The Learner as Interpreter in Bible Quest:
Examples From Congregations

Rethinking old assumptions
Many North American Christians grew up with a notion of biblical interpretation something like this: Pastors, and scholars, teachers—the "experts"—do the interpreting. They figure out what the text means and how it directs us to live. There is one "right" interpretation. They develop the "right" interpretations and give this knowledge to others who are like empty vessels waiting to be filled up. If interpretation of scripture is seen this way, all those who do not have numerous academic degrees or specialized training—children, those with mental disabilities, the laity—cannot possibly interpret scripture "correctly."

The learner as interpreter model of Bible Quest values the theological, historical, cultural, and literary scholarship that informs our understanding of the Bible. But, in Bible Quest when we speak of "the learner as interpreter," we are not talking about finding a scholarly correct interpretation. Rather, Bible Quest invites learners to enter into and engage with each Biblical story, to make it their own, and to let the story shape their faith and their lives. Some of us have heard interpretations of familiar passages so often we almost hear them as part of the story. In Bible Quest, Bible stories are told as though for the first time, allowing new insights and possibilities to emerge, for leaders and for learners.

Every learner is an interpreter
In Bible Quest, all learners, regardless of age or ability, bring questions, insights, experiences, imagination, feelings, and faith perspective to the stories of scripture.

The leader is talking about the story of Moses and the burning bush. "I wonder what that would have been like," she says. Several children respond with emotions like "scared" and "awesome!" Six-year-old Taylor, a child with a developmental disability, brings his own faith perspective to the story. "God loves you," he says. "Someone should say, ‘Moses, God loves you’." Weiping lets her imagination lead her into the story. "I bet that bush was so beautiful it looked just like an angel," she declares.

Connecting with our own experience
All of us hear the stories of the Bible through the lens of experience. As learners connect the stories of the Bible to their own lives, the stories come alive for them in new ways.

Fifty-five year old Benson has just returned from a wilderness trip. As he listens to the story of Moses in the desert, he recalls the setting he just experienced. He realizes how easy it is to get so caught up in his daily life that he misses the moments of God being right here and now. He resolves to pay more attention to daily moments of grace. Fifteen-year-old Allison also has profound experiences of God speaking to her through nature. She discovers that she already grasps something of what it was that Moses encountered.

Bible stories form and shape our faith
The art of interpretation is letting go of one "right" interpretation in order to let many questions, dilemmas, insights, and meanings in each story speak to us. In Bible Quest, we allow the biblical story to shape and form our faith.

Becky hears the story of Noah and the ark. She listens as another child raises a question about what happened to all the people who didn’t get on the boat. Becky says, "God must have been really sad. I think that God did everything he could to help them." She is beginning to articulate the meaning she finds in this story and her own understanding of God; her own faith is nurtured.

Interpreting in community
The Bible Quest "learner as interpreter" approach doesn’t mean all interpretations are valid. Learners challenge and rethink their interpretations in light of the Holy Spirit working through the larger community. Bible Quest offers biblical and theological tools, the wisdom of others in different times and places, and a structured and intentional group experience, to help learners refine and test their interpretations.

Becky’s idea about God being sad in the story of Noah is questioned by another child. "What if God was mad at all those people for doing bad things?" Here the leader, guided by suggestions in the leader’s guide, is alert for fears that God might punish us if we do bad things. He offers the faith community’s assertion of God’s love and compassion.

Entering the biblical world, its dilemmas and situations
Bible Quest encourages learners to enter into the biblical world, to really experience the story. Sometimes this means using the tools of imagination, art or creative expression to let the situation become real. Sometimes it means hearing the story within its own context, or understanding more of the biblical worldview.

As a Grade 4–-6 group investigate the story of Ruth and Naomi, they discover more about the historical and social context of the story—the difficulties for women alone, the customs to care for and protect strangers and the poor, and other dilemmas faced by pastoral communities—they begin to appreciate more of the story behind this story. Their creative retelling of the story brings new insights as they think about Ruth as an outsider who became a foremother of the Jewish people.

Imagining ourselves, our community, and our world, in new ways
As learners encounter the stories of the Bible, they bring their own questions to the story, Bible Quest helps them challenge the story, and in the process the story also challenges them to see themselves, their community, and their world in new ways.

Roshan’s youth group has participated in a re-enactment of the story of Moses. They have begun to grasp the enormity and risks of such actions within that time and context. They wonder together what might have inspired such daring. Roshan finds he has many more questions than answers: What does it mean to hear God’s call? Can we really hear that today? How is God calling us to change injustice in our world right now?