preparing to teach in the church
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Preparing and Planningto TeachPeter ColemanCory Davis
Preparing and Planning to TeachShort Term - Developing a lesson
This element involves those steps whereby one develops a lesson, directs it toward his or her students and organizes its delivery
Long Term - Developing a teacher
This element involves the spiritual formation, growth in knowledge and skills of a teacher
Culture of EquippingIn a culture of equipping, teachers will be empowered to fulfill their calling of God to teach by a process whereby teachers are developed by ministers and other teachers for the skills and knowledge necessary to teach God’s Word
Culture of EquippingHallmarks of a culture of equipping
Teachers can feel free to approach their pastor, education minister or division director concerning their needs in both the long term and short term elements of preparing to teach
Ministers are actively engaged in developing their teachers
Mentorships can be offered whereby ministers can train teachers and more-experienced teachers can mentor less-experienced teachers
In this element, teachers prepare themselves to teach by spiritual formation, training up in knowledge, both biblical and theological, and in the skills and methodologies of teaching, and by building relationships with those whom they teach
Long Term Development
Long Term DevelopmentSpiritual Formation
Spiritual formation is done by the practice of the spiritual disciplines (e.g. Scripture memory, prayer)
Teachers should be held accountable for the continued maturation in the Christian Faith
Long Term DevelopmentBiblical KnowledgeThis primarily comes about by a steady diet of reading Scripture, and not just the passage for the next lesson
The advantage of this is that each passage taught is understood more fully as it relates to the rest of Scripture
Also, many resources are available to teach biblical knowledge (e.g. OT & NT surveys, character studies)
Note on ResourcesResources, valuable though they may be, can never replace the guidance of those in the church
Ministers can develop long-term curricula for developing knowledge that is graduated for continually increasing knowledge
Resources must be tested for alignment with each church’s teaching
Long Term DevelopmentTheologyThis study will help prepare for lessons that might center on a specific doctrine instead of a particular passage of Scripture
Theological foundations will also help the teacher answer many of the questions that might arise as Scripture is taught
This area may take special guidance from the pastor to ensure congruity with church teaching
Long Term DevelopmentRelationships
Building relationships with students is a task that goes far beyond the preparation of a lesson plan
However, doing so prepares one to teach because the teacher can then better address his or her students and the students will be more receptive of a message from one whom they’ve come to know
Short Term DevelopmentStudents - Who are you teaching?
Setting - Where are you teaching?
Material - What are you teaching?
Objective - Why are you teaching?
Style - How are you teaching?
Short Term DevelopmentStudents
If possible, get to know your students
Relationships trump demographics every time
Throughout Scripture, teaching is an intensely personal experience
Discern the students’ level of maturityThe learners are the most important part of the lesson - Yount, Lawson, Mcguire, etc.
Short Term DevelopmentSettingChoose the setting
Be intentional about where your group meets
Sanctuary? Classroom? Home? Coffee Shop?
Tailoring the lesson to fit a given setting
Volume level, distracting activities, seating space
Short Term DevelopmentMaterialsChoosing material
Age, gender, venue, maturity, theme
Chosen material
Exegetical? Word studies and context
Topical? Cross-references and meta-narrative
Non-biblical material like book and film review or published Christian works
Short Term DevelopmentObjective
Curriculum, properly defined, is and integral part of the church’s plan for discipleship1
1LAWSON, CH. 19.2YOUNT, CH. 13.
“A properly prepares instructional objective provides a target for teaching2”
Tailor the lesson to the objective, not vice versa
Short Term DevelopmentStyle
All of the other factors will dictate the style: Which style best conveys this objective to these students in this setting with this material?
Powerpoint, handouts, discussion, lecture, object lesson etc.
Does your church:
1. Equip teachers to relate to their students?
2. Provide adequate settings or help their teachers to adapt to settings?
3. Equip teachers to teach a variety of materials? What helps are available?
4. Have clear teaching objectives?
5. Accommodate different styles of teaching?
Culture of Equipping