SCJ Bible Study Class Dynamics: Fostering Interactive Learning

Each class in the seminar is structured to encourage student interaction with the instructor. When the instructor poses questions, students are invited to volunteer their answers. If no one volunteers, the evangelist will call on a student to respond.

The seminar features multiple evangelists who take turns hosting the classes. They begin each session by reviewing previous lessons through quizzes and having students recite assigned memory verses. This thorough review of the material precedes the introduction of new lessons, which is often followed by a worship song.

After the instructor’s session, the evangelist team takes over. They conduct an additional review of the lesson to ensure students understand the material. When students decide to continue the seminar after the introductory lessons, they are asked to officially sign up. Each student is then assigned an evangelist who serves as their point of contact throughout the seminar.

The evangelist’s role is to check on students’ comprehension of the lessons and address any questions or concerns they may have. Students do not interact directly with one another; all interactions are monitored by the evangelists.

Classes can last up to two hours, depending on the duration of small group discussions. During these sessions, students review the lesson again with their assigned evangelist. Repetition is emphasized, as lesson content is revisited before class, after class, and during small group discussions.

The seminar structure includes brief breaks of 2 to 3 minutes halfway through each class. Additionally, the lead evangelist in each class reminds and encourages students to arrive on time, emphasizing that being on time means coming early. Attendance is checked, and all students are required to have their cameras on during lessons. If there are valid reasons for not being able to turn on the camera, the evangelists are understanding and can make exceptions. However, if a student arrives 15 minutes late, they are not allowed to join the lesson and must retake the class using the lesson recording afterward.

At the end of each small group session, students are asked to write down their reflections or insights on the lesson and send them to their evangelist. However, they do not receive feedback on these submissions. Instead, the evangelists compile these insights to address student concerns in future lessons. The seminar is designed to have multiple evangelists co-hosting, conducting reviews, and leading small groups. Students are encouraged to memorize assigned verses and recite them in the next class, but there is no verification of their memorization.

The seminar takes place three times a week, with each lesson lasting an average of two hours over a nine-month period. As the days progress, additional class days are added to encourage students to commit and strive to be overcomers. New seminars with the same content start every month, and students are encouraged to invite others to attend.

The evangelists and instructors are supportive and make themselves available if students need to retake a lesson or have any questions. During retake sessions, an evangelist is always present. Students are not allowed to take screenshots or recordings; instead, they are encouraged to ask for a retake or stay after class to take notes.

In addition to the regular classes, students have one-on-one sessions with their assigned evangelist. These sessions involve casual conversations, questions, and speech practice to review lesson content.

It’s important to note that the notes from the classes are polished for grammatical accuracy and formatted for better readability, with repetition and conversational elements removed. Names are also anonymized for privacy purposes. However, the content remains faithful to the original discussions.

Students are required to pass a test for each level during the nine-month seminar period. The levels are:

• Introductory Level – Parables
• Intermediate Level – Bible Basics
• Advanced Level – Book of Revelation

To progress to the next level, students must pass each test with a minimum score of 90%. Test questions and answers are provided to help students study.

The focus is on students’ effort, which is highly valued. However, they are encouraged to challenge themselves to score as close to 100% as possible. If a student does not achieve the 90% mark, they will need to retake the test to advance to the next level.

As a reminder, each Bible Study Seminar has a unique name, distinct from one another. Note-taking can vary from instructor to instructor based on their teaching styles and the systematic approach of their respective tribes.

Additionally, many students retake the Bible Study multiple times, which is encouraged to ensure mastery of the content. The idea is to continually retake the course until students achieve a full understanding of the material. Instructors encourage students to pay attention to the teachings rather than focusing solely on taking notes. Those who have previously taken the class often pretend it is their first time hearing the material, showing excitement to avoid spoiling the experience for those who are hearing it for the first time.

When students have questions, they are often told to wait for “the proper time” or that they will cover it “as we continue studying.” This approach encourages patience as foundational concepts are built upon. Repetition of key talking points and core narratives occurs consistently, with increasing detail each time. However, if a student’s questions are too advanced, they may be ignored or dismissed, as the evangelists prefer that students do not jump ahead before the material is revealed. While students are encouraged to ask questions, they are also guided to be patient as they progress through the lessons.