PREPARATION FOR TEACHING:
One Of The Most Important Jobs You Will Ever Have!


PART SEVEN – WHAT IS TEACHING ALL ABOUT?


Have you ever stopped to think about what it means to be a teacher? Teaching, by definition, is the presentation and guidance of activities to change the life of the hearer. Within the Sunday school and church, the teacher’s purpose is to help others become Christians and then to see them grow in Christ and apply His Word and His will to their daily lives.

Teaching the Word of God is exciting. It is a privilege beyond measure. But remember, God holds teachers responsible for clear, Biblically-sound presentation of His Word to those that He has entrusted to them. That is a sobering responsibility.

True, students do their own learning. Teachers cannot force information into the heads of their pupils and they cannot make their students accept Jesus Christ. However, to a large degree, the teacher can greatly influence their students as they guide the learning experience that takes place within the classroom, as they share their own personal experiences, as they set an example, as they help their students see that living their life as a Christian can be fun and exciting, and as they pray for and encourage each of their students in their Christian walk.

To make sure that their teachers realize the importance of the task to which they have been called and to make sure that prospective teachers understand what is and what will be expected of them, many churches use a “Teacher’s Covenant.” A “Teacher’s Covenant” is a “contract” that the teacher is asked to make with the church and with God. This “contract” is related to what the teacher promises to do personally and spiritually as they serve as a teacher within the church.

A sample “Teacher’s Covenant” might ask the teacher to make the following commitments…
          1. I will live what I teach.
          2. I will be faithful in attendance.
          3. I desire to see all members won to Christ.
          4. I will carefully prepare all lessons.
          5. I will attend worship.
          6. I will teach according to the doctrine of my church.
          7. I will be concerned for absentees.
          8. I will attend teacher’s meetings and training.
          9. I will serve according to the term of service to which I have been called.
          10. I will honor the guidance, leadership and decisions of my church and its leaders.

Every Sunday school teacher must realize and accept the responsibility of keeping their personal relationship with God fresh and vital through prayer and Bible reading. Students can easily see the importance that the teacher places on the things that they are teaching. If students are really to have a desire to learn more about God, His Word and His will, they must see that the teacher has a genuine desire to grow in each of these areas and is continually working to become a better, more faithful follower of Christ.

In many ways, teachers teach more by who they are and what they do than by what they say in teaching a lesson. The love, care and concern that they show for all of their students is a direct indication of their love for Jesus Christ.

The importance of the teacher’s behavior outside the classroom should also never be underestimated. The life of the teacher must exhibit the messages that they are speaking in their lessons. Remember, actions do speak louder than words. If students realize that the teacher is not living the lessons that are being taught, they will quickly ask why they should be expected to live them either.

No Sunday school teacher is perfect. No teacher will ever have as much knowledge of the Bible as they should. No teacher will ever have all of the answers. No teacher will ever present a perfect lesson every week. However, it is important to remember that God has promised to always be with us. As mentioned earlier, in “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19 & 20), Jesus directed each of us to “go,” to “make disciples,” to “baptize,” and to “teach.” But, He didn’t say “now you’re on your own.” No! In the second half of verse 20, he said, “And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” And that is certainly one of the best assurances that any person can have. As we try to learn and grow as Christians and as teachers, as we prepare our lessons, as we present our lessons, and as we try to live our lives in a way that will honor Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that through the Holy Spirit, He is always with each of us.

It is also important to remember that being a teacher in the Sunday school and church is not just about the work, time and commitment involved. Teaching Sunday school also has many rewards. Just about every Sunday school teacher will tell you that as they have studied to prepare their lessons, they have actually learned much more than they would ever have learned as a student. Teaching Sunday school also gives the teacher a special feeling of satisfaction – satisfaction that they are doing God’s will and that they are helping lead others to Jesus Christ, and to help them learn more about Him and His will for their lives. And, seeing one of your students come to know Christ as their own personal Lord will bring the teacher joy beyond belief!

And, one other important note: We need to remember that not everyone has been called to be a teacher in the church or Sunday school. Not everyone possesses the gift of teaching. As churches, we often assume that anyone can be a teacher and should willingly accept our plea to accept the job. However, as the Apostle Paul pointed out, there are many different “gifts” that have been given to persons within the church. God has called some to be preachers, some evangelists, some prophets, and so on. Not everyone has been called to be a preacher or an evangelist and we should also be aware that not everyone has been called to be a teacher. Certainly God has something special that He wants each of us to do for Him, for the church and for other people, but not everyone has been given the talents and other qualifications needed to be a teacher.

In their book, “Why Nobody Learns Much Of Anything At Church: And How To Fix It,” Thom & Joani Schultz make the following statement, “The average teacher has no particular desire to succeed. He considers himself a success already, but he is mistaken.” Only when Sunday school teachers truly understand the great importance of the job to which they have been called and make a genuine commitment to do the things necessary to fulfill their duties as a teacher, will we find true success in our Sunday schools.


QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT…


1. Read the “Teacher’s Covenant” listed above. What is your opinion of each of the commitments that the “Teacher’s Covenant” asks the prospective teacher to make? Would you be willing to make each of these commitments yourself? Would you make any changes in this list?


2. What should be done with teachers who sign a “Teacher’s Covenant” but do not live up to their part of the commitment?


3. What other commitments should Sunday school teachers be expected to make to their job?


4. What does a teacher get out of teaching in the church and Sunday school?


5. Read the statement by Thom & Joani Schultz again. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? What is the potential implication of this statement on a Sunday school and its growth?