Teach for the glory of God. Think of the time that you are committing in preparation and teaching
as a holy sacrifice to the Lord for the sake of his mission in the world.
Prepare prayerfully. Remember that God has more at stake in the lesson than you do. Ask that
the Lord would astonish you anew through his Word as you prepare and likewise
pray that God would astonish the class as it works through the lesson. To
paraphrase Paul, “Some teachers plant, others water, but God will make it
grow.”
Remember that there is always more that could
be said. Class time is precious and passes quickly. It
is the rare class when everything works out precisely as you planned it. This is the
irony of teaching and learning. It is an ongoing and never ending process.
Don’t let this frustrate you. Be grateful for the privilege of being able to
facilitate for others the learning and grappling with the Scriptures.
Always save time for reflection on how a text desires to shape us. Ultimately, learning
about the Scripture must lead to transformation and change. We don’t study Scripture
to master ancient history or accumulate answers to Bible trivia. We study the
text as a means to becoming more godly in our lives so that God can use us to
extend his love, grace, and mercy to others. Once you have worked through the
details in the text push the class to discuss tangible ways in which the
message can be lived out in our daily lives. It is vital to think of your role as a facilitator for transformation.
Have fun.
At the end of the day, what can be more satisfying and enjoyable than
reflecting on God’s Word with a group of fellow pilgrims seeking to live lives
pleasing to God? Don’t take yourself to seriously. Be enthusiastic and
interested in the material. Such an attitude will prove infectious to the class
and set the tone for a meaningful hour of study together.
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