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Know Your Group, Yourself, and Your Text
by Mark McElroy All teachers have their own way of approaching their tasks. However, there are some things from which nearly every teacher could benefit. If you are like most, there are some things related to teaching and leading a Bible study group that you do quite well and, there are some things that could use some further attention. What are some things you can do to improve your teaching and your Bible study group’s experience? Know Your Group—It is important that you as a teacher have a clear goal in mind for your teaching ministry. What kind of group do your participants need or want to be? What can you do to help them get there? Sunday school classes can fulfill a variety of functions. Some classes need a strong social component. An extended family is a good metaphor for such groups. In addition to Bible study and spiritual nourishment, the Bible study group can be a place to celebrate birthdays, enjoy holidays together, and even travel together. Some classes are comprised of folks who need a safe and quiet place for reflection and Bible study, but do not want to feel obligated to a lot of off campus Sunday school activities. For folks like this, the thoughts of a monthly day trip wouldn’t at all be inviting. Adults with busy schedules or couples raising children may not want another regular entry on their calendars. For groups like this, even monthly social gatherings can be too much. It doesn’t mean that they don’t enjoy each other’s company. It does, however, mean that they don’t have much leftover time to give to a Bible study group. For groups like this, try quarterly socials that involve the entire class. Be sure to arrange for childcare if appropriate. In addition to events outside of the Bible study hour that involve the entire group, try organizing smaller, less taxing occasions for good fellowship. Play dinner roulette every other month. Find some simple way to hook one household up with another for a simple meal, meeting at a restaurant, or simply going out for ice cream. Know Yourself—When’s the last time you simply attended Sunday school without teaching responsibilities? If you have to think long about this, it has probably been too long. It is of no benefit to you or your Bible study group for you to neglect your own needs for care and adult interaction. This is especially true of teachers in preschool, children’s, and youth departments. Some adults volunteer to teach in some age-graded area (youth, children, etc.) in order to avoid attending an adult class which could ultimately help them grow personally. It is noble to be a loyal and committed teacher of children and toddlers; however, you need a respite on a regular basis and a long-term periodic break. Ask your Sunday school director about a substitute teacher on a monthly or bimonthly basis. Also, take a year off from teaching at least every five or six years. A home study group, weekly teachers’ meeting, or Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study group can be a great resource for Sunday school teachers with responsibilities every Sunday. Know yourself and your own needs. Neglecting your own needs for Christian community serves no one well. Know Your Lesson Text—Sometimes we need a reminder of the basics and the obvious. When teaching Scripture, knowing the text is a must. There are several layers of “knowing” a text. The text can be information. Or, the text can be a portrait into which you try to see yourself. Be aware of all the tools at your disposal for understanding everything you can about a Scripture text including who wrote it, why it was written, to whom it was written, and how it would have sounded to the original recipients. If you are using traditional Sunday school literature, check out the teaching guide and the commentary. Regardless of what you use, add to your library a good Bible dictionary and one volume commentary. Don’t ignore the challenge Scripture poses you personally. If the lesson is on evangelism and that’s an area you struggle with, be honest about it and let the class see your honest struggle. Allowing Scripture to dismantle us is a very valid way of “knowing” a text. For the benefit of yourself and your class, try this simple exercise: |
