Category Archives: Teaching Objectives

Bible teachers have a God-Given purpose of equipping “His people for works of service” (Eph. 4:11-12). It results in positive effects not only on individual believers but also on the whole Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12-13). So, how do we know if we’re fulfilling this purpose? How can we tell if people have been equipped through our teaching? To answer those questions, move on to verses 14-15 in Ephesians 4. There we see evidence of equipped people.

Evidence of Having Fulfilled Our God-Given Purpose to Equip Believers

Ephesians 4:14 begins with the word “then” which suggests what happens after people have been equipped as described in Ephesians 4:11-13.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:14-15)

Equipped people will no longer be …

1) “infants”

Equipped people will be spiritually mature because they’ve moved on from milk to the solid food of God’s Word and “by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:12-14).

2) “tossed back and forth by the waves”

Equipped people can stand firm when the storms of life hit because their faith has been built on a firm foundation (Lk. 6:48).

3) “blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming”

Equipped people do not compromise truth. They know not only what they believe but why. They’re “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks” (1 Pet. 3:15).

Instead, equipped people will …

4) “speak the truth in love”

Equipped people become more and more like Christ. Just as He came and lived among us “full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14), so mature, Christ-like followers hold firm to truth, tempering the way they communicate it with love, with grace.

5) “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”

Equipped people reflect Christ. They will “not conform to the pattern of this world” because they’ve submitted themselves to God and are transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:1-2). As a result, they’re “able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2), which is conformity to Christ (Rom. 8:29).

Are you fulfilling your God-given purpose to equip His people? Look at the lives of your students. Do they evidence spiritual maturity built on a firm foundation? Are they non-compromising when it comes to truth, yet able to react to those who oppose it with love? Does their light shine in such a way that it increasingly reflects Jesus in every aspect of their lives?

God has given teachers a responsibility to equip people for works of service (Eph. 4:11) because of what it accomplishes. Look at Ephesians 4:11-13 for the results of fulfilling this God-given purpose.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13)

3 Results of Equipping People in Accordance with Our God-Given Purpose

Equipping isn’t just about the effect it has on individual believers but on the whole Body. We “equip his people for works of service, so that …”

1) “the body of Christ may be built up”

Equipped through the “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” of the Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17), people’s lives change. They no longer live in accordance with their self-centered old nature. Their perspective changes from me to we which has an edifying effect on the whole Body.

2) “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God”

Equipped to know who they are and what they have in Christ, people become more intimately acquainted with Him. As they do, they begin to love as He loves (Jn. 13:34; 15:12-13), forgive as He forgives (Col. 3:13), respond in a holy manner as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16), which leads to unity.

3) “and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”

Equipped in the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27) and taught to observe all He commanded (Matt. 28:20), people get to know the real Jesus. When we haven’t watered down truth or omitted the hard parts, people are then in a position to truly know Jesus and become more and more like Him, not just know about Him or outwardly conform.

An edified, united, Christ-like Body, made up of equipped believers, can do more together than individually (Eph. 4:16), and serve as a testimony to the world around them (Jn. 13:35).

Bible teachers, think about what you hope to accomplish by teaching the Word. Having goals is important, but so are the kinds of goals. Take time for reflection: Are your goals worthy in terms of the Text you teach and the God you proclaim? Or, are they more humanistic, self-improvement types of objectives?

An Acrostic Showing What Makes Goals Worthy for Bible Teaching

Use this acrostic to remind yourself of what will make goals for teaching align with God’s intent. Reflect on the questions and determine if you need to make changes.

G – God-centered (Jn. 17:3; Col. 1:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:3; 3:18)

Is your ultimate goal for people to get to know God better? Is your teaching focused on God’s work in people’s lives?

O – Other-oriented (Rom. 15:2; Eph. 4:16; Phil. 2:3-7)

Do you truly teach for its benefit on your students? Are you focused more on how people are learning than how well you’re teaching?

A – Application-driven (James 1:22-25; 2:14-19)

Do you teach for more than people just knowing what the Bible says? Are you also concerned they’re applying these truths to daily life? Do you go beyond mere belief alone to acting on what they believe?

L – Life-changing (Jn. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:17)

Are you aiming for more than external conformity? How important is transformation from the inside out? Do you want people to know truth with the purpose of being set free to live more and more in the newness of life found in Jesus Christ?

S – Scripture-based (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12)

Does your teaching align with God’s Word? Do you view Scripture as that which will equip people to know God better and live for Him?

For More: Bible Teaching Goals Teacher Training Resources

God wants us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Bible teachers have the privilege of discipling students to the next level in their spiritual growth. They won’t automatically reach this objective simply by showing up and teaching the lesson.

3 Tips for Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth

1. Don’t rely on curriculum to do the discipling.

Curriculum helps keep teachers on track and may provide a scope and sequence for getting students through the Bible. The curriculum alone, however, is insufficient to disciple students. Curriculum writers don’t know each student in a class. Pre-fab lessons may not emphasize certain aspects of learning and growing needed by those students. Teachers therefore need to assess where students are spiritually and fill in the gaps.

2. Determine where students are right now in their spiritual growth.

We would do well to apply this wisdom to our class: “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.” (Prov. 27:23) Are they spiritual infants, children, adolescents, adults, or parents? In what areas do students need more help? We won’t know where to take students next until we discern where they are now.

The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth resource helps teachers better understand the different stages of spiritual growth to be able to identify the levels of their students.

3. Prepare lessons to steer students toward their next level of spiritual growth.

Students tend to understand no more than one stage above where they are now. When preparing lessons, ask these questions to know if adjusts must be made to the curriculum to better disciple students.

• What do my students need to know about the next stage in their growth? – 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’re motivated toward it.
• What do my students need to know or feel to be encouraged to keep going on? – This is particularly important for those in the class who are already spiritually mature.