Category Archives: Teacher Training

Having worked in church positions responsible for training teachers, I know how easy it is to get into a rut.  Contributing factors include:

• convention – what we’ve always done
• comfort – what fits my learning style or personality
• convenience – what fits my busy schedule

To keep from getting into, or staying in, a teacher training rut, I needed to constantly put myself in places where I would be challenged — getting into God’s Word and letting His Spirit prod me, reading books, attending training sessions myself, networking with others, finding a prayer partner, taking time to listen to the teachers, etc.

Challenged in Means of Providing Bible Teachers Training

As I allowed myself to be stretched, I was in a better position to equip others.  I learned that:

1. One size does not fit all.  Doing training the same way it’s always been done is bound to miss meeting the true needs of the teachers. Cookie cutter approaches do little to tailor training to them, thus missing true needs.

2. It is not all about me.  Each person on the teaching staff also had their own preferred ways of learning due to learning styles and personalities.

3. Some things are worth the extra time and effort.  Having well-equipped teachers makes such a difference for eternity as they more effectively invest into the lives of their students.

Out of these challenges comes the need for variety in how teacher training is done.

Learn more at TrainBibleTeachers.com: Means of Teacher Training

As communicated in a previous post about having a teacher training plan, I have worked full-time as a Director of Christian Education and have also volunteered through the years in various leadership roles in Sunday School, VBS, and more.

One of the biggest drawbacks I found was knowing where to find training resources.  The Internet was not readily accessible through the earlier years of my church work.  We did have a local Christian bookstore so that helped somewhat.

Now, however, if you are reading this post, you, like me, have instant access to a wealth of information through the web.  Still, however, Christian teacher training is not always easy to find, especially on specific topics or formats.  And, a lot of time can be consumed searching.

Finding Resources to Help with Bible Teachers Training

The MinTools.com site has always included a fair amount of helps for those involved in a teaching ministry.  In addition to equipping articles, you’ll also find a teaching resources page.

In time I sensed an even greater need so TrainBibleTeachers.com was developed as a teacher training division of Ministry Tools Resource Center.  What began as primarily a membership based site has now opened lists of training resources to the world.  Having worked in a church, and knowing what it can be like to find resources, my heart’s desire is to see more churches develop a teacher training plan tailored to teacher needs which takes resources.

Check out the resource pages for various training topics at TrainBibleTeachers.com. You’ll find help with age level characteristics, issues teachers might have in teaching, tips for teaching specific topics, as well as skills teachers need. Go To: Teacher Training Resources

I’ve worked full-time in a church as a Director of Christian Education.  I know the many details to which someone in this position must attend.  I served as a volunteer leader of Sunday School and have directed Vacation Bible School.  I know what it is like to juggle work and family responsibilities with all there is to do in directing a Sunday School program or VBS.

Out of that background, of having served in the educational ministry of a church in both paid and volunteer positions, I have drawn this conclusion about teacher training:  You need a plan!

Why You Need a Plan for Teacher Training

Both full-time staff and volunteer leaders are busy.  Other week to week responsibilities can quickly consume your time, etching out a long-range effort of equipping teachers.  Developing a plan will put teacher training on your schedule of important tasks not to be overlooked.

The people you recruit are at varying places in Bible knowledge, teaching experience, and skills that need to be honed.  Because you are so busy, it is all too easy to settle for a one-size-fits all approach to teacher training.  Developing a plan will increase the likelihood of providing training tailored to individual teachers.

The people you recruit are also busy.  To include training into their hectic schedules, they need sufficiently advanced notice of these expectations and they need to feel it is worth their time.  Developing a training plan will communicate the worth you place on equipping and will enable you to avoid last minute notifications.  You will be able to share training opportunities when recruiting so people know what to expect.

Learn more at TrainBibleTeacher.com:  Teacher Training Plan

More Help with Bible Teachers Training

Click on the links below to posts that address more Teacher Training Needs:

• You Need Resources
• You Need to be Challenged

Also get help in this resource: Teacher Training Module  (The module, which can be ordered separately, is part of the Christian Education Files resource.)

In a previous post we looked at 3 important lessons from the Master Teacher:

As the Master Teacher, we will find in Jesus many more important lessons for us as Bible teachers.  Let’s look at three more lessons.

3 Important Lessons for Bible Teachers from the Example of the Master Teacher, Jesus

1) Authority of the Master Teacher:  Though God Himself, Jesus submitted to the Father.  He spoke and acted as the Father directed (Jn. 5:19, 30; 10:18; 14:10).  He let the Father set the parameters, not Himself.  He yielded His will to the Father’s will, even when it meant a cruel and torturous death (Matt. 26:39; Phil. 2:5-8).  He made sure others knew the Father was the standard and that they were not to believe Him unless He did what His Father did (Jn. 10:37).

Questions for Bible Teachers: 

Help for Bible Teachers:

2) Approach of the Master Teacher:  Though Jesus knew all things, He didn’t inundate people with everything He knew.  He didn’t tell all the answers to their questions. He used an approach that made them think.  He often threw it back on them in the form of a questions, sometimes answering a question with a question.  (See: Matt. 16:13; 22:45-46; 23:17; Mk. 2:25-26; 3:4; 8:29; 10:3)

Questions for Bible Teachers:

Help for Bible Teachers:

3) Accommodation of the Master Teacher:  Jesus knew how to connect with people, to meet them where they were.  Though He was God, He refrained from using lofty language that would show His academic superiority.  He spoke using words and concepts from their everyday life.  Jesus was a master at using object lessons to teach truths in order to make a bridge from the known to the unknown (Matt. 18:1-6; 22:15-22).

Questions for Bible Teachers:

Help for Bible Teachers:

Jesus’ teaching ministry provides many valuable lessons for Bible teachers today.

What Bible Teachers Can Learn from Jesus, the Master Teacher

Here are just three of the many lessons we can learn about teaching God’s Word from the Master Teacher:

1. His Power Source:  submission to God as seen in His prayer life

Jesus enveloped what He did with prayer.  He prayed before, during, and after.  “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Lk. 5:16).  He made prayer a priority.  He had purpose in praying.  His disciples learned the value of prayer from His example.  “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray'” (Lk. 11:1).

Question for Bible Teachers:  Are your students learning from your example of submission and dependence on the Father?

Help for Bible Teachers:  Praying Like You Truly Believe HE is the Source of All You Need

2. His Character:  servanthood as seen in His selfless acts of love for others

Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory, “taking the very nature of a servant” (Phil. 2:7).  “For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45).  “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).  Jesus invested into the lives of His students.  He did not merely teach lessons.

Question for Bible Teachers:  Are you truly there to serve students and not merely teach a lesson?

Help for Bible Teachers:  DISCIPLESHIP: Isn’t teaching a lesson enough?

3. His Methodology:  storytelling as seen in His constant use of parables

While Jesus used a variety of methods, His primary means of reaching the masses was through parables (stories) as seen in Matthew 13:34-35 and Mark 4:33-34.  Jesus used familiar objects and situations from their culture in stories to make connections.  People were able to identify with the characters or situations which challenged them to want to understand more (Mk. 4:10) or make up their minds about what they would do with the Truth (Matt. 21:45-46).

Question for Bible Teachers: Are you effectively using stories to connect with your students?

Help for Bible Teachers:  Keys to Visualizing the Story Without Visual Aids

More Lessons:  3 More Important Lessons for Bible Teachers from the Master Teacher