Feedback is invaluable. This holds true especially in Bible study settings, where our goal is to grow together in the faith. In this article, I’ll share key insights from a survey of 75 teachers, highlighting the improvements that pastors can make to create a more engaging, effective Bible study experience.

In his 2015 symposium paper, Luther Taught the Children—And So Do We, Paul Prange wrote, “If you have the privilege of teaching in a Lutheran elementary school or a Lutheran high school alongside Lutheran men and women who are trained to be teachers and are capable people for this business, listen to their insights on the forms that education of children should take” (p. 8). I say this is also true for teaching adults. If people have dedicated a large portion of their lives to the profession of teaching—whether in our WELS schools or not—we do well to listen deeply to what they have to say about our own teaching.

I’ve tried to do that with a survey of 75 teachers. I asked them these three questions:

1. How would you describe the Bible studies your pastor currently leads?
2. What is one thing you would like your pastor to improve or do differently in his Bible studies?
3. What is one thing you appreciate most about your pastor’s Bible studies that you hope never changes?

Looking at the results I found the following themes:

1. Use a Variety of Teaching Methods: Teachers appreciate when we use different teaching approaches, such as small group discussions, questions and answers, and encouraging participation from different age groups. Don’t get stuck in a rut!
2. Encourage Discussion: Andragogy (the study of how adults learn) shows that one of the best ways we learn is when we talk as a group about a topic. Make sure that the Bible class participants are doing the hard work of learning. Lecture is a good tool, but ensure that the lecture is appropriately supporting the learners and their effort of wrestling with the material.
3. Current Issues: Pay attention to SETPI* when teaching. The I stands for “immediate application.” Bible study participants yearn for applicable learning.
4. Time Management: The perennial issue of rushing through content.
5. People Management: Try to use a variety of strategies so that one or two people do not dominate your Bible studies. Well-crafted, open-ended questions, and smaller group discussion with designated reporters could help. Perhaps even talking to the individuals privately could be a next step. Be brave! Your Bible study group will appreciate it.

But don’t take my word on it! Here are ten of my favorite quotes from the survey:

1. “Sometimes Bible class can just become a second sermon and/or a rush to get through material rather than a true class or discussion.”
2. “Have the Bible speak more than anything else.”
3. “The open-ended options to participate and share with others more than just filling in blanks and having only closed questions that have a limited amount of answers.”
4. “I appreciate how applicable the studies are to our daily lives.”
5. “[I love] the variety. Sometimes we read a book, sometimes we do a video based one, sometimes topical, and sometimes a book of the Bible.”
6. “Control the room more (mostly in regard to answering questions) with better management strategies.”
7. “Allow input from the congregation members on topics that affect their own lives.”
8. “I wonder if he could engage more people by having them discuss at their tables instead of only relying on one person to call on at a time.”
9. “Knowledge of how adult learners learn; More time for discussion between participants and application.”
10. “Use teachers to lead Bible Study.”

Surveys like the one I did can set us in the right direction as we constantly work to improve our teaching. However, the best connection is with the teachers in your own congregation. Talk to them. Test some of your ideas about Bible study activities with them. Ask the teachers for their thoughts on the questions in your studies. Treat the teachers as the partners they are in the ministry.

* SETPI is Self-directed, Experienced, Task-oriented, Problem solving, and Immediate application.

This article in Devote Yourself was contributed by the team that previously created and distributed the e-newsletter, Teach the Word. For nearly ten years’ worth of archived teaching-related articles, tips, and advice, visit nph.net/teach-the-word.