We may feel our primary role as a Bible teacher is to communicate God’s Word. Yet, students in crisis may not feel like they can attend class. Do we just ignore those students? If they do come to class, it can be hard for them to pay attention. Do we simply hope they get something out of the lesson? Or, do we seek to help students in crisis?
If we want to truly reach and touch the lives of people in our classes, we may at times need to step out of traditional roles of a Bible teacher and meet them where they are. The title of a training resource points to a Bible Teachers’ Many Roles in Times of Trouble.
An Acrostic of What People Need from their Bible Teachers in Times of Crisis
Here’s an acrostic using the word “crisis” to help us think through what people do and don’t need in times of crisis. (Please note that this acrostic is only found in this post, not in the above mentioned resource.)
C – Comfort of God, not mere pity (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
R – Reassurance of God’s care and presence, not a promise that all will be well (Ps. 23:4; 46:1-3; 139:1-18; Isa. 41:10; Heb. 13:5-6)
I – Insight into God’s perspective, not simply what will make them feel better or what they want to hear (Ps. 119:28, 105; 2 Cor. 4:15-18)
S – Sense of God’s grace, not condemnation (Lk. 6:31-42; Rom. 8:31-39; 14:10-14; 2 Cor. 12:9; James 4:11-12; Titus 3:2-5)
I – Intervention that’s about coming alongside, not about fixing them (1 Cor. 12:26-27; Gal. 6:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24-25)
S – Support that’s practical, not simply words spoken to them (Matt. 25:35-40; Heb. 13:16; 1 Jn. 3:18)