They asked me to teach a Sunday school class.
What am I going to tell them? Sunday school teachers have a task that requires full-hearted effort, a whole lot of time and a genuine desire for the mind of God to teach effectively.
Teachers very much need the prayers and encouragement of God's people since so much depends on them.
A great deal of responsibility is upon their shoulders, and many lives upon their hearts.
Once in a while we treat teaching a lesson as a duty to be prepared for late Saturday night or "on the run" en route to class.
Not surprisingly then, this lesson very often comes from the often-told stories of David and Goliath, Samson or Jonah, often without any real consideration as to the purpose of teaching the lesson, making it only another story.
This method lacks a lot.
Then there are others who, swing to the other extreme, take the attitude that prepared and published lessons are better and more effective.
Both are wrong, and are of grate concern because BOTH have the same flaw: if the lesson doesn't affect the teacher through God's word, then the impact will not reach the students.
I have nothing whatsoever against teaching the well known stories of the Bible, nor have I any difficulty with teaching a well ordered series of lessons.
The Lord Jesus Himself referred to the Old Testament Bible story of the "serpent lifted up" and was orderly in His teaching and parables.
The teacher must take HIMSELF and HIS LESSON into the presence of God, there to evaluate and consider the lesson he desires to teach.
We are not after all teaching children to believe, but in WHOM and WHAT they may safely trust their all.
Teach a Truth Your Bible lesson must contain a central truth, and be founded upon a clear verse of Scripture.
If a student grasps a single Bible doctrine or principle, it will lead the way to progress in an orderly way to set forth truth that develops upon the first, thus "line upon line and precept upon precept" is the principle.
Prepare and Consider The teacher must have a clear grasp of the truth as God reveals it in the Word.
This takes work, effort and dependence upon God.
As well, it is necessary that the teacher, through questions and familiarity with the student, realize the depth of understanding that the child has.
He must also come to grips with any particular problems that the student might have hindering him from grasping certain truths.
These problems could easily be one or more of the following: background, environment, character, home life, religious error, or culture.
Though the difficulties are great, the sheer joy of seeing even one rest for eternity on the Rock that never fails, will more than compensate for the effort and endeavor.
In conclusion, there are no easy shortcuts to how you prepare for a Sunday school class.
You must be enjoying the theme you teach if you expect your students to enjoy it.
You must be convinced about the truth if you wish your students to believe it as well.