Category Archives: Meeting Students’ Needs

We want our teaching to make a difference, so we pray that God helps us as we prepare and present the lesson. Bible teaching must be fueled by prayer. Are we also praying that God works in and through the lives of our students? Since prayer is “powerful and effective” (James 5:16), it only makes sense that we not only pray for our students but devote ourselves to praying for them (Col. 4:2).

Sample Prayers Teachers Can Pray for Their Students

The Apostle Paul constantly prayed for those to whom he ministered. Scripture records some of those prayers, the content of which would be good for Bible teachers to pray in regard to their students.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Eph. 1:17-19)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:16-21)

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Col. 1:9-12)

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:11-12)

Personalize these prayers, asking God to work in your particular students’ lives in these ways. Tailor the prayers to fit specific lesson aims.

Let Students Know You’re Praying for Them

Many of Paul’s epistles begin by letting people know of his prayers for them. Here are just a couple examples:

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Eph. 1:16)

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. (1 Thess. 1:2)

Letting students know we’re praying for them can be a form of encouragement, especially when we tell them that our prayers include thanks to God for them. It’s also a means of putting the focus on God as the One who must work in their lives. We are just vessels He uses. God is the One who brings the growth (1 Cor. 3:7). He is the One on whom they must depend. So, let’s pray like we truly believe God is the Source.

There are a lot of people in this world with hurting hearts, many of whom will attend our Bible classes. If we don’t identify that they’re hurting, we might misinterpret their attitudes or behavior and hence apply solutions that either don’t work or complicate matters. We may miss out a prime ministry opportunity. God wants us to be careful and wise, “making the most of every opportunity” (Eph. 5:15-16).

Ways People Might Express Their Hurting Hearts

Hurting people respond differently and so the way they react in the classroom could vary. Some may put on a front while others may show their feelings in ways you can’t miss. Some students may not quite seem like themselves yet appear to be pushing through whatever is going on inside of them.

• They could be distracted, finding it hard to pay attention.
• They could build walls around themselves, finding it hard to open up.
• They could withdraw or become lethargic, finding it hard to participate.
• They could be depressive, finding it hard to enjoy learning activities and fellow class members.
• They could clown around in class, finding it hard to be real about their insecurities.
• They could be more talkative, finding it hard to keep from pulling others into their woes every opportunity they can.

How Bible Teachers Respond to Students Who Hurt

Regardless of the way it’s expressed, hurting hearts can hinder the individual’s ability to learn as well as affect the overall learning environment. Bible teachers who want to minister to students with hurting hearts must respond with the love of God by addressing the real need. It’s about determining what you, and possibly others in the class, can do to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

Here are two teacher training resources to help:

The 6-page Ministering to Students with Hurting Hearts Worksheet looks at five things these students may need. It gives Scripture related to each need and asks some questions about how you might meet those needs.

The 31-page Bible Teachers’ Many Roles in Times of Trouble resource shows you can meet these needs by being a comforter, listener, counselor, encourager, or intervener. If we truly want to minister to students with hurting hearts, we will undoubtedly need to go beyond merely being a communicator.

Churches and Bible teachers need to be prepared for students with special needs in their classes. The two page document, Including Students with Special Challenges, can be a starting point. At the same time, keep in mind that all students have special needs, some are merely different or more challenging than others.

The Needs All Students Have

All students, regardless of the physical, mental, or emotional challenges they face, need the following:

• to have a personal relationship with Jesus and grow in it
• to feel loved and like they belong
• to be valued and treated with dignity

Approach to Teaching Students with Special Challenges

Sure, some students might require extra attention or a slightly different approach due challenges they face in learning. Teachers who work on the following with all students will be more prone to include students with special challenges in the classroom in significant ways.

get to know all students (i.e., their abilities, interests, needs, etc.)

be patient and understanding

affirm and unconditionally accept students

encourage participation by all students

If we do the above, it’s simply a matter of making accommodations for how each student is able to participate based on what we have learned about their specific abilities, interests, and needs. Follow the example of the Apostle Paul who said, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22)

More: Including Students with Special Needs Teacher Training Resources

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)

Other Resources for Helping Students Going Through Difficult or Traumatic Times

• Crisis Strikes Worksheet
• Ministering to Students with Hurting Hearts Worksheet