Preparing and Planningto TeachPeter ColemanCory Davis

Preparing and Planning to TeachShort Term - Developing a lesson

This element involves those steps whereby one develops a lesson, directs it toward his or her students and organizes its delivery

Long Term - Developing a teacher

This element involves the spiritual formation, growth in knowledge and skills of a teacher

Culture of EquippingIn a culture of equipping, teachers will be empowered to fulfill their calling of God to teach by a process whereby teachers are developed by ministers and other teachers for the skills and knowledge necessary to teach God’s Word

Culture of EquippingHallmarks of a culture of equipping

Teachers can feel free to approach their pastor, education minister or division director concerning their needs in both the long term and short term elements of preparing to teach

Ministers are actively engaged in developing their teachers

Mentorships can be offered whereby ministers can train teachers and more-experienced teachers can mentor less-experienced teachers

In this element, teachers prepare themselves to teach by spiritual formation, training up in knowledge, both biblical and theological, and in the skills and methodologies of teaching, and by building relationships with those whom they teach

Long Term Development

Long Term DevelopmentSpiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is done by the practice of the spiritual disciplines (e.g. Scripture memory, prayer)

Teachers should be held accountable for the continued maturation in the Christian Faith

Long Term DevelopmentBiblical KnowledgeThis primarily comes about by a steady diet of reading Scripture, and not just the passage for the next lesson

The advantage of this is that each passage taught is understood more fully as it relates to the rest of Scripture

Also, many resources are available to teach biblical knowledge (e.g. OT & NT surveys, character studies)

Note on ResourcesResources, valuable though they may be, can never replace the guidance of those in the church

Ministers can develop long-term curricula for developing knowledge that is graduated for continually increasing knowledge

Resources must be tested for alignment with each church’s teaching

Long Term DevelopmentTheologyThis study will help prepare for lessons that might center on a specific doctrine instead of a particular passage of Scripture

Theological foundations will also help the teacher answer many of the questions that might arise as Scripture is taught

This area may take special guidance from the pastor to ensure congruity with church teaching

Long Term DevelopmentRelationships

Building relationships with students is a task that goes far beyond the preparation of a lesson plan

However, doing so prepares one to teach because the teacher can then better address his or her students and the students will be more receptive of a message from one whom they’ve come to know

Short Term DevelopmentStudents - Who are you teaching?

Setting - Where are you teaching?

Material - What are you teaching?

Objective - Why are you teaching?

Style - How are you teaching?

Short Term DevelopmentStudents

If possible, get to know your students

Relationships trump demographics every time

Throughout Scripture, teaching is an intensely personal experience

Discern the students’ level of maturityThe learners are the most important part of the lesson - Yount, Lawson, Mcguire, etc.

Short Term DevelopmentSettingChoose the setting

Be intentional about where your group meets

Sanctuary? Classroom? Home? Coffee Shop?

Tailoring the lesson to fit a given setting

Volume level, distracting activities, seating space

Short Term DevelopmentMaterialsChoosing material

Age, gender, venue, maturity, theme

Chosen material

Exegetical? Word studies and context

Topical? Cross-references and meta-narrative

Non-biblical material like book and film review or published Christian works

Short Term DevelopmentObjective

Curriculum, properly defined, is and integral part of the church’s plan for discipleship1

1LAWSON, CH. 19.2YOUNT, CH. 13.

“A properly prepares instructional objective provides a target for teaching2”

Tailor the lesson to the objective, not vice versa

Short Term DevelopmentStyle

All of the other factors will dictate the style: Which style best conveys this objective to these students in this setting with this material?

Powerpoint, handouts, discussion, lecture, object lesson etc.

Does your church:

1. Equip teachers to relate to their students?

2. Provide adequate settings or help their teachers to adapt to settings?

3. Equip teachers to teach a variety of materials? What helps are available?

4. Have clear teaching objectives?

5. Accommodate different styles of teaching?

Culture of Equipping