Confession and Apology (on Lifeway materials)

[JonC]

How's that for a catchy thread title?

In the past I have been overly critical of Lifeway materials. Perhaps this is the materials our classes have used, but that is not an excuse.

I have started teaching a group using the materials that they had been using. This is a group of mature (age and spirit) believers with several retired pastors in attendance. The material the class has chosen is Lifeway (it is the Explore the Bible series) and it is excellent (the individual lessons, the leaders guide, and the commentary). This series has members reading passages throughout the week (this month in Isaiah) and the lesson is the culmination of a weekly, in-depth, study.

I was wrong to criticize the Lifeway materials as a whole as being superficial based on my limited experience.

 

[Dr. Bob]

It takes great character to admit error in judgment or words spoken that are later shown to be critical without basis. Good at you, mate.

 

[Reynolds]

How's that for a catchy thread title?

In the past I have been overly critical of Lifeway materials. Perhaps this is the materials our classes have used, but that is not an excuse.

I have started teaching a group using the materials that they had been using. This is a group of mature (age and spirit) believers with several retired pastors in attendance. The material the class has chosen is Lifeway (it is the Explore the Bible series) and it is excellent (the individual lessons, the leaders guide, and the commentary). This series has members reading passages throughout the week (this month in Isaiah) and the lesson is the culmination of a weekly, in-depth, study.

I was wrong to criticize the Lifeway materials as a whole as being superficial based on my limited experience.

My common gripe with LifeWay is they prioritize popularity. If a SBC pastor is popular, it does not matter how inaccurate he is, they will use him. Even with your series you now like, use it long enough and the problems will emerge.

 

[Rob_BW]

I have seen two different classes/age groups using the same material, with vastly different results.

 

[JonC]

My common gripe with LifeWay is they prioritize popularity. If a SBC pastor is popular, it does not matter how inaccurate he is, they will use him. Even with your series you now like, use it long enough and the problems will emerge.

I'm not sure. It is not associated with a pastor (that I can tell) and is the format we used in the 80's. I do not see how this one could go wrong as it is basically a Bible study (not stories but Scripture).

But time will tell. Thus far it us better than any other study I have read, probably because it sticks to Scripture and application.

 

[just-want-peace]

My biggest complaint w/LW is that the writers/editors/?? seem to inject their own "probablys" too much to suit me. To me this is just a minor irritant, so I usually just overlook it; but it's like an itch that you have trouble scratching to satisfaction.

 

[Ziggy]

My complaint has always been that the Lifeway lesson series for (at least) senior adults is written at about a 3rd grade reading and very shallow content level. This made our class of mostly college educated seniors abandon Lifeway entirely and just had members teach through entire books, not worrying about the quarterly system at all.