I have heard both of those half a dozen times in nearly fifty years, and always in connection with either my or Keith's Bible classes. Other teachers have told me that they have heard it, too. It always refers to any Bible class that asks for a couple hours prep time with several chapters of reading and answering questions that are not easy multiple choice or true/false or simple one word answers.
I understand that many of us are busy. But I also understand that a Christian ought to be spending some time every day in study and prayer. That should go without saying. Maybe that's the first problem—it can't go without saying.
If you read your Bible every day, which I hope you do, try letting that time be your prep time for class. If nothing else, you can attend a class having read the scriptures that were assigned. Then be prepared to take copious notes when you get there, rather than just sitting there while the information floats in one ear and out the other. Go home and spend the next day's Bible reading time going over your notes and rereading the scriptures to see if they make more sense now. That will also help cement them into your mind.
But if you can't do that because you aren't spending time in prayers and study every day, you have some serious thinking to do about where you stand with God. Some priorities need rearranging because when you call Jesus "Lord," you are telling him that you will dedicate your whole life to him, not just Sunday mornings. When you claim to be a child of God, you are telling Him that you love Him as much as any child would love a Father. How does refusing to attend or study for a Bible class in order to receive His communication with us fit with that? How much trouble was it for God to put on mortality and experience, for the first time in Eternity, discomfort, pain, hunger, exhaustion, and even such minor indignities as heartburn and indigestion? How hard was it for him to bear being mocked, ridiculed, spat on, and flogged to within an inch of his life? And how difficult was it for him to suffocate over several hours' time on a cross with what amounted to railroad spikes pounded into his ankles and wrists? Nothing should be too hard or too much trouble for us in our service to God and Christ.
I would hope that I will never hear that statement again. Unfortunately, since I wrote this a few weeks ago, I already have.
…Who has given {God} so much that He needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! (Rom 11:35-36).
Dene Ward