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TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE 2008

I. Regarding Teachers:

a) Qualification

i) Must be Born Again

  • The Natural man understands only natural things
  • The Spiritual man understand spiritual things
  • A Spiritual Book demands a spiritual person
  • A Spiritual Book necessitates the Spirit’s enabling
  • Teaching a Spiritual Book To Spiritual children requires a Spiritual teacher
  • To Possess the Mind of Christ
  • 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

ii) Knowledge of God's Word Paramount

  • Not my opinion
  • Not my experience
  • Not because it works
  • Not because it is popular
  • Not because I am successful
  • Not because of cause and effect
  • Not my past or my background
  • IT IS ALL OF GOD’S WORD ONLY!
  • 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

iii) Praying for them

  • Pray without ceasing! See Rom. 1:9; 1Thes. 5:17; Pray for inward faith and outward obedience
  • Wrestling not against flesh and blood but principalities -- Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
  • Why must the Christian pray without ceasing? How much more the Christian teacher to children! Ephesians 6:11-12, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

iv) Setting a good example

  • Teaching the Word of God is not just imparting truth
  • Teaching the Word of God is imparting your life to the children!
  • There is nothing hid from God but only a transparent life lived out before God and all men and to do it with an unfeigned faith! 1 Timothy 1:5, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”

 v) Love for children

  • Agape love (of Christ) for Christ motivates all of us in service! There is no acceptable and greater motive before God than this! Love and treat ALL children the same and not according to behaviour and personal preference;
  • Children’s ministry is the most demanding and important ministry in the world and more so in the church! Mold and shape lives when their character is soft clay in the Master’s hand. The teacher is the tool in the Master’s hand!
  • Love for children is paramount and must be seen and felt! Matthew 19:13-15, “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

b) Teaching doctrines to children

  • Make very sure that it is “Thus saith the LORD!” all the time!
  • Matthew 18:5-6, “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” The children believe every word that comes out of your mouth. Make sure that every word, every phrase, every sentence and every doctrine is according to God holy and perfect Word!
  • DOCTRINE FIRST then APPLICATION!
  • Provide as much details as possible;
  • Be as lively as possible;
  • First be convicted by the lesson
  • Second be excited by the lesson you are teaching;
  • Make doctrines relevant to their daily lives;
  • Result is create a hunger and thirst in their soul for God’s Word.

c) Discovering your Gift of teaching

  • Just because you are a good “secular” teacher does not make you a good Bible teacher; gift of the Spirit and talent are not the same; The Gift of the Spirit is not Christianizing a talent which is given to all men. It is not acting where techniques of speech and delivery are applied to deceive the children into believing that you really believe in what you are teaching BUT that you REALLY and SINCERELY believe in what you teach! IT IS THE VERY WORDS OF YOUR LORD AND GOD!
  • More than just telling a Bible story;
  • Be very well prepared
  • A deep hunger and thirst for God’s Word, and the ministry; Create this same thirst into the hearts of the children
  • Grow in the LORD – for self and children;
  • Clear and precise (focus) explanation of God’s Truth;
  • Simple and easy to understand;
  • Persevere to the end i.e. a life long ministry;
  • Others will observe and encourage you;
  • The heart of the children is warmed by the lesson taught
  • Outcome--Children look forward to attend your class;

d) Planning & Management

i) Teaching format

  • Be Innovative
  • Be As simple as possible
  • Appeal to the eye and ear gates
  • Always biblical
  • Do not lose sight of the overall Sunday School Programme – Trees and forest carefully balanced
  • Clear Theme for every class
  • Use repetition

ii) Time management and preparation

  • Do not sacrifice any area of your life just to be a good teacher; Best teacher in church but a bad mother or wife at home or a lazy hypocrite at work!
  • All areas must honour God;
  • Prepare as early as possible so that the lesson is internalized into your heart;
  • Spend enough time on meditation on the Word of God

iii) Usage of resources

  • They are aids to understand the Word of God
  • Do not allow them to become your crutch such that without them you cannot understand the Bible
  • Bible Dictionaries, Encyclopedias; Commentaries; maps and charts; are some helpful aids.

II. Regarding Children:

a) Classroom management

  • Always be Impartial
  • Pay careful attention to all the children;
  • Capture their attention by the way you teach and hold it
  • Let them know you are in charge
  • A spiritual warfare is on as you teach
  • Pray silently always and ask God for help constantly
  • Knows our limitations for God alone can change hearts not us
  • Provide note books and check their note books regularly or weekly
  • Simplify instruction and use short sentences
  • Avoid multiple commands or instructions
  • Make sure children understand instruction
  • Attention span is limited so be as creative as possible when you teach
  • Notice body language. Better to have short lesson where interest is sustained than long lesson and kill interest
  • Encourage them whenever possible
  • Tell the truth
  • See good points
  • Encourage inquisitive mind
  • Do not be ashamed to say teacher does not know and will find out the answer later. Make sure you will really find out and not forget. Keep note book for such questions
  • Do not give impression that you know it all
  • Do not guess or bluff
  • Apologize when mistake has been made

b) Counseling and helping difficult children

  • Difficult children are from God to challenge us
  • Some of the actions of difficult children include:

1. Fidgets, squirms or seems restless.
2. Has difficulty remaining seated.
3. Is easily distracted.
4. Has difficulty awaiting turn.
5. Blurts out answers.
6. Has difficulty following instructions.
7. Has difficulty sustaining attention.
8. Shifts from one uncompleted task to another.
9. Has difficulty playing quietly.
10. Talks excessively.
11. Interrupts or intrudes on others.
12. Does not seem to listen.

  • Ensure that they are seated right in front of the teacher so they their backs are to the other children
  • Avoid distracting stimuli such as putting them next to windows or doors of things that they could play with
  • Treat all children the same way so that they do not feel as if they are treated differently from the rest
  • Feedback to parents of their children progress and how they can help at home to supplement what you do in class to help their children
  • Always point them to Christ and the Word of God
  • Do not threaten but warn. Make sure you mean what you say and carry it out
  • Assist them without making it too obvious
  • Patiently listen to them
  • Build trust and confidence
  • Teacher is there to help not to condemn
  • Pray for them constantly
  • Love them despite their “bad” behaviour because that is also how God loves us and that is what agape love is

c) Home visitation

  • Do in discreetly in our Singaporean context
  • Call first before going
  • Go in pairs
  • Bring gift when you go
  • Be tactful but honest when giving feedback
  • Do your homework and make sure all that is said is factual
  • Visit every home evenly for the children will probably share among themselves

d) Discipline

  • There is a sinful, nature in every child. Proverbs 22:15, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
  • Avoid worldly ideas such as self esteem, etc.
  • Discipline is a must. Proverbs 23:13, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
  • Remain calm, state the infraction of the rule, and avoid debating or arguing with the student
  • Have pre-established consequences for misbehavior and made them known to all the students in order to be impartial
  • Administer consequences immediately, and monitor proper behavior frequently
  • Enforce classroom rules consistently to the best of your ability
  • Make sure the discipline fits the "crime," without harshness and give feedback to parents
  • Avoid ridicule

e) Teaching children of different ages (age group techniques)

  • Attention span varies so vary teaching method accordingly
  • Be flexible always
  • Innovate all the time
  • Have dialogue as much as possible
  • Get older students to participate more
  • Give to older students more responsibilities

CONCLUSION

Jeremiah 18:1-6, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

As we train and teach children God is training and teaching us too. As we mold and shape their lives God is also shaping and molding our lives. As the children grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so are all of us!

WE ARE ALL IN THE POTTER’S HOUSE AND LIKE THE CHILDREN WE ARE ALL CLAY IN THE POTTER’S HAND!

Messages in MP3
TeachersTraining01_LabourDay08.mp3
TeachersTraining02_LabourDay08.mp3
TeachersTraining03_LabourDay08.mp3
TeachersTraining04_LabourDay08.mp3