I want to take an hour of your time to equip you with some new tools for teaching. But first let me tell you how much I appreciate all of you. I am thankful for you and your willingness to serve Christ and His body with your gifts and talents. I want us to realize that we are in this thing together and we are a team. You might say that we are a small family within the larger family of our church.
As Pastor over adult education It is my desire to help all of you succeed at teaching and facilitating your classes and groups. I also want it to be a joy and fruitful. In order to help you, I would like us to meet quarterly and each time we will have opportunity to fellowship, ask questions, voice concerns and ideas and learn about some additional tools and methods that might help you become even more successful.
Start with opening prayer over the meeting
1st. I want to take a few minutes to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
2nd. Give praises and testimonies over what God has done through you and in the lives of your students.
Because this is our first meeting together, I want to share some basics for you to consider as teachers/facilitators. In the future meetings we will get much deeper into the methods of teaching that can help you. So tonight we will build on the foundation.
The health of the teacher. Us. In order to be effective and stay effective as teachers, we need to be healthy spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Let me share with you several things for you to consider in order to give you the best chance of staying effective and fruitful.
BALANCE YOUR LIVES (COLOSSIANS 3:12-17)
I call it balance. We have to keep our lives in balance. And if we are really Christians that are following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we need to start there. We need to be a healthy example to our students with our lives. (Not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. or Talk the Truth and walk the Truth!)
Most of what I am about to recommend comes from Colossians 3;12-17. Please listen to these Words. (Read passage)
1. JESUS 1ST. (v.16 Dwell in you richly)
The demands of this world can’t creep into our relationship with Jesus. Adding the responsibilities of teaching and preparing lessons can be one more things that competes with our time with the Lord.
In John 15:4 and really all over John 15 we learn that we can do nothing outside of Christ. But if we remain in Him and He in us then we can bear fruit.
YOU EACH HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU. PLEASE WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU DO EACH DAY TO REMAIN IN CHRIST OR TO DWELL IN HIM RICHLY? THIS IS ANONYMOUS SO DON’T SIGN YOUR NAME. THEN I WILL READ THEM OUT LOUD. THIS WILL GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE SAME AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES WE HAVE TO MEETING PERSONALLY WITH OUR LORD.
My way of remaining: I talk to God before I ever let my feet hit the ground. I then read His Word and apply it to my life with an open heart to the Holy Spirit. I pray again over what I just read and ask God to have his way in me and to help me with what He just taught me or requested of me. I ask for His protection and guidance for the day and for others. I talk to Him throughout my day.
In addition to these things, I often times journal to the Lord and I have a prayer list that I pray over. Quite honestly, I need to do better in this area. My list includes people that are under my teaching.
Don’t forget to be involved in one interactive bible study or Sunday School class and have at least one accountability partner that you are completely open with on a regular basis.
FAMILY (V.17: WORD OR DEED EVERYWHERE AND GLANCE DOWN TO V.18-21)
Be sure that you are fulfilling your responsibilities in the home. Spouse, kids, household duties, etc. Your ministry cannot be blessed by God if you neglect your family. And you won’t be used by God for very long if you neglect them because you won’t have them. If they check out or your family unravels then you will disqualify yourself from this awesome calling from God. But keep it in it’s rightful place.
FINANCIAL (V.17: AGAIN HAS TO DO WITH YOUR DEEDS)
Your job and other financial responsibilities need to be and stay a priority in your life. We don’t want to lose our testimony at work by short changing work in order to do well at teaching Sunday School or a small group. Some have put a hardship on their employers and even their own families by neglecting work in order to teach. Remember, BALANCE.
Tithes and offerings: (V.17: FORM OF GIVING THANKS)
We can also look at 1 Cor 16:1-2 and 2 Cor. 9:7 for some insight. Be a regular giver to your church with a cheerful heart unto the Lord and give offerings above your tithe as God leads you. Be consistent in supporting your church. Be an example in this area of trust and stewardship.
A. Don’t forget the Sabbath. Too many noble Christians will add more to their plate out of their love for the Lord and to serve Him and they will load the plate so full with responsibilities that they even fill up the Sabbath. Keep a Sabbath day. You will burn out without one and you will be violating God’s command to rest.
B. Plus, Schedule to take breaks from teaching too. Remind me when you need a break for a week, two, a quarter or even a year.
5. STAY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE REST OF THE BODY (v.15 MEMBERS OF ONE BODY)
Don’t let teaching make you an isolated christian. The Christian life is giving and receiving. We are dependent upon God in our freedom as Christians but he has designed us to be dependent upon each other as His children.
KEEP A SPIRIT OF PRAISE ( V.15B & 16B)
The scriptures here make it clear that we should be thankful and in the middle of all that we do, especially the call to teach, have praises in our hearts and oozing out of our mouths and being! Have gratitude.
LAST: BE CONSISTENT (v.17)
Have God Honoring Consistency (Col 3:17) When we are consistently living a balanced Christian life, then we are being Jesus in every situation, whether we are alone and no one is watching or in a classroom or on a stage.
Our faith needs to show itself in every area of life, not just when we teach others. We need to live what we believe, so that means that we will be christians that live our faith
at..
1. home 2. at work 3. In conduction business 4. Spending money 5. In serving others 6. In responding to needs of others 7. And in the way that we react or respond to others.
Teachers that live balanced christian lives will be fruitful and will stay healthy and affective in the work of the Kingdom. (Matthew 6:33)
NEXT: 5 MINUTES OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TOOLS TALK TOPIC OF “BALANCE”
IN CLOSING: I have a hand out for you. This is a hand out on Burnout put together by our denomination. Please read it and respond to me on our Facebook page for teachers only. (This isn’t developed yet in real life) Let me know what was valuable for you in that and if you have any questions. The whole group will see your comments and we can learn, grow together and be encouraged together in this process.
CLOSING PRAYER:
CHECK OUT THE RESOURCE TABLE:
I would also have a table with resources: Here are a few of the resources I would provide; Devotionals: Oswald Chambers, Life Journals, John Maxwell books on leadership such as the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The current Bible Studies and small groups, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class, etc.
Thanks and sure you can use it. I feel like it needs a bit more tweaking or just to make it my own or your own as you go through it. That things come to your mind that hasn't been written down.
TEACHING TEACHERS TO TEACH
Preparing to Teach
Helpful Hints
I want to take an hour of your time to equip you with some new tools for teaching. But first let me tell you how much I appreciate all of you. I am thankful for you and your willingness to serve Christ and His body with your gifts and talents. I want us to realize that we are in this thing together and we are a team. You might say that we are a small family within the larger family of our church.
As Pastor over adult education It is my desire to help all of you succeed at teaching and facilitating your classes and groups. I also want it to be a joy and fruitful. In order to help you, I would like us to meet quarterly and each time we will have opportunity to fellowship, ask questions, voice concerns and ideas and learn about some additional tools and methods that might help you become even more successful.
Start with opening prayer over the meeting
1st. I want to take a few minutes to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
2nd. Give praises and testimonies over what God has done through you and in the lives of your students.
PART TWO OF HELPFUL HINTS COMING
HELPFUL HINTS CONTINUED, PART II.
3rd. New tools:
Because this is our first meeting together, I want to share some basics for you to consider as teachers/facilitators. In the future meetings we will get much deeper into the methods of teaching that can help you. So tonight we will build on the foundation.
The health of the teacher. Us. In order to be effective and stay effective as teachers, we need to be healthy spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Let me share with you several things for you to consider in order to give you the best chance of staying effective and fruitful.
BALANCE YOUR LIVES (COLOSSIANS 3:12-17)
I call it balance. We have to keep our lives in balance. And if we are really Christians that are following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we need to start there. We need to be a healthy example to our students with our lives. (Not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. or Talk the Truth and walk the Truth!)
Most of what I am about to recommend comes from Colossians 3;12-17. Please listen to these Words. (Read passage)
1. JESUS 1ST. (v.16 Dwell in you richly)
The demands of this world can’t creep into our relationship with Jesus. Adding the responsibilities of teaching and preparing lessons can be one more things that competes with our time with the Lord.
In John 15:4 and really all over John 15 we learn that we can do nothing outside of Christ. But if we remain in Him and He in us then we can bear fruit.
YOU EACH HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU. PLEASE WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU DO EACH DAY TO REMAIN IN CHRIST OR TO DWELL IN HIM RICHLY? THIS IS ANONYMOUS SO DON’T SIGN YOUR NAME. THEN I WILL READ THEM OUT LOUD. THIS WILL GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE SAME AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES WE HAVE TO MEETING PERSONALLY WITH OUR LORD.
My way of remaining: I talk to God before I ever let my feet hit the ground. I then read His Word and apply it to my life with an open heart to the Holy Spirit. I pray again over what I just read and ask God to have his way in me and to help me with what He just taught me or requested of me. I ask for His protection and guidance for the day and for others. I talk to Him throughout my day.
In addition to these things, I often times journal to the Lord and I have a prayer list that I pray over. Quite honestly, I need to do better in this area. My list includes people that are under my teaching.
Don’t forget to be involved in one interactive bible study or Sunday School class and have at least one accountability partner that you are completely open with on a regular basis.
FAMILY (V.17: WORD OR DEED EVERYWHERE AND GLANCE DOWN TO V.18-21)
Be sure that you are fulfilling your responsibilities in the home. Spouse, kids, household duties, etc. Your ministry cannot be blessed by God if you neglect your family. And you won’t be used by God for very long if you neglect them because you won’t have them. If they check out or your family unravels then you will disqualify yourself from this awesome calling from God. But keep it in it’s rightful place.
FINANCIAL (V.17: AGAIN HAS TO DO WITH YOUR DEEDS)
Your job and other financial responsibilities need to be and stay a priority in your life. We don’t want to lose our testimony at work by short changing work in order to do well at teaching Sunday School or a small group. Some have put a hardship on their employers and even their own families by neglecting work in order to teach. Remember, BALANCE.
Tithes and offerings: (V.17: FORM OF GIVING THANKS)
We can also look at 1 Cor 16:1-2 and 2 Cor. 9:7 for some insight. Be a regular giver to your church with a cheerful heart unto the Lord and give offerings above your tithe as God leads you. Be consistent in supporting your church. Be an example in this area of trust and stewardship.
HELPFUL HINTS, PART III.
REST:
A. Don’t forget the Sabbath. Too many noble Christians will add more to their plate out of their love for the Lord and to serve Him and they will load the plate so full with responsibilities that they even fill up the Sabbath. Keep a Sabbath day. You will burn out without one and you will be violating God’s command to rest.
B. Plus, Schedule to take breaks from teaching too. Remind me when you need a break for a week, two, a quarter or even a year.
5. STAY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE REST OF THE BODY (v.15 MEMBERS OF ONE BODY)
Don’t let teaching make you an isolated christian. The Christian life is giving and receiving. We are dependent upon God in our freedom as Christians but he has designed us to be dependent upon each other as His children.
KEEP A SPIRIT OF PRAISE ( V.15B & 16B)
The scriptures here make it clear that we should be thankful and in the middle of all that we do, especially the call to teach, have praises in our hearts and oozing out of our mouths and being! Have gratitude.
LAST: BE CONSISTENT (v.17)
Have God Honoring Consistency (Col 3:17) When we are consistently living a balanced Christian life, then we are being Jesus in every situation, whether we are alone and no one is watching or in a classroom or on a stage.
Our faith needs to show itself in every area of life, not just when we teach others. We need to live what we believe, so that means that we will be christians that live our faith
at..
1. home 2. at work 3. In conduction business 4. Spending money 5. In serving others 6. In responding to needs of others 7. And in the way that we react or respond to others.
Teachers that live balanced christian lives will be fruitful and will stay healthy and affective in the work of the Kingdom. (Matthew 6:33)
NEXT: 5 MINUTES OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TOOLS TALK TOPIC OF “BALANCE”
IN CLOSING: I have a hand out for you. This is a hand out on Burnout put together by our denomination. Please read it and respond to me on our Facebook page for teachers only. (This isn’t developed yet in real life) Let me know what was valuable for you in that and if you have any questions. The whole group will see your comments and we can learn, grow together and be encouraged together in this process.
CLOSING PRAYER:
CHECK OUT THE RESOURCE TABLE:
I would also have a table with resources: Here are a few of the resources I would provide; Devotionals: Oswald Chambers, Life Journals, John Maxwell books on leadership such as the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The current Bible Studies and small groups, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class, etc.
MORE FELLOWSHIP
WOW! GREAT STUFF. MAY I BORROW IT FOR FUTURE CLASSES?
Thanks and sure you can use it. I feel like it needs a bit more tweaking or just to make it my own or your own as you go through it. That things come to your mind that hasn't been written down.
I LIKE T HAT APPROACHPastor Harvey Shapiro1481 Panorama WayClarkdale, AZ 86324928-649-5797