Archive for the ‘Teacher Training’ Category

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Bible Teaching

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Teaching the Word of GodDo you realize, truly realize, that when you are teaching out of the Bible, what you are handling and sharing with others are the very words of the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of life, the all-knowing, all-powerful, always wise and sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords?

Scripture, though penned by human writers, is authored by God for “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). “All Scripture is God breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). 

No other book has the same authoritative base because of its Author … an absolute standard to live by.  No other book has as much power to change lives because of its Author … a relevant standard to live by.

Bible Teachers:  Do you believe this, truly believe this?  If you truly believe this, then you will treat God’s Word as unique and more important than any other book.  You will take great care to “rightly divide” it and then you will confidently and enthusiastically present A Lesson Worth Teaching.

Christian Teacher Training Blog

Train Bible Teachers Blog

Church Leaders:  Do you believe this, truly believe this? If you truly believe this, then you will make teacher training a priority.  You will develop a plan to make sure your Bible teachers are equipped to effectively teach the Word of God because you so value the Book they teach.  The Train Bible Teachers Blog could help you think through this process.

 

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How Sad When It’s Like They Were Never There

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

People come to your church, perhaps for Sunday School and/or the worship service.  Maybe they come out for a mid-week program and/or small groups.

  • How sad when they leave unchanged!
  • How sad when it’s like they were never there!

Perhaps they came with burdens that seemed too heavy to bear.  Maybe they came with a bad habit or sin they just can’t overcome.

  • How sad when they leave unchanged!
  • How sad when it’s like they were never there!

People may have come empty spiritually.  Perhaps they came never having put trust in the Lord to save them.

  • How sad when they leave unchanged!
  • How sad when it’s like they were never there!

You have probably heard it said, “Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time.”  As ministry leaders and teachers, we must be prayerful and purposeful in all we do to see people leaving changed and obvious that they were there.

  1. We must purposefully be the kind of leaders or teachers who make a difference.  – We must be prepared and be a model of the power of God at work in a person’s life.
  2. We must purposefully work at connecting with the whole person who walked through the door.  — We must help them know the unconditional and all-encompassing love of the Lord that reaches into every aspect of their lives.
  3. We must purposefully present God’s Word as the life changing, powerful Book it is.  – We must get them beyond head knowledge to heart knowledge that affects all they do.
  4. We must purposefully seek people’s participation in the process.  – We must encourage them to engage with truth and one another rather than be passive bystanders.

Here are tools to help:

The Aiming for Empty-less Teaching Teacher Training Session can be used with a group of teachers or small group leaders to discuss what it will take to see people leaving changed and obvious that they were there.

The article, Teaching for Changed Lives, uses an acrostic to show how people need to be changed from the inside out.

The Teaching for Changed Lives Workbook is a self-study guide encouraging teachers to set changed lives as the goal of each lesson.

The Christian Education Leadership Team Training is a session to help you get all of your Christian Education leaders working toward the same goal — that of seeing changed lives — and to understand what it will take to progressively move forward toward that goal, or to keep that “wheel” rolling.

Posted in Church Life, Teacher Training | No Comments »

The Role of Curriculum in Teaching the Bible

Friday, May 21st, 2010

The Christian Education ministry of a church spent a lot of time researching which curriculum to choose, resulting in a choice they believed would fit their church.  With this curriculum, over the course of time, people would potentially receive a well-rounded Bible education.  As they observed their teachers, they noted polar reactions to the role of the curriculum:

Some teachers wouldn’t leave home without it. 

These were teachers who were overly reliant on the curriculum.  They followed it to the letter, exercising little creative thought, making curriculum their all in all.  Some even taught with the teacher’s manual in hand, reading word for word.  If teaching didn’t go well, then they blamed the curriculum.

Other teachers would rather leave it at home. 

These were teachers who used the curriculum begrudgingly, viewing curriculum as a noose around their necks.  They would rather completely do their own thing but since the curriculum was required, they did just enough to make it appear like they were using the curriculum.  If teaching didn’t go well, then they blamed it on being confined by the curriculum.

What the Christian Education ministry skipped in the process, was training teachers on how to use the curriculum.

First, they needed to communicate why curriculum was necessary.  It was a means of keeping students on track to potentially receive a well-rounded Biblical education.  If teaching was not coordinated through the use of curriculum, it was possible content could be duplicated or overlapped within a short period of time and some important truths missed altogether.  Curriculum was not a substitute for the Bible but rather a tool to teach the Bible.

Second, they needed to present the curriculum as a a guide.  While it was important to use the curriculum, it was not expected that teachers had to teach it word for word.  At the same time, it did serve to keep everyone on track and so it was important to use it.

Third, they needed to emphasize that teachers held a critical part in making sure the lesson went well.  They couldn’t always blame the curriculum when teaching didn’t go well.  They needed to make any adjustments necessary to insure that the lesson plan fit their students.

Posted in Christian Education, Teacher Training | 4 Comments »

Hidden Messages in Disciplining

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Sometimes the message we intend to send when disciplining is not received that way because  . . .

Words and actions do not match:  Sometimes we will say one thing and do another … inconsistency.

Words and demeanor do not match:  Our tone of voice or body language give out a message different from what we are saying … mixed messages.

Words and intent do not match:  We say one thing but mean another … empty threats.

   : (   Is it then any wonder behavior doesn’t change?

Then there are those words that do match our actions, demeanor, and intent but we don’t think about their effect:  Frustration, anger, apathy, or disrespect are there and coming through.  Even then, we could think we are merely communicating our feelings about their behavior but they might be receiving a different message like:

It’s all about the teacher, not the student.  The teacher doesn’t really care about me.

It’s about putting the student in his/her place, not helping him do better.  The teacher thinks I’m stupid or hopeless.

   : (   Is it then any wonder behavior doesn’t change?

When you discipline, think before you speak.  Examine your heart.  Line up with God’s intent and focus in disciplining.  Choose your words carefully.  And then follow that proverbial wisdom to “say what you mean and mean what you say.” 

Article on MinTools.com that could help:
         Ten Things Not to Say When Disciplining

Posted in Teacher Training | 4 Comments »

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