Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: The Difference between Biblical and Biblical-ish
Teaching the Bible can feel intimidating especially when you’re afraid of “getting it wrong.” In this episode, Kelly and Lindsey unpack the difference between biblical and biblical-ish teaching and offer practical tools to help you teach Scripture with clarity, confidence, and faithfulness.
While many Bible teachers communicate true things, not every approach draws out the intended meaning of the text itself. This conversation is designed to help teachers recognize weaker teaching habits and move toward a method that puts God’s Word at the center.
Throughout the episode, they unpack 5 “biblical-ish” teaching approaches that many well-meaning teachers (including themselves!) have used:
The Favorite Things method
The Soapbox method
The People-Pleaser method
The Book Report method
The Tour Guide method
These approaches typically deliver truth, but they often fail to highlight the main point of the passage or connect Scripture’s message to the listener’s heart in a meaningful, anchored way.
Kelly and Lindsey reflect honestly on their own experiences with these methods, sharing personal stories of times when their passions, preferences, or fears overshadowed the passage itself. They highlight why these approaches feel natural and even productive but why, ultimately, they fall short of the clarity, power, and confidence that come from teaching exegetically.
The episode concludes with a clear explanation of exegesis (drawing meaning out of the text) versus eisegesis (reading meaning into the text), and why exegesis gives teachers far more freedom, accuracy, and assurance. Their goal is simple: to encourage and equip every Bible teacher to approach Scripture in a way that lets God’s words — not their own — carry the weight and power of the message.
➡️ Ready to move from “biblical-ish” to confident, exegetical teaching?
Join us Monday, February 2, 2026 for a live Zoom class featuring Class 3 from the program: Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: The Difference Between Being Biblical and Biblical-ish.
This two-hour interactive class includes:
A live lecture taught by Teach Equip founders, Lindsay Schott and Kelly Needham
Small-group discussion and practice
Two downloadable PDFs for in-class use and future reference
Access for individuals or groups
A recording of the class sent afterward (perfect for review or if you can’t attend live)
An early-bird rate is available for anyone who registers before the end of the year. Register Now!
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