Creativity matters in Bible teaching because of what it potentially brings to the lesson and how it can move students to higher levels of learning.
Check out the five-page Turning the Benefits of Creativity into Reality Worksheet based on the content of this post.
An Acrostic Listing the Benefits of Creativity
Challenge
Creative teaching often takes students to the edge. Getting out of their comfort zones can cause people to re-examine where they are and what they have been holding on to. Consequently, students have opportunity to move beyond status-quo.
Relevancy
Building creativity into a lesson causes the teacher to think about what will affect students in positive ways. Consequently, age-old truth is presented in ways that tap into people’s lives today.
Enlightenment
When we present the same content in a new or different way, people see it from a different perspective. Consequently, students often come to understand it better.
Attention
When students don’t know what to expect they will tend to remain more alert in the teaching-learning process. Consequently, the lesson will potentially not only grab their attention but maintain their attention.
Thirst
When students are interested and engaged in the lesson, they actually enjoy learning. Consequently, they want to keep coming back for more.
Involvement
One of the goals of a creative teacher is to increase participation by students. Consequently, students will tend to think more, feel more, do more, and hence, learn more.
Vigor
Because the teacher must work at the lesson more to make it creative, the teacher will have an even greater personal investment into the lesson. Consequently, the lesson will tend to be presented with more enthusiasm and energy.
Excellence
Creative teachers ask questions like, “How can I make this lesson better understood?” “How can I tap into the needs of my students?” “How can I engage my students in the process?” Consequently, as a result of constant evaluation, lessons are constantly improving.
Bible Teachers Training Resources with this acrostic on the Benefits of Creativity:
- Turning the Benefits of Creativity into Reality Worksheet – In addition to the above acrostic, this worksheet guides you in considering steps you can take to improve in these areas of creative teaching
- Teaching Ministry Manual – This resource includes the content on this page verbatim.