Teaching students to read and study the Bible on their own, outside of class, is a wonderful objective for your Bible teachers.

You will probably think to train them on helping students:

• know how to navigate the Bible … logistics of using a Bible
• know how to study the Bible  … principles of sound interpretation

While these skills are essential, they are not enough.  For students to want to study the Bible on their own, they must first learn to value it.  Teachers must also consistently communicate that . . .

The Bible is the primary way to get to know the Almighty God.

The Bible is relevant to their everyday lives.

The Bible, when applied, makes a difference.

Teachers must do more than “tell” students these truths about the Word.  Teachers must “show” it in the way they teach and through their own example.

1. Use the Bible to teach rather than merely using a lesson book.
2. Get students using the Bible in the classroom rather than always projecting it or reading it to them.
3. Incorporate methods that require students to search for answers in the Word instead of providing all the content.
4. Give illustrations from your own life of the difference it made when applying the Bible lesson.

Teacher Training Worksheet:  The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students in Regard to the Word of God

Teacher Training Resources:  How to Teach Students to Value, Study, Know & Apply the Bible

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Teachers must not rely on curriculum to do the discipling.

While curriculum is good for keeping teachers on track and providing a scope and sequence for getting students through the Bible, curriculum alone is insufficient.  Curriculum writers do not know your teachers’ particular students. Consequently, certain aspects of learning God’s Word needed by their students might not be emphasized. It is up to your teachers to assess where their students are spiritually to fill in the gaps.

Are they spiritual infants, children, adolescents, adults, or parents?  The Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth resource available at MinTools.com will help your teachers better understand the different stages of spiritual growth to be able to identify the levels of their students.

In what areas do their students need more help?

(Clicking on the links below will take you to teacher training worksheets on discipling students in these areas to help get them to the next level.)

character & conduct
giving
outreach
prayer
relationships
serving
study of God’s Word
worship

Students tend to understand no more than one stage above where they are.

Train your teachers to ask the following questions as they prepare lessons  Doing so will help them know if adjustments must be made to the curriculum.

• What do my students need to know about the next stage?

This provides the basis for setting a goal.

• What do my students need to feel about going to that stage?

This helps them with motivation to reach that goal.

• What do my students need to do to get to that stage?

This gets them started toward accomplishing the goal once they are motivated toward it.

If your teachers have students who have already reached spiritual parenthood, they need to ask this question as they prepare the lesson:

• What do my students need to know or feel to be encouraged to keep going on?

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Physical age and spiritual age do not necessarily correspond.

Some students who are adults physically could be infants spiritually.  Some students who are children physically could be spiritual adults or parents.

Bible teachers must therefore teach in ways that consider both realities.

Regardless of how spiritually mature a student might seem, they still could have limitations due to physical age level development.  Consequently, help teachers understand that:

Regardless of the physical age, students could still be crawling around spiritually, needing the milk of God’s Word (Heb. 5:12-14).  Consequently, help teachers understand that:

Teacher Training on Physical Age Level Development:  Age Level Characteristics

Teacher Training on Spiritual Growth Levels of Development:  Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth

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Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matt. 28:18-20)

We all, regardless of spiritual gifting or place of ministry, have the responsibility to “go and make disciples.” The question is not “if” teachers should be disciplemakers but “how.”

If your teachers struggle with the “if” question, perhaps the starting point would be the Discipleship: Isn’t teaching a lesson enough? Worksheet.

Teacher training efforts should encourage and equip teachers in the two phases of disciplemaking:

1) leading people a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ

Help teachers know how to include a Gospel emphasis in their lessons and lead students to the Lord. – resources

2)  teaching them to live as Christ-followers

Help teachers better understand the teaching-learning process that will lead to spiritual growth and change. – resources

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