If you have been enlisted to teach adults, you have one of the most remarkable assignments in the Kingdom! There are three simple things to remember about your extremely important appointment.
1. A good teacher KNOWS WHAT you are assigned to teach.
You are a student of God's Word. In reality, the Holy Spirit is the One who is best capable to teach. He allows you to join Him as He convinces and convicts and as you become the most enthusiastic student in your class. Your job is to investigate the Bible passage, study the commentary, and be familiar with ways to put the truth into life. You will learn facts, illustrations, questions and answers. You are to have a growing understanding of what God says through the information you are teaching. You have the unique opportunity to allow God to speak to you as you study and as you help others study and apply the truth.
2. A growing teacher KNOWS WHO you are teaching.
You teach people who are experiencing remarkable life transitions and stories. You teach adults who God has influenced to intersect their life with your class. It is interesting how many people remember the most influential teacher(s) in their life. These teachers showed care, concern and personal attention to the needs of the student.
Your job is to teach PEOPLE. Although you are never able to fully know each person in your class, each person will feel more part of the group and open to learning opportunities as they feel they know and can trust you. God has placed people in your group who He is calling to love, trust, and obey Him. You can involve other persons to invite their friends, relatives, associates, neighbors and other prospects to the group. You can involve other persons to help members and prospects connect with and minister to persons in the group. You can involve other persons in learning how to teach as you encourage at least one person in the group as an apprentice teacher.
3. A gifted teacher KNOWS HOW to teach.
Teachable moments take place during the class session as well as throughout the week. The teacher prayerfully starts each class session by creating interest in the reason for engaging the topic. Take advantage of teaching aids and suggestions provided in Teaching Packs and through EXTRA! Supplemental Teaching Ideas.
Spend at least 75 percent of the class time to provide opportunities for participants to read, ask and answer questions, listen, discuss, think, and write as they investigate God's Word. Help members consider and make decisions about applying God's Word. Also, bring each session to a meaningful closure; provide opportunities for participants to continue learning throughout the week about the issues raised surfaced during the session.
The truth remains: the person who learns more in each session is the TEACHER. Each teacher is commissioned to plant seeds that are designed by God to change lives and bear fruit. Each teacher is commissioned to bring persons into the presence of God's powerful and life-changing Word. Each teacher has the opportunity to follow the model of the Master who demonstrated what it looks like to KNOW WHAT to teach, KNOW WHO to you are teaching, and KNOW HOW to teach.