Leviathan lurking. Recently, after nearly 40 years of serious if often misguided study of the Bible, I have had some very positive feedback from older people on our shared approach to teaching the Bible. The retired doctor who had written off Job has come to love it as a dramatic mini-series. The formerly outcast regards Bible study as the highlight of the week. The unfearing faithful welcome historical insight. The fearful remain fearful but they occasionally emerge from their frowns. How do I begin to put this into 3 additional points? Here's a shot off the cuff. 2. Plant the seeds of how the Bible undermines itself as a unified system of postulates with the answer Jesus. 3. Emphasize the structural aspects at both macro and micro levels. 4. Read for real. Drama, sense and sensuality, tenderness. Let the big abstractions like responsibility and judgment emerge. 5. In all things, work in the Hebrew thought forms and play with words as much as they play.

If it isn't enjoyable, it's not being done right.