This is a very special blog entry as this is my first time blogging about my learning experience on my Bible School module on Biblical Interpretation, that is of course required by the Lecturer, Rev. Casey Ng as part of the learning requirement.
Below are some of my learning experiences that I have gleaned when I attended the module:
Interesting Ideas
Submitting our assignment via a wiki and blog. This is my first time submitting my assignments through these means. I agreed with the lecturer that this is the 21st century and we need to be update with the latest technology. We may not be very expert in using blogs or wiki, at least we can get a ‘feel of it’ by trying out. Now i can tell the youths in my church that my lecturer wants us to submit, post and discuss our project work via a wiki and not just emailing to him the final paper as most institution do.
Practices
There is a saying that goes like this: “Practice makes perfect”. After i attended this module, i agreed with my ex Pastor, who was a teacher of the Word. He used to teach us on Bible Study methods and he told us that “Practice don’t make perfect, unless we practice with the right methods”.
The same here with when we exegete a Bible passage or even to get the real meaning out from a parable, if we do not follow the rules stated, we will not get it right and worst, we will teach the wrong things to our members and even ourselves!
During one of the lessons on how to study a parable, the lecturer taught us the rules and gave us "The Parable of The Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:30-37 to try out. All of us got the understanding of passage’s teaching is about “Loving your neighbour”. But to our surprise is not, as we missed the point and followed the diversion. It is actually means “God is gracious”. Jesus answered the question posted by the Teacher of the Law on “What must i do to inherit eternal life"?” or in other words, “How can i be saved?” So the answer is “ Just accept the grace of God.”
Interestingly, after i learnt the steps and rules of studying the parable, i read the required textbook. The author also commented on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, however his understanding is still on “loving your neighbour”.
Concept
Besides we learn how to exegete the passage using structure diagramming, we also learn about how to write a story. I learnt that to write a good story we must have SETTING, PLOT and CHARACTERS.
The PLOT consist of either physical, moral or character conflict – as the lecturer said, if there is no conflict then the story will not be interesting to catch the reader’s attention.
The CHARACTERS consist of round, flat and functionary characters.
As i listened to the lecture, how i wish i learnt that last time when i was young. If i did, then my composition will not be that poor or even struggle to get my composition done.
Now when i watch a drama or a movie, i watch it with a new perspective, understanding the concept of a good story line.
The lecturer also touched on the Eastern and Western perspective on things. Example: we read about dragons in the Bible, i learnt that dragon to the western people is bad or evil, but to the Eastern (Chinese), dragon is a symbol of good luck, prosperity, etc.
So one day, while i was watching a movie show – MUMMY 3, that was being broadcast over HBO, with my brother, he commented how come Jet Lee, acted as the King (a mummy that became alive), turned into a dragon during a fight. Then i began to show forth some knowledge about the westerners perspective of dragons. As Jet Lee is a bad king character, they use dragon (and is a three headed dragon) to portray the bad character. My brother then mentioned that the dragon is so different from our usual Chinese dragon. Then i told him that it could be the script writer did not do enough research, as they only knew that the China Emperor had dragons motifs on their clothes and other items but they failed to understand what type of dragon, so the producer will use their imagination to make a film.
Interaction with others during discussion
As our assignment was project based, we need to get into our groups to discuss. For those who have worked in project groups before will know that we will somehow rubbed shoulders with each other, as all of us have different personalities.
As the project leader, i need to be the mediator too when one or two members have some differences with each other. Thank God my group don’t have members who walked out of discussions or scold one another, but they deal with the situation biblically but approaching the ‘offended’ person and talk it out to try their best to understand their position.
Even though the time is limited, resources are few, i want to thank God for Olivia, who took her initiatives to borrow a lot of reference materials like Bible Dictionaries and Concordances from her church friends. Thus this helps to expedite our search and save us some precious time.
It is during the class projects, i realised that i have improved in dealing with different types of people or it could be God is so gracious to me that the dynamics of my group is still under the ‘easy’ level. No matter what, i still thank God for the tough training that i received when i was working in a local church.
My Response
After attending this module, i have learnt that as a Christian, a church leader, a Bible School student, i need to study the Bible correctly using the right method. Beside using the right method to do Bible exegesis, i need to obey the truths of the Bible and follow God’s way. Let HIS will be done and not my will be done. Amen.
