Skip to main content

Lessons that T.E.A.C.H.

by Kurt Johnston

Over the years, I've taught a lot of lessons. On occasion, my lessons miss the mark. While there's certainly no magic formula for teaching success, here's a filter that has helped me: I evaluate each lesson by looking at what I've prepared and asking myself, Does this lesson T.E.A.C.H.?

  • Is it True? Is it biblically sound? Are verses used in context? Is the whole of Scripture considered? When putting a lesson together, it's easy to take verses out of context to prove a point.
  • Is it Encouraging? Does this lesson motivate members toward some action or commitment? If I'm teaching a hard truth, am I doing so in an encouraging way? After all, it's the good news!
  • Is it Applicable? Does this study or lesson apply to the world of the member? Have I made the effort to make a biblical truth actually true to them? Does this lesson equip them to live out their faith beyond the walls of the church?
  • Is it Clear? Is this lesson easily understood? Is it logical? Does it have a flow?
  • Is it Humorous? Many people expect Bible studies to be boring. Surprise them by adding a few humorous stories and some lively interaction. When members are smiling and laughing with each other during your lesson, they're also learning more.
-Discipleship Journal, September/October 2008 Issue 167, pg. 78

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Discussion Questions for Easter

Have several people ask the question, “What’s the most important thing you’ve ever done?” Ask other people, “What do you hope to accomplish in the next several years of your life?” Tell your class that today you’ll be talking about “life mission” or the one most important thing you do that drives everything else. Tell them that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the defining moment in history, so it should be the defining moment in our lives. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. How does the resurrection impact some of the crucial beliefs of Christianity?  How would Christianity be different if there was no resurrection? How would you be different without the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. What are some specific ways that the resurrection gives us hope? If you had been a friend of Jesus when he was on earth, how would the resurrection have impacted your life?  How do you think his followers then were effected by the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthian...
3 comments
Read more

Community Killers: Crisis

Here is Part Two in my series on dealing with "Community Killers". Today the topic is "Crisis". Every group experiences crisis at some point. Death, illness, divorce, and financial ruin are just some of the issues that can threaten to destroy a group. These crisis, however, are not to be feared. Rather, they should be embraced as an opportunity for the group to care for one another in unique and deeply meaningful ways. The following are five suggestions (certainly not an exhaustive list) which can help a group handle crisis successfully: Openness. The first step in a group’s efforts to deal with crisis is simply knowing about and understanding the crisis. If a member does not feel comfortable sharing the crisis issues in their life, the group cannot come to their aid. A willingness to share not only the crisis situation, but also the details can significantly impact the degree to which the group can offer assistance. The role of the leader sometimes requires a per...
Post a Comment
Read more

Humility: It's Not All About You

Without naming names, when have you observed a person who seems to be only interested in “moving up the ladder”? What are some of the character traits of a person like this? • Read Genesis 11:1-9. • Generally speaking, who were these people focusing on, themselves or God? Why was this a problem? John Calvin thought that verse 6 was God ironically saying, “This people have conspired against me, and since they can speak to one another in the same language, how can their plan be defeated?” In other words, God wasn’t concerned, he found it humorous that the people thought so highly of themselves. • Read verse 4. What do you think it means that they wanted to “make a name” for themselves? • What things do we (you) often do try to make a name for ourselves? Why is it important to us that people think highly of us? • Read Romans 12:3. What do you think it means to think of yourself with “sober judgment”? Why are we sometimes slow to “judge” ourselves? How can we judge ourselves in a heal...
Post a Comment
Read more