A method is disclosed for the generation of bone tissue by the preparation and the application to bone defect sites of a resorbable silica-calcium phosphate bioactive composite (SCPC) that finds utility as a bone tissue engineering scaffold. The resorbable silica-calcium phosphate bioactive composite can be applied directly to bone defect or can be employed as a bioactive coating on implants to facilitate bone growth around the implant. The resorbable silica-calcium phosphate bioactive composite is prepared from a mixture of a silica salt in an amount to provide between about 0.31 moles and about 0.93 moles of silica and calcium phosphate, said silica salt being present in the resorbable silica-calcium phosphate bioactive composite. The mixture is thermally treated at a temperature ranging between about 130° C. to about 1200° C. to form said resorbable silica-calcium phosphate bioactive composite having a phase composition comprising a thermally treated form of silica and calcium phosphate.