Our purpose: To encourage, inform, inspire, and train Bible school teachers.
A preacher mounted the pulpit and began, “I have so much to say, where should I begin?” A young boy from the back said, “How about somewhere toward the end?”
Christian Standard Magazine
June 6, 2010
TEACH LIKE JESUS
Jesus always stayed on His mission. As teachers, it’s easy to get side-tracked doing things that aren’t as important as our true mission as teachers. Our real job is to partner with God and His Word to bring about life change in our students.
Some teachers quietly resign themselves to be babysitters. Their goal is simply to keep peace while the parents are busy in their own classes. They assign mindless busywork to the students or stuff their mouths with Goldfish and Cheerios. Somewhere along the line, they lost sight of their true classroom mission.
Other teachers are happy to stir up a mindless discussion that effectively kills the limited class time together. Lots of involvement, but very little movement toward Jesus.
Still other teachers just want to be “buddies” with their students. Talk about ball games, boy friends, and vacations may be important, but it’s not the mission of a teacher.
When Jesus began His ministry, people flocked to Him for healing. Once, when He went off to a quiet place to pray, His disciples found Him and encouraged Him to get back to the adoring crowds. His reply must have startled them. “Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (Mark 1:38). Jesus understood that the focus of His ministry was to be in sharing the Good News of the kingdom. As the body of Christ in the world today, our job is to share in the mission of Jesus. Teachers must stay on mission and share the Good News that Jesus died to take away our sins. That’s how we teach like Jesus.
How Teenagers’ Faith Practices are Changing
“While there is still much vibrancy to teen spirituality, it seems to be ‘thinning out.’ Teenagers view religious involvement partly as a way to maintain their all-important relationships. Yet perhaps technology such as social networking is reconfiguring teens’ need for relationships and continual connectivity, diminishing the role of certain spiritual forms of engagement in their lives. Talking to God may be losing out to Facebook.”
Barna Update
July 12, 2010
Teaching Tips From LifeLINKS
When Teaching the Bible to Toddler/2s...
In God’s very special book, the Bible, we are told over and over that God loves us. An important way toddlers and twos learn is through repetition. Guide and encourage learning by reading a favorite Bible story several times to an individual child or the whole class. Allow the children to imitate what you read as they become familiar with the story.
Reading Bible stories while holding a child in your lap is a great way to share about Jesus and interact individually with the children. It will also help to calm a child who is anxious about being separated from parents.
Two year olds learn best when using all their senses. Have several children’s Bibles in your classroom for holding and looking at. As you tell Bible stories, talk about the Bible being God’s Word. Show where the stories are found in the Bible.
Sometimes when I feel like I’m getting older I’m reminded of the little boy who was talking to his grandfather. The little boy said, “Grandpa, I heard you say that all the people who were alive when the flood came were killed, except for Noah and his family, because of their sin. Is that right?
And the grandfather said, “That’s right, son.”
The little boy replied, “Well, if that’s true, then how did you and Grandma make it through?”
A Bundle of Laughs
Another Teaching Tip
Larger congregations have the luxury of keeping their children’s classes closely graded (a class for first graders, another class for second graders, etc.), but smaller churches often have to group 3 or even 4 age levels into one class. While this does present some challenges for the teacher, there are also some distinct advantages to these broader age groupings.
Advantages of a Multi-Age Classroom:
- Peer tutoring. Allowing kids who have “got it” to help those who need a little coaching.
- Older kids become the teacher’s helpers...and we always need help!
- Older kids practice patience.
- Younger kids have someone to look up to.
- Younger kids love the attention the older ones give them.
- Older kids often feel “grown up” because of the responsibilities they’re given.
- Grouping works wonderfully.
- Caring instincts develop.
- All kids are more willing to try things that look “too hard” or seem “too silly.”
Hearts, Brains, & Growing Pains
Cook Communications Ministries
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New from 21st Century Christian!
 Set Free
(Women Opening the Word Series)
by Casandra Martin
Our hearts struggle against ancient chains. We know that we are meant to soar, fly free, and experience deep joy, but the reality of our lives often feel claustrophobic and stale. Walking through the Exodus reveals the captors that try to grab at our souls, and opens a pathway straight into the heart of God. He is passionate about you. He will fight battles, slay enemies, shake prison cells, and break chains in order to make us completely His own.
Open your Bible, and experience the “free indeed” life He has in mind for you. Read through history, and discover that its words reveal your story. Commit yourself to living fully in the presence of God, and shake off the chains that hold you to this world. Fix your eyes on the cross, and learn what it truly means to be set free.
Spiralbound $14.99
Available early September 2010
Join Casandra as she shares her glimpses of God in the blog she writes for her website –
www.casandramartin.com
New from 21st Century Christian!
 Freed for Freedom
(2nd Edition)
by Edward C. Wharton
A newly revised edition of Edward Wharton’s study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians explores the balance between the grace of God and the obedience of faith, while also addressing the subject of legalism in both ancient and modern times. Questions to aid in study and class discussion are also included.
Paperback $11.99
Available early September 2010
Attend a 21st Century Christian Teacher Training Workshop in your area. Listed below are upcoming seminars.
• August 21, 2010
Mount Vernon Church of Christ
Mount Vernon, IL
618-244-2905
• August 22, 2010
Vero Beach Church of Christ
Vero Beach, FL
772-567-2465
• September 11, 2010
Oak Hill Church of Christ
Evansville, IN
812-477-5516
• October 2, 2010
Parkway Drive Church of Christ
Lubbock, TX
806-762-3546
• October 16, 2010 (Part 2)
Batesville Church of Christ
Batesville, MS
662-563-7859
• November 13, 2010
Hermitage Church of Christ
Hermitage, PA
724-346-3327
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