Teaching or Leading

Taking on the task of teaching is an incredibly hard decision.  For many people they feel they are simply unprepared and do not have the ability to teach.  Teaching Sunday school is an even more daunting task.  When you accept the responsibility of teaching a Sunday school class you not only take on the task of teaching, but you take on the task of opening scripture and of being responsible for your students faith and lives.  So here are a few keys that I have found are helpful to me as a Sunday school teacher and a leader of the men’s group at my own church.

First is to make sure you take the time to spend in the lesson you are going to teach.  There is nothing worse than sitting in class and listening to someone who has no idea what they are talking about.  Read the lesson, study the scriptures, and pray for God’s guidance so that you have an understanding of what the lesson is about.  As the teacher you need to know what the author’s intended message, who was the audience, what were the events, in other words do some background study.  Next you need to be able to relate that to your current class.  How does this message relate to them and what is you expect them to do with the information you are passing on to them?  This clear understanding will give you respect and authority and it will help them to understand the relevance of the lesson.

Second keep it simple!  Don’t talk over their heads.  All too often teachers want to wax eloquent in regards to the intelligence and information that they have gleaned.  No one wants to hear sentences like that last one.  Say it in a manner that they understand.  Too many times teachers go on and on about all they learned, when you need to slow down, break it down, and give me the nuts and bolts.  Remember Sunday school usually at most only lasts for an hour and they want a quick, reliable, yet valuable message.  In fact let them do a good deal of the talking be a facilitator and not a total talker.  By encouraging participation the scriptures become real to them as well as to you then you can open the lesson up with open discussion.

Third thing to remember is relax and be you.  You cannot go into the class and act like someone you are not.  God made you who you are and if He is calling you He will bless you in his work.  You were created to be you, not someone else.  Imitations are easy to spot and eventually they break down.  Don’t try to fill the previously leaders shoes and don’t try to be the pastor, you are the leader act like it.

The fourth thing is to make it fun and interesting.  Just because you are in church or part of a church does not mean you cannot have fun.  Have class gatherings.  Get together and have game night, go to dinner, or a baseball game.  Our class has a big breakfast as part of class every other month.  Often we bring snack foods for the class.  We have attended hockey games, gone to a large swap meet/flea market, and gone on a white water rafting trip.  Other events we have done are as simple as game night, playing cards, and pond side cookout.  All of these build fellowship and relationships and nothing is better for a Sunday school class than great fellowship and relationships.  That is living the scripture when you care.

The last thing is do some mission work as a class.  Find projects at the church, in the lives of class members, or in your community and get involved.  These opportunities to serve as a class together and bless someone really build character.  They feel the love and see the Spirit moving and it is awesome.  These are just a few things that can help you be a better Sunday school leader and not just a teacher.