Some may be wondering about the timing behind Extra and the weekly Podcast. You may be surprised to learn about some of the whys behind these two helps and how that why impacts the release of the podcast.
Extra
Since the 1990s, the Explore the Bible adult team has posted an idea that explains how to use a current news event to begin and conclude the group time. We realized that many things could happen from the time we sent a resource to the printer and the time groups began using it. Extra was an effort to bridge that gap. The timing has remained the same since Extra was originally introduced.
A writer submits a file eleven days prior to the suggested Sunday for using the lesson. The idea is reviewed and edited so it can be posted the next day or ten days (Wednesday) prior to the suggested use date. We post 10 days out so church leaders who prepare for weekly meetings (virtual, face-to-face, or as a weekly email) will have the idea to include in their preparation.
On occasion, a writer may submit the weekly file earlier than eleven days if they have a vacation planned or are writing during the holidays. Regardless, the writer is directed to select a new item that is less than three months old and more recent if possible. Extra can be accessed here (you may want to bookmark the page for future reference).
Weekly Podcast
The weekly podcast was introduced in the Summer of 2019. The podcast features members of the editorial team that creates the resources. They share an outline, look at some of the questions they expect to get asked while teaching, and give some teaching tips. The podcast is recorded several weeks prior to the posting of the audio. This gives time for the audio to be edited but more importantly, if recorded soon after the team has completed the editorial work when the studies are fresh on their minds.
The podcasts are available two weeks prior to the suggested study date. This gives church leaders time to listen as they prepare to resource their leaders. We looked at releasing each week later to minimize confusion but doing so could make it a challenge for leaders who provide helps for their teachers a week in advance of the coming lesson.
The podcast can be accessed through podcast providers such as Google Podcats, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and various other podcast platforms. The podcast can also be accessed on the Explore the Bible site (you may want to bookmark the page for future reference) and on Ministry Grid.