Preparing teachers for independent study makes them feel competent, more confident in their teaching and more excited about their work. The study and teaching of the Bible becomes an adventure of discovering what the Bible teaches. Instead of being spoon-fed by me, they suddenly feel free to contribute some of their own ideas. We can't teach people everything they need to know, but we can teach them where and how to find it.
As a pastor for 17 years, I have tried to demonstrate a mindset of extreme preparedness for my ministry teams. Just as a chef who knows the science of cooking can get the most out of a book recipe, a skilled Sunday school teacher can optimize the curriculum. It is important to realize that everything a teacher or teacher says (illustrations, words, use of Greek words), anything he or she chooses to say must support a point, a topic, the idea or the principle that God is teaching in the passage being studied. Passion is rooted in the ground of personal experience, where a teacher can see the needs up close and personal, and lives change before his very eyes.
Pray that your teachers will learn and grow from the study of the scriptures, because from this a deeper teaching will flow. He enjoyed teaching again, and it was no surprise when I discovered that college students loved his teaching. One of the ways I have taught my own children to discern a strong biblical preacher is to calculate how long it takes them to read the Bible or enter the scriptures. Allow room for questions and conversations that build your relationship with the person you are teaching, as well as your relationship with God.
Like the military, the church wants teachers who impart not only knowledge and skills, but also passion. Elders set the character and tone of the teaching ministry, so unity in teaching philosophy is necessary. But once people are gathered, what is the best way to continue fostering a fruitful environment? The key is to have strong and unforgettable Bible lessons. One young woman, an award-winning interior designer, saw that her church needed a Sunday school teacher for one of the children's classes.
Once some of these teachers warm up, it's hard to stop them, and they often conclude with something like: If you're not in this, you're frankly missing out on the greatest blessing in this place. The fundamental question is not what the teacher does, but what the student does as a result of what the teacher does.
