Use a variety of methods in teaching
Use the cleverest way possible to present your material
Use drama to make story effective (Jesus girded Himself with a towel and washed the feet of His disciples)
Don’t read from quarterly or book
Make your material exciting
Use object lessons (Jesus did) He showed Himself as the Bread of Life, Shepherd, Use visuals:
Consider the lilies, He sat a child in the midst, Show Me a penny
Great Books to Use
Eleanor Done, Visual Aid Encyclopedia, Eleanor Done
Roy Garn, The Magical Power of Emotional Appeal
Ethel Barret, Storytelling Made Easy and Yelling for Help
Herman Hornell, Teaching Techniques of Jesus
Howard Hendricks, The Seven Laws of Teaching
Understanding People
Don’t use the “Worst Method” (the one used all the time) Remember “Familiarity Breeds Contempt” and “Variety is Spice of Life”
Things that will create interest
• A desire to know
• A need for the Bible to have real value for their lives
• How can I forgive him after what he has done to me?
• My tongue keeps getting me into trouble, how can I get victory in my life?
Develop a curiosity
What is the soul?
What is the purpose of life?
Does the soul survive the experience of bodily death?
What is life like beyond death?
Praise and encourage to do better
• Personality of the teacher (Promotion day brought a new teacher into Jerry’s life; he hadn’t been interested in Sunday School until he got a new radiant teacher who was really interested in his class)
• Rewards (More and better work is done if rewards are offered) Jesus offered heaven. Paul pressed on toward the prize
Don’t Underestimate Variety (We remember 10% of what we hear, 50% of what we see, 70% of what we say, and 90% of what we do)
• Send “Take home papers” with the students
• Ask thought provoking questions How can we show God we’re thankful for all the nice things He does for us? • Who gave the gift of perfume? (Mary)
• Is it right to pray for things we need?
• Tell part of the details of the story without telling the characters in the story
• Use a recorded version, complete with sound effects
• Sometimes taste can be introduced like a food in the story (pomegranates, figs)
• Nose; fragrance of God’s flowers; distinguish them from artificial ones