How to Improve your Understanding of the Bible Using the Notice and Wonder Technique: Genesis 2 Edition
Do you want to understand the Bible better? Maybe you’ve read it a hundred times that you are numb to some of its stories? Maybe you want to gain a deeper understanding, but you don’t know where to start? Maybe you have had minimum exposure to the Bible and feel intimidated by it? Or maybe you are a small group leader who hears crickets every time you ask a question? Whether you are a Bible study veteran or novice, the Noticing and Wondering Technique can help you improve your understanding of the Bible.
Introduction
In my previous posts, Noticing and Wonderings: Unleash the Power or Observation-Part 1 and Noticing and Wondering Routine: Unleash the Power of Observation-Part 2, I asked you to apply a “Noticing & Wondering” routine to Genesis 1. However, if you are new to my blog, you might be thinking: What is a “Noticing and Wondering” Routine?
What is a Noticing and Wondering Routine?
“Noticing and Wondering” is a great teacher technique/routine that we used in Ohio’s Mathematical Modeling & Reasoning Course for juniors and seniors. Individually, in small groups, or as a class, students list everything they notice or wonder. This creates buy-in for the problem at hand, but it also forces students to tune-in and look at the problem in new ways and challenge their previous assumptions. However this routine is not just for a math classroom. It can be used in a variety of ways including Bible Study!
How can Noticing and Wondering Help You Study Scripture?
Noticing and Wondering causes you to slow down, read the text, and reflect on it. If we jump too quickly for answers, then we oftentimes miss out on the subtleties in the text. The pause gives us time to allow the Holy Spirit to work, and it gives us a direction for further research.
It’s also a great tool for small groups. I know many of you have sat through awkward silences of small groups. Noticing and Wondering disarms the anxiousness of both the leader and participants as it’s a safe open-ended way for everyone to participate.
Why is wondering so important?
Wondering leads to questioning! And questioning is vital for learning.
The Jews were God’s chosen people, and questioning is embedded in Judaism. According to Chabad.com “Judaism is the rarest of phenomena: a faith based on asking questions, sometimes deep and difficult ones that seem to shake the very foundations of faith itself.” The Hebrew people use questions to try to understand the Torah (Old Testament), so shouldn’t we?
Not to mention that Jesus asked questions! See my blog post on What Would Jesus Ask? (W.W.J.A) | Reflections On A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger —Part 4 – Word & Numbers for more information on the types of questions Jesus asked.
Try It: Apply the Noticing and Wondering Routine to Genesis 2!
Make 2 columns on a sheet of paper and label the first column “I notice….” and label the second column “I wonder….” Read Genesis 2 closely and fill out the table. Even if you’ve read the passage 100 times, new things will jump out at you.
In my next post, we will take a deeper dive into Genesis 2. Subscribe to my blog to get the next blog post on Genesis 2 sent directly to your inbox.
Resources
Genesis 2
Check out my Bible Studies webpage for more information on Genesis 2.
For more background on the image of God found in Genesis 2 refer to my blog posts Reflecting God’s Image—Part 1: Insights from Scripture and Reflection Questions and Reflecting God’s Image—Part 2: An Infinitely-Faceted Diamond.
Noticing and Wondering Routine
Here are links to some “Noticing and Wondering” routines, which you can also find on my Teacher Routines page.
- The Math Forum at NCTM’s Beginning to Problem Solve with “I Notice, I Wonder”
- Erikson Early Math Institute Early Math Collaborative’s Notice and Wonder
- Beetle’s at the Lawrence Hall of Science’s I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of
- Institute for Arts Integration and Steam’s See Think Wonder Routine
- Universal Publishing’s Notice and Wonder Chart
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Comment
Share your noticings and wonderings about Genesis 2!
Another great blog by Annie Cannelongo. She explains Biblical terms in a way that is easy to understand. Keep them coming Annie.