FIRST PRINCIPLES
Instructor: Dave Helm
DESCRIPTION
This course introduces some of the foundational convictions and skills for Bible teaching. The discussions
on convictions renew one’s commitment to expository Bible teaching and offer fresh motivation. The
skills presented provide principles that allow the Bible teacher to more clearly listen to what the text itself
communicates.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this Course:
§ Students will grow in their commitment to expository Bible teaching.
§ Students will improve the quality of their own study and preparation for teaching by listening
more carefully to the text of Scripture.
§ Students will become more confident in interpreting and teaching a Bible passage because of their
increasing skill in allowing the Scripture inform and shape their lessons/sermons.
§ Students will allow the taught Word itself to inform their lives in ways consistent with the reasons
the Holy Spirit saw fit to include them in Scripture.
§ Students will be able to more appropriately apply God’s Word to the lives of God’s people today.
COURSE FORMAT
This course is divided into two primary components:
§ The first component is instruction for the student’s apprehension of convictions, skills,
and principles for studying and teaching the Bible. The instruction component is
delivered through the lectures. Students should complete the study questions while, or
immediately after, watching the video instructions.
§ The second component is practice. Students will independently apply some of the skills
and principles taught in the course. This is done by completing the Outline Preparation
Worksheet for some or all of the passages assigned for each lesson. Students will then
present their work (as an Outline or as a Message or Sermon—this will be determined by
your group coordinator) in a group for discussion and analysis aimed at improving each
student’s work. For help on completing the Outline Preparation Worksheet see the
Student Presentation Guide.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Each student is expected to:
§ Attentively view all video lectures and thoughtfully complete the written study questions.
§ Prepare outlines or sermons or messages for each practice text, employing skills taught in the
lectures.
COURSE SCHEDULE
This course consists of 8 lessons.
Staying on the Line View INSTRUCTION #1 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 1 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #1
Practice Outline – John 14:5-14
Pathway for Preparation View INSTRUCTION #2 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 2 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #2
Practice Outline – John 13:1-20
Context View INSTRUCTION #3 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 3 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #3
Practice Outline – 1 Samuel 2:1-11
Structure View INSTRUCTION #4 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 4 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #4
Practice Outline – *Ephesians 3:14-21; Mark 5; Job 31
*Please note: instead of completing the entire Outline Preparation Worksheet for
all three passages, complete only the first question (dealing with structure) for
each of these three texts (above). This gives you the opportunity to practice
using the strategies presented in the lesson to find structure in each of the three
text types (discourse, narrative, and poetry).
Melodic Line View INSTRUCTION #5 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 5 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #5
Practice Outline – Nahum 1:2-8
Text and Framework View INSTRUCTION #6 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 6 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #6
Practice Outline – Philippians 4:10-20
Seeing Jesus View INSTRUCTION #7 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 7 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #7
Practice Outline – 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
The Bible for Life View INSTRUCTION #8 (Dave Helm)
Lesson 8 Discuss/Write STUDY QUESTIONS for INSTRUCTION #8
Practice Outline – Ephesians 6:10-20
COURSE RESOURCES
Beale, G.K., Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: Exegesis and Interpretation,
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.
Caird, G.B., The Language and Imagery of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.
Chapell, Bryan, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Second Edition, Grand
Rapids: Baker Books, 2005.
Clowney, Edmund P., Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, Wheaton: Crossway, 2003.
Goldsworthy, Graeme, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God In the Bible, Downers
Grove: IVP Academic, 2002.
Goldsworthy, Graeme, Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles,
Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2012.
Goldsworthy, Graeme, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical
Theology to Expository Preaching, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Roberts, Vaughan, God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible, Downers Grove: IVP, 2006.
Scharf, Greg R., Prepared to Preach: God’s Work and Ours in Proclaiming His Word, Fearn, Scotland:
Christian Focus, 2005.
Spurgeon, Charles H., Lectures to My Students: Complete and Unabridged, Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1954.
