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inductive biblestudyYouth with a Mission - H. Zenger - 3266 Wiler, Switzerland - +41 32 391 70 36 - [email protected] - www.biblestudy.ch

The Bi-weekly SBS of YWAM Wiler

a summary explaining method, content, setup

Table of content

Why a biweekly SBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The procedure at a glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The material the participants get at a glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

In short - Overview - biweekly SBS - Wiler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The bigger Concept - Biblestudy & Churches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

bsbs-introduction-English.wpd / 2012-09-28 / Heinz Zenger - b-sbs Wiler / of 8

Why a biweekly SBS

In our Base in Wiler, Switzerland, we have the priviledge of running the SBS since 1987. Our first school leaders weretrained by Dr. Earl Morey and the first school was started here by Dr. Ron and Judy Smith who helped our staff to getthe school going. Since then many SBS’s have been run here on base many Staff have been trained in all these years.Of course, as it is the case in most YWAM Bases, the School leaders have changed as well, but in general we do haverather longterm staff on the SBS.

Very early, when SBS was run here, there was a question coming up from various people throughout Switzerland:“Can’t you do something like this for the church as well, since many people cannot take leave from work for 9 monthsto come to your base?”

I started to work with SBS in 1993 - I did an SBS the year before that in South Africa - but I was already on Staffbefore on our base in Wiler (and then still Biel as well) for 11 years and used to translate a lot in SBS as well. So I wasconfronted with that question and started thinking about how this could be implemented in a “Church Setting” wherepeople have a Job and a Family and Church activities and so on. Our fomer SBS Leader also thought about the samequestion, but from a different angle. He was thinking about how SBS Students would be able to continue using theirskills in Biblestudy even after an SBS, and even, if they would be back in a “regular work setting” - not all SBSStudents go into missions abroad - you know...

The result is basically the following description. Luc Herren divided up the steps of SBS into a weekly schedule andsimplified them to “10 minutes reading & 10 minutes study every working day”:

2 days observation2 days interpretation2 days application (Sunday is free, since you go to church...)

Taking this idea and using the background of SBS I then developed a “simple version of the inductive way of biblestudy” into the “bi-weekly SBS” or (as we call it) the b-sbs. Going through the whole NT in 6 Modules (taking about 2years to do that). Each participant always applies for 1 module only, and then for the next one. Most do all of them ina row.

The principle and the steps are the same as in the “regular” SBS, but the work effort is less and so also the questionsthat one works with, have been reduced. The terms are in Line with the book of Dr. Earl Morey “Search the scripturesfor yourself”, since this is, how we have worked here all these years. But what we call “Survey Method” is nothing elsethan the “BRI” in other places. So, other words, but the same kind of work on the text.

The key question was of course, how can the amount of work be minimized and still the result of study at thesame time be maximized. What sounds like a paradoxon is actually possbile - at least we think so.We have excluded the time consuming steps of drawing charts and writing “insides” and instead of that we havecreated papers, where the text of any given book of the Bible is already printed in columns and in paragraps. There isroom to write beside, to color or underline in the text and to write paragraph titles between the paragraphs.

So, the participants do not learn to draw charts, but they have something similar (simply the text) where they can writetheir observations, interpretations and applications into. They do learn to make paragraph-titles - which is nothing elsethan observing the text well and then giving it a title. They also learn observing language and content, they learn tointerpret language and content, and they learn to draw their own conclusions from that - eg. their applications.Of course in the lectures we use Verticals occasionally, so they also learn eventually what that is, and the benefits of it.

Further they learn about structure and of course also about the “setting of a book” - which is summarized in our ourfamous BRI or Survey Method as we call it and they do their own Survey (BRI) as well.

So, let me take you through the Method in brief - I hope it will be helpful to you.


The procedure at a glance

SurveySurvey Method

Observe Read the book as a whole (answer already what you can)• What kind of literature is this?• What is the general theme or the main thought?• What is the author’s intention/purpose with this

book/letter?• How is the message structured?• Who wrote this to whom, when, where and why?Read the book paragraph by paragraph & give eachparagraph a title (max. 4/5 words, unchanged & out therespective paragraph) (Titles here or after next step)

AnalysisAnalytic Method

Read again paragraph by paragraph and observe:

• What language is being used - what DOES the text say?(Prose or Poetry? Theological statements? Exhortation orCommand? Narrative? Parable? Prophecy? Song?)

Lan-guage

• What is going on IN the text - what is the CONTENT?(Who does what, to whom, when, where, why, how and withwhat Result? - and possibly more questions)

Interpret Read once more paragr. by paragr. & work on the meaning ?

• What DID the terms used MEAN?(Terms, figures of speech or rhetorical figures?)

• What DID the text MEAN in history or culture THEN?(People, Times, Places)

Mea-ning

After some paragr.: How are they structured, connected?

• How is the text structured, arranged, arguments? Struc-ture

(Comparison, Contrast, Repetition, Emphasis or De-Emphasis, Continuity - where do themes end, SummarySentences)

Apply As you work: Be open for God to speak to you through variouspassages. Whatever he says, or you believe he says, write it down, tobe able to think and pray about this & to see if he is confirming it later.

SynthesisSynthetic Method

Observe Read the WHOLE book again and aks some more questions:keeping in mind what you have discovered so far:

• How is the whole book structured?(Topical, Chronolog., Geograph., Biograph., Logical, inLetter-, Drama-, or Poetic Form or as Anthology?)Interpret

• Answer the remaining open questions of the SurveyMethod

Apply • If possible draw a visual Chart of the book (Horizont.Chart)

• Let the whole book have an impact on you(Re-evaluate your findings, Impressions, think through theApplications, get a final total impression of the book )

METHODS STEPS QUESTIONS


The material the participants get at a glance

I assume that the procedure above can be understood by BCC or SBS Staff and don’t need much explanation. In caseyou still need explanation, get back to me by Email please.This page above is a “working-paper” for the participants. I explain it at the end of the Saturday on which we workthrough the method and also do some group work with the first book of each module.

It takes about 6-8 hours to go through the method (see my summary paper of the Method and the “PowerPoint” inPDF-Form). I make shure that it is not a “theoretical thing” but that they always also “do” the steps and not just learnabout them from up front, so if a lot of excercises, then rather 8 hours.

Once they understand the method, they start working on the books, the purpose of the teaching days is to help themworking on things and to deal with difficult passages, with which they most probably cannot deal themselves either dueto time-reasons or due to missing language- or (still missing) study-skills.

An important part of the Saturdays is, to go through passages of Text together, or in directed group excercises.

Each of the Students has to buy a Bible Dictionary (in English I suggest the “New Bible Dictionary” - Intervarsity Press)and I make shure that these are also used on Saturdays or for “Homework”. Homework is always a “suggestion” not a“must”. Of course they also need a Bible with the same translation that we use for the Papers. In English we suggestthe ESV.

Now, please use the Philemon or Ephesians Papers to look at the details of what they get for each book. I still willexplain here in brief what they will get (always the complete package for 1 Module at the beginning of it):

1 A very short intro to the book (trying to help them observe well, not to influence for a certaintheology or way of interpretation)

2 The text in a column layout with space on the right side to write down own observations orinterpretations or occasional applications (what we call “outsides” in SBS. The top right corner ofevery Text page has the chapter number - so it is not in the text. The text is printed in paragraphs(usually the ones from the printed Bible) and there is space to write paragraph titles before eachparagraph.

3 A blank list with the references of each paragraph, so they can (if they want) write the paragraphtitles into that list - or if they prefer, directly into the text.

4 A set of questions for each Paragraph that should help to observe better. Occasionally I did put someinserts there (explanation) but then this is clearly shown in the layout that it is an explanation...

5 Various extra pages for each book (depending on the book). Usually pages to use for group orindividual assignments, summaries of things taught (only important issues) and so on. See Philemonfor that.

6 A graphical overview of the whole book - in other words, a simple Horizontal chart. (Yes, they get it,they do not have to make their own, but we work together on getting to the results that they thenget.

7 A blank sheet for the Survey-Method (BRI) which they can fill in step by step as we work or as theyread, and which they can finalize at the end of each book.

8 Extra: At the end of each book they get something which I call “MemoCard”, which contains a simpleHorizontal and the basics of the Survey-Method (BRI) on 1 Page, with some room for notes andsome room for further questions.

So, this is what we work with and so far it has proven to work well in Switzerland.I am not shure if this works in every setting, I guess a few things would need to be adapted, but you know your settingbetter than I do. So try to adapt things so they work best for you and your setting.


In short, how is it acutally done - Overview - biweekly SBS - Wiler

6 Modules for the complete New Testament. Each module contains:

1 Start-Weekend Saturday: Learning the Method LocationSunday: 1st book of each Module YWAM-Base

6 Saturdays 08.30 - 12.40 The books LocationOlten, Central Switzerland

Last Saturday 13.30 - 16.00 Extra Topic for each Module

Module 1: Letters of Paul (Prison / Pastoral)Method (Sat)Philemon (Sun) / Ephesians (Sat) / Colossians (Sat) / Philippians (Sat) / 1&2 Timothy (2Sat) /Titus (Sat)Extra Topic: Canon of Scripture

Module 2: Two synoptic GospelsMethod (Sat)Mark (Sun & 2Sat) / Matthew (4Sat)Extra Topic: Old Testament Overview

Module 3: Writings of LukeMethod (Sat)Luke (Sun & 2Sat) / Acts (4Sat)Extra Topic: History & Geography New Testament

Module 4: Letters of Paul (Early ones)Method (Sat)Galatians (Sun) / 1&2 Thessalonians (1Sat) / 1&2 Corinthians (2Sat) / Romans (3Sat)Extra Topic: Homiletics - How to “pass on the word” (focus: House-Groups or Church)

Module 5: The “Catholic” (General) LettersMethod (Sat)Jude (Sun) / 1&2 Peter (2Sat) / James (Sat) / Hebrews (3Sat)Extra-Topic: Church History (Focus: early Church History & Summary of latter)

Module 6: Writings of JohnMethod (Sun)1 John (Sat) / 2&3 John (1Sat) / Gospel of John (2Sat) / Revelation (3Sat)Extra Topic: Farewell Party !!!

Old Testament in 3 long Weekends Friday to Sunday (that’s a bit of a challenge - but it works) extra Module

Module OT: 1 - The Law Pentateuch

2 - The Prophets From Joshua to the End of the Prophets (Hebrew view)

3 - The Writings Wisdom Literature & Poetry


What is the Time-Investment of the Participants?

The Lecture times can be calculated from the information above, and it looks like this:

Saturday of Starting-Weekend Mo/Aftern/Evening 7h 45' Lecture and/or guided StudiesSunday of Starting-Weekend Morn/Aftern/Evening 6h Lecture, Study & Question time5 Saturdays Morning to Lunch 4h 10' Devotion, Lecture, Study timeLast Saturday w. extra teaching Morn/Aftern 6h 40' Devotion, Lecture, Study time

So in total for each Module there are 41h 15' of Lecture and Studytime.

The Devotion is geared up to use the Bible or what we learn from there and lead into Worhip or Intercession, and it isnormally about 20' on each of the Saturdays.

There is also homework, which is required and homework which is voluntary.The required homework is that each participant has to have read the book before the first lecture on it. Since it takes abit more than 20 hrs to read through the New Testament (reading out loud in 1 sitting) and the Swiss usually read a bitslower than Germans (German still is a 2nd language for many Swiss), and since we divided the Text of the NT into the6 Modules as evenly as possible, we can count about 6hrs of reading for each Module.

Then the participants “should” also have done a 2nd reading and have done the paragraph titles. Usually it is a bitmore than half of the participants who do this. So this is another probably 8hrs of reading and writing.

These are the minimal requirements. The participants do have a set of questions for each paragraph of every book ofthe NT, so they can already work with the “W-questions” and these extra questions, but all this is voluntary. Someparticipants do it, but they are definitely in the minority - about 1/3 or 1/4 of the participants.

That sums up the following way:Class time with Lecture & study for 1 Module 41h 15'Personal reading time & study (paragraphs) 14h (about)Total involvement for 1 Module 55h 15'

For the whole New Testament: 331h 30'

Now, these figures include “break times” during lecture. We want the students to discuss and share, so we have“placed” this into the breaks. It also is clear that not all Students are doing all of this, but some are doing a lot more.If we consider this and see that each module is actually about 13 weeks it means that the weekly effort at home isaround a good hour plus every other Saturday a complete Morning almost up to 1pm.Considering the travelling time, which is between 1-2 hours for most of the participants this is quite some effort on theirbehalf.

So, if you want to set it up in your area, make shure you think about all these aspects first and maybe discuss themwith some people from various churches, before you start.


The bigger Concept - Biblestudy & Churches

Whenever I teach in a Church on a Book or on a Text or on Method, my primary goal is not only to explain the Bible orsome passage, but to get people excited about the Bible and about Biblestudy. Of course I am also concerned withpassing on “knowledge” but “motivation” is a much higher priority, since motivated people will always try to findanswers themselves . . .

SBS 9 Months biweekly SBS6x 3 Months

Bible Reading NT Bible Reading OT1 Year in ChurchNT divided into 45 weekly portions (Reading Plan) same as NTHousegroups / Sermons / 1 Biblestudy Evening every 2 weeksall content geared to that reading planProvided Material for Housegroup-Leaders(done in 2008) (working on it)

The b-sbs is part of a bigger concept, which is to use the content of SBS and to try and bring it into churches, sopeople can learn one way of studying the Bible themselves in a efficient way.

The “smaller” steps are to do some “Bible-Reading” with churches. I have developed a package as well, in which wecan read through the whole NT in one year. We sat together with a church (they wanted that) and set up a readingplan, not daily reading of small portions, but weekly reading of a bit larger portions (so people can find there readingtime themselves during the week).The sermon on Sunday (done by Pastor) was connected to the text they were always reading that week. Then we had abi-weekly Bible-Study evening, which was picking up the same text that they were reading again, and they used alwaysa portion, again acc. to the reading-plan, to work on in the House Groups.I provided Material for the House-Group leaders, which was on the website of the Church for downloading. Questions tothe Text and some Material which they could use as they wanted.

This church really enjoyed this whole thing as well and some House Groups are still doing Bible Study evenings as aresult from that year - of course not everyone.

The Idea is, to set up the samt thing for the Old Testament as well, and of course to make a “nice package” out of theNT-One, but this is not finished yet. All the Material for that I only have in German so far.


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