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How Can I Begin to Teach the Bible?
Concise, Easy-to-Understand Guide Prepares You to Confidently Teach the Bible in Churches, Small Groups, Schools, and More
If you have been called to teach Scripture—whether in a large church service or a small Bible study—it’s important to approach the task with proper principles, preparation, and presentation. But where should you start? This brief guide offers proven tips for delivering memorable, gospel-centered messages.
Written by pastor David Helm, How Can I Begin to Teach the Bible? presents easily applicable tips for new pastors and Bible teachers as well as experienced leaders who are searching for a better way to create and communicate lessons. Helm demonstrates how to identify the structure and context of biblical passages and use them to shape theologically rich messages. He also shows you how to highlight the gospel in every talk; avoid predictable, lengthy sermons; and more to develop Christ-centered messages that effectively reach the hearts of your audience.
Brief, Accessible Easy-to-share guide answers important, commonly asked questions about teaching the Bible Biblical and Equips Christians with the confidence, convictions, and preparation they need to effectively share God’s word with others Practical A great resource for new and experienced church pastors, as well as Bible study leaders, teachers, and Christian speakers
If you have been called to teach Scripture—whether in a large church service or a small Bible study—it’s important to approach the task with proper principles, preparation, and presentation. But where should you start? This brief guide offers proven tips for delivering memorable, gospel-centered messages.
Written by pastor David Helm, How Can I Begin to Teach the Bible? presents easily applicable tips for new pastors and Bible teachers as well as experienced leaders who are searching for a better way to create and communicate lessons. Helm demonstrates how to identify the structure and context of biblical passages and use them to shape theologically rich messages. He also shows you how to highlight the gospel in every talk; avoid predictable, lengthy sermons; and more to develop Christ-centered messages that effectively reach the hearts of your audience.
Brief, Accessible Easy-to-share guide answers important, commonly asked questions about teaching the Bible Biblical and Equips Christians with the confidence, convictions, and preparation they need to effectively share God’s word with others Practical A great resource for new and experienced church pastors, as well as Bible study leaders, teachers, and Christian speakers
- GenresChristian
64 pages, Paperback
Published August 6, 2024
9 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
David R. Helm
27 books40 followersDavid R. Helm, along with Arthur Jackson, serves as Lead Pastor of the Hyde Park Congregation of Holy Trinity Church Chicago. David is Chairman of The Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry devoted to equipping men in expository preaching.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 11, 2025
Just what you expect it to be: a great introduction to how to teach the Bible. Dave Helm borrows heavily from the Charles Simeon Trust "First Principles" (he is chairman of their board after all) and condensed it into an easily discernable booklet. Great stuff.
February 4, 2025
This is a helpful little book that explains the process of Bible teaching step by step. I’m giving it 4 stars because some of his metaphors seem forced. Overall, it’s worth the read for aspiring or current Bible teachers.
October 8, 2024
Awesome little book for beginning to preach or teach in group settings. It covered a ton in just 55 pages! Giving it to volunteers who I’m training to preach!
March 31, 2025
This is as introductory as you can get to this topic. Helm writes with clarity and engagement. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because I can't imagine why I would recommend this over his other book on the same topic, Expositional Preaching. Even if you're not preaching, the principles he teaches in this book are just simpler ones elaborated on in the other. I suppose this might do better for teenagers leading a Bible Study, but any teen leading a Bible Study is definitely old enough to, again, read Helm's other book.
November 18, 2025
Very helpful for someone hoping to or already teaching God’s word, and/or for someone who wants to understand more of what happens on a Sunday when the word is preached. We’re confident that God works through the proclamation of His word as we’re men dependent on Him in prayer. Those who have an opportunity to teach should give themselves to preparation (find the structure/emphasis, understand the context, highlight the message of the gospel) and thoughtful presentation (know your goal, construct an outline, and drive the truth home). All of this is with the aim of helping others grow in the knowledge, grace, and likeness of Christ.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
January 29, 2025
A lot packed into a little. Love the illustrations…the pictures.
April 15, 2025
A helpful little book that I plan to give out. It's about how someone can begin to teach the Bible.
August 10, 2025
Read it in one sitting. Was so good and encouraging, and it’s going to help me greatly in my preparation for Bible study from now on! Highly recommend
August 30, 2025
Part 1: Principles
A Bible teacher needs confidence and three convictions about God's word.
#1 THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD
Understand how the authors (A) of the text (T) of Scripture relate (R) to the readers of Scripture
- God is the ultimate author 2 Tim 3:16 therefore Scripture is inerrant, authoritative, infallible
#2 PRAYER IS A MUST
- for preparation and for presentation
- spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14)
- we must depend on the Holy Spirit to understand the things of Scripture
Ask God to understand the passage; ask Him to submit your life to the passage as it is discovered studying the passage; ask Him to work powerfully in the presentation.
#3 THE LOCAL CHURCH IS ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS
- it's a place where we see witness God's Word faithfully taught by pastors and a place where it is modeled.
- it's a place where mature believers can assess your competence and appoint you to teaching roles and you are increasing able
- learn to teach in the local church: it assesses your competence and appoints you to eaching roles
- it helps one to make progress
Part 2. Prepartion
1. Find the Structure and Emphasis
Uncover the STRUCTURE, how the text fits together, its shape which reveals the EMPHASIS - the argument the author is making
What type of literature is it? narrative/story, discourse/speech, poetry/song
2. Understand the Context
- not of your audience but of the author and whom it was written to; historical, literary, Biblical and cultural
- context controls the understanding and focused on what the Biblical author was saying
3. Highlight the Gospel
-the relationship between the text and the gospel < the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ >; Lk 24:25-27, 44-47, Rom 1:1-6, 2 Pet 1:19-21
Part 3: Presentation
Preparation is the process of discovering what we need to learn about the text
Presentation is the process of putting together what you intend to say
1st, Know Your Goal
Understand what the Big Idea is about the text and establish the AIM of your presentation: recast the main point of the passage so that the listeners live under the truth of the main point.
- you need thought and reflection
Linger over the truth of the text and linger over the best way to express the truth of the text
2nd Construct an Outline
- in an arrangement or way that best serves the stated GOAL/AIM of your passage
- it should mirror the body, structure and emphasis, of the text
- Body, Conclusion, the write the Introduction; help the audience want to listen, state your goal and what you are driving at, and tell them how you are going to get there
3rd, Drive the Truth Home
First, the application should be derived from the Biblical author and serve the statted goal for the hearers
Second, the application stick better if you connect them to the Biblical text
Third, don't use the conclusion for entertainment, but to edify and envangelize that the audience grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ
A Bible teacher needs confidence and three convictions about God's word.
#1 THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD
Understand how the authors (A) of the text (T) of Scripture relate (R) to the readers of Scripture
- God is the ultimate author 2 Tim 3:16 therefore Scripture is inerrant, authoritative, infallible
#2 PRAYER IS A MUST
- for preparation and for presentation
- spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14)
- we must depend on the Holy Spirit to understand the things of Scripture
Ask God to understand the passage; ask Him to submit your life to the passage as it is discovered studying the passage; ask Him to work powerfully in the presentation.
#3 THE LOCAL CHURCH IS ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS
- it's a place where we see witness God's Word faithfully taught by pastors and a place where it is modeled.
- it's a place where mature believers can assess your competence and appoint you to teaching roles and you are increasing able
- learn to teach in the local church: it assesses your competence and appoints you to eaching roles
- it helps one to make progress
Part 2. Prepartion
1. Find the Structure and Emphasis
Uncover the STRUCTURE, how the text fits together, its shape which reveals the EMPHASIS - the argument the author is making
What type of literature is it? narrative/story, discourse/speech, poetry/song
2. Understand the Context
- not of your audience but of the author and whom it was written to; historical, literary, Biblical and cultural
- context controls the understanding and focused on what the Biblical author was saying
3. Highlight the Gospel
-the relationship between the text and the gospel < the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ >; Lk 24:25-27, 44-47, Rom 1:1-6, 2 Pet 1:19-21
Part 3: Presentation
Preparation is the process of discovering what we need to learn about the text
Presentation is the process of putting together what you intend to say
1st, Know Your Goal
Understand what the Big Idea is about the text and establish the AIM of your presentation: recast the main point of the passage so that the listeners live under the truth of the main point.
- you need thought and reflection
Linger over the truth of the text and linger over the best way to express the truth of the text
2nd Construct an Outline
- in an arrangement or way that best serves the stated GOAL/AIM of your passage
- it should mirror the body, structure and emphasis, of the text
- Body, Conclusion, the write the Introduction; help the audience want to listen, state your goal and what you are driving at, and tell them how you are going to get there
3rd, Drive the Truth Home
First, the application should be derived from the Biblical author and serve the statted goal for the hearers
Second, the application stick better if you connect them to the Biblical text
Third, don't use the conclusion for entertainment, but to edify and envangelize that the audience grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ
March 7, 2025
First sentence: This book is for anyone who wants to teach the Bible but doesn't know how to begin. It's also for those who are already teaching the Bible but don't know if they are doing it well.
This book is short. There's short, and then there's extremely short. As in why does this exist as a book instead of a free tract or blog article short.
The advice or tips are somewhat obvious and just common sense. For example you need to be confident. Confident that God is God is God. Confident that the Bible is the Word of God. Confident that the Holy Spirit will use you--even you--to accomplish his will. Confident that whatever happens, God's will will be done. Confident that God will answer prayers and that prayers are a must--for teacher and students.
Are there people teaching the Bible who needs these basic refreshers???? Probably. But those are the very people unlikely to pick up a book by Crossway.
Is everything super basic? Yes and no. The section on preparation is more practical and helpful, perhaps. But it is also the most challenging--the one that will require the most work for you to apply. The principles seem solid enough but will require you to put in six to eight hours of effort each week for whatever Scripture passage you'll be teaching. It is relatively easy to read the how-to basics of how to study Scripture and less easy to start actually digging *that* deep into Scripture.
The book concludes with a great message: You must always, always, always keep your listeners in mind. Have a precise goal in mind, follow an outline, and don't forget applications.
This book is short. There's short, and then there's extremely short. As in why does this exist as a book instead of a free tract or blog article short.
The advice or tips are somewhat obvious and just common sense. For example you need to be confident. Confident that God is God is God. Confident that the Bible is the Word of God. Confident that the Holy Spirit will use you--even you--to accomplish his will. Confident that whatever happens, God's will will be done. Confident that God will answer prayers and that prayers are a must--for teacher and students.
Are there people teaching the Bible who needs these basic refreshers???? Probably. But those are the very people unlikely to pick up a book by Crossway.
Is everything super basic? Yes and no. The section on preparation is more practical and helpful, perhaps. But it is also the most challenging--the one that will require the most work for you to apply. The principles seem solid enough but will require you to put in six to eight hours of effort each week for whatever Scripture passage you'll be teaching. It is relatively easy to read the how-to basics of how to study Scripture and less easy to start actually digging *that* deep into Scripture.
The book concludes with a great message: You must always, always, always keep your listeners in mind. Have a precise goal in mind, follow an outline, and don't forget applications.
October 1, 2024
This very small book teaches readers basic principles for interpreting Scripture and teaching it to other people. The author shares tips for understanding the text yourself, organizing your thoughts and writing well, and effectively presenting biblical teaching to your audience. Although the author's focus is on pastoral ministry, the advice is also relevant to teaching the Bible in other contexts. This book is very brief and simple, with helpful examples and illustrations, and it is a great starting point for people who are new to expository preaching.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 4, 2025
A great little primer on beginning to teach the Bible!
It may seem odd and exaggerated, but I actually thought this book was better than his 9marks expositional preaching book. Perhaps it is because with it being so short, he had to get straight to the point and say what he meant and mean what he said.
This is definitely a book I would recommend because of its simplicity and truth! Obviously it is only as good as a booklet primer allows itself to be, but I feel all the more confident and prepared because of it.
It may seem odd and exaggerated, but I actually thought this book was better than his 9marks expositional preaching book. Perhaps it is because with it being so short, he had to get straight to the point and say what he meant and mean what he said.
This is definitely a book I would recommend because of its simplicity and truth! Obviously it is only as good as a booklet primer allows itself to be, but I feel all the more confident and prepared because of it.
January 1, 2025
Concise and Insightful
I have studied the Bible academically at the graduate level, and this book was very helpful for me to frame up what I do and why. Academics can be so abstract, and we focus on the background and theoretical, but this little book addressed the how and the why of bible study in succinct and appropriate ways that very much helped me to be able to articulate to others what I know and why I do what I do.
I have studied the Bible academically at the graduate level, and this book was very helpful for me to frame up what I do and why. Academics can be so abstract, and we focus on the background and theoretical, but this little book addressed the how and the why of bible study in succinct and appropriate ways that very much helped me to be able to articulate to others what I know and why I do what I do.
August 20, 2024
Good principles that mirror Helm’s other works (either Expositional Preaching, or his Simeon Trust workshops). This would be a helpful something for someone exploring teaching the Bible, but it honestly may be too short to do much good other than give some broad guidelines. Still, it has a place to help aspiring Bible teachers get a taste for what is involved in being prepared to teach well.
February 17, 2025
For a 55 page booklet, this is pretty good. I can imagine using this with a small group of men who desire to preach. Taking this book as an introduction/launching pad to teaching others to prepare and preach well.
It is not a comprehensive preaching book. But packed well for its small size.
*Also, love the Simeon Trust principles found in this book.
It is not a comprehensive preaching book. But packed well for its small size.
*Also, love the Simeon Trust principles found in this book.
October 19, 2024
Helpful little read. I’ve been teaching for a long time and think this is better suited to someone just getting started. I know the point of this is to be short but I wish it was longer! Which is a good thing I think.
April 10, 2025
Very short but an excellent encapsulation of a simple and effective method for teaching the Bible with clarity and power. This would be a great book to with through with church interns, Bible study leaders, or anyone with any responsibility for rightly handling God’s Word.
October 21, 2024
Great little primer to give out to people who want to start preaching/teaching.
November 7, 2024
So practical, from how many minutes to spend on different parts of the study process to what order to write out the sermon. Thank you 🙏🏽
January 1, 2025
Great and simple resource for anyone interested in teaching the Bible.
January 6, 2025
Great small book! Definitely will be help as I go forward.
June 3, 2025
Solid advice. Great primer for those who have a desire for teaching the Word yet don’t know where to start.
June 25, 2025
Solid short read that’s a great start for anyone looking to preach and teach.
July 4, 2025
Very helpful little book. Highly recommend to share with those who desire to have, or are just getting started with, Bible teaching opportunities.
August 12, 2025
So helpful!!!!!! I LOVE practical advice and wish I had had this when I was first discovering that I loved teaching the Bible!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews