“WE PROCLAIM HIM, ADMONISHING AND TEACHING WITH ALL WISDOM SO WE CAN PRESENT EVERYONE PERFECT IN CHRIST.” COLOSSIANS 1:28
MODULE 2 LESSON 2
How to Select Scripture
When planning your class, there’s a simple format to implement when selecting which scripture to use in class. We want to be intentional with how we utilize God’s word so that our classes and teachings have the greatest impact on His kingdom.
The most crucial factor to remember is that God’s word inspires our yoga classes. Therefore, we need to partner with God first, so the classes we teach are glorifying Him.
Below are examples of HOW you find and select scriptures for class.
1) God inspired- As discussed in Module 1, we’re committed to growing spiritually closer to Christ. This is a part of our sanctification process here on earth, to become more like Jesus every day. These scriptures come from your time in study of God’s word and prayer.
We need to have regular times of reading the Bible, praying, and Christian meditation. Specifically, we need to pray and ask God to show us what He wants us to teach scripturally. If you pray and ask, He will reveal it as it says in John 16:23. (link scripture)
Application: Pray and ask God to show you which scripture to use in class for the week.
Personally Inspired - The scripture(s) God reveals to us personally can be a beautiful source of inspiration for our classes. Again, this highlights the importance of spending adequate time in His word. Using scripture that was personally inspired by God to you can be a way God reaches a student in your class. Your student(s) will often need to hear the very scripture(s) God gave you personally.
You may want to use scriptures in class that God spoke to you during your quiet time with Him. Students enjoy hearing how God is working in your life and can find encouragement and inspiration from how God works in and through you.
Application: Use a scripture that is speaking to you in your personal life. If you feel led, you can share an appropriate story of how this scripture speaks to you.
Visual Imagery - There is an abundance of visually stunning scripture that uses detailed and natural imagery to give us a word picture of what God’s word is saying to us. This is a wonderful way to stimulate creativity in your teaching. Also, scriptures with visual imagery are perfect for Christian Meditation.
Application: The book of Psalms, Isaiah, Proverbs, are great places to begin finding visual imagery. Note: we discuss this in-depth in Module 3, Christian Meditation.
Seasonal - Throughout the year, you can utilize scripture based on the time of year. The seasons, holidays, special occasions, celebrations, or milestones create many options for a scriptural theme.
Seasonal Scriptures are helpful to use as a planning tool when creating your class content. For example, you could use the entire month to create classes based on Jesus’s birth at Christmas time. Scriptural themes such as Hope, Peace, Love, Joy, or Celebration would all be appropriate options during December.
The Seasons- You could craft a scripturally themed class around Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
When to use:
The first day of a season could be inspirational in creating a week’s worth of content.A change in the weather could inspire a seasonal theme. Example: from hot to cool/cold. Periods of rain, snowstorms, thunderstorms, or heatwaves could all be ways to incorporate seasonal scriptures.
Holidays - The holidays can be a great way to create a scriptural thematic in class.
Here are a few ideas on what each holiday represents and how you can search for scriptures to correspond.
New Year- New beginnings, new creation, etc.
Valentine’s Day- Christ’s Love for us, our neighbor, or loved ones
Spring Break- Rest/Joy/Celebration/Fellowship
Easter- Christ’s love, sacrifice, resurrection, forgiveness
Memorial Day- Honor, respect, thanksgiving
July 4th- Honor, respect, freedom
Labor Day- Labor/Rest
Martin Luther King- Justice, Freedom.
Thanksgiving- Gratitude, Thanksgiving, Joy
Christmas- Love, Joy, Peace, Thankfulness, Gift of life
Special Occasions/Celebration/Milestones -
If a student in your class has a birthday, special event, or milestone, you can use scriptures for joy, blessing, and thanksgiving.
It would be appropriate to say this scripture at the end of class in honor of the person celebrating.
Birthday
Celebration- (wedding)
Birth of child/grandchildren
Tips for selecting Scriptural Themes:
Pray about your theme before the start of the week. For example, if you teach a class on Monday, start praying and thinking about the theme you wish to choose beforehand. We want our classes to be Holy Spirit led and that time to plan and prepare.
For consistency, select one scriptural theme per week, no matter how many classes you teach. One theme per week keeps is consistent and simple for you and your students.
Call To Action: Write for Insight
What scriptures has God given you personally that you could utilize in your teaching? These could be verses you coveted in times of trouble, stress, anxiety, trust, growing your faith, overcoming fear, worship, celebrations/times of joy, etc.
List up to three scriptures that have been personal to you.
What scriptures can you use that have strong visual imagery? Some ideas include nature, trees, the ocean, mountains, types of animals, or anything descriptive. If you need assistance or inspiration, go here:
What Does the Bible Say About Imagery? (openbible.info)