Category Archives: Teaching Objectives

As Bible teachers we need to both learn from the Holy Spirit and use Spirit-taught words in explaining what we’ve learned to our students. We would think then, that our classes would whole-heartedly accept what we have to say and learn and grow spiritually because of it. Yet, our teaching still might be met with skepticism or even rejected. Why? — Because, without the Holy Spirit at work within students’ hearts and minds, they can’t accept spiritual truth as given from God.

Students’ Reactions to Spiritual Truth Determined by Whether the Holy Spirit is Working within Them

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 clearly states what dictates a person’s reaction to spiritual truth, even that which comes from Spirit-taught teachers using Spirit-taught words (1 Cor. 2:13).

1) Rejection – could be reflected in apathy, ridicule, antagonism

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:14)

2) Acceptance – could be reflected in belief, worship, obedience

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:15-16)

Teachers’ Reactions to Students Who Can’t Accept Spiritual Realities

We shouldn’t be surprised if some of our students don’t accept, learn, and grow because of our teaching. — Some of our students may not be true believers and hence not have the Spirit within them (Jn. 14:16-17). And, some of our students who do know the Lord may not be walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-25) but rather quenching the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).

We need to, instead, be concerned about and pray for the salvation of those in the class who don’t know the Lord and meet them where they are, giving skeptics opportunity to express their doubts and ask questions.

And, we also need to be concerned about and pray for the spiritual awakening and renewal of believers in our class who aren’t walking in the Spirit.

We must always remember that God is the One who changes lives (1 Cor. 3:7). We simply plant and water the Seed of His Word. His Spirit is the One who convicts and convinces people (Jn. 16:8-11). Our responsibility is to remain faithful in our lesson preparation and presentation, yielding at each step of the teaching-learning process to the Spirit as our Teacher and Prompter.

Continue reflecting on the Spirit’s Role: The Holy Spirit & My Teaching Devotional

We have goals for much of what we do in life, even if not thought of in that way or left unspoken. If we have objectives for the temporal and inconsequential activities of life, how much more should we be concerned about accomplishing eternal goals!

Broad Question Teachers Might Have about Bible Lesson Goals

Is there an ultimate goal under which all else falls?

The ultimate goal of Bible teaching should be helping students know God, not merely know about Him. The Apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him …” (Phil. 3:8-9). When that happens, lives change.

Other Questions About Lesson Objectives

If using a pre-fab curriculum, teachers might ask . . .

If a curriculum has goals, why should Bible teachers to be concerned about goals?

Those preparing their own Bible lesson might ask …

How do we know what goals to aim toward when developing our own lessons?

You’ll find responses to these questions in the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions. This resource asks a total of 153 questions covering 49 topics related to bible teaching.

When Bible teachers make it a conscientious goal to advance God’s work through their teaching, they become more aware of what hinders the work of God in the classroom. And, they are then ready to think through what they can do to promote it instead.

Understand What Promotes the Advancement of God’s Work

In 1 Timothy 1 the Apostle Paul addressed the negative effects of false doctrine, meaningless talk, and controversial speculations. He instructed Timothy to “command” the people in the Church of Ephesus doing it to stop. As the teacher and leader, it was Timothy’s responsibility to reign in these hindrances to the work of God. Paul went on to provide the ultimate objective of setting such parameters. — “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim. 1:5)

Environments centered around loving as God loves, shift motivations and focus from self-promotion to advancement of God’s work and what’s for the good of others. We don’t have to get up on our soap boxes. We don’t have to win for the sake of winning. Rather, we want to bring our lives and doctrine into conformity to the Gospel (1 Tim. 1:11). People knowing and loving the Lord becomes our greatest concern.

Think about it: There’s so much in the Bible that can build us all up and bring us together that it isn’t necessary to focus on issues that tend to divide. That doesn’t mean we totally ignore these issues but when we do deal with them, we do so out of a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith — respectfully, gently, and non-combative. We might simply present both sides of an issue rather than merely push our own point of view. And, as Bible teachers, we expect the class to abide by these parameters of love.

Why Promoting the Advancement of God’s Work Matters

When we do that which promotes God’s work, we please God and can be at peace with people even if we don’t agree.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of … {Fill in the blank} (Rom. 14:17-20)

When our classroom environments are centered around responding in and out of love, it becomes more about truly helping people rather than proving who is right and wrong.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:23-26)

Regardless of the outcome, we can be at peace with ourselves, knowing before God that we did our part to advance His Work “in love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5).

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Pet. 3:15-17)

If Bible teachers aren’t making the advancement of God’s work a conscientious goal, they might fail to promote the kind of atmosphere that’s conducive to the working of God in people’s lives.

In 1 Timothy 1 we find some understandings we need, such as what hinders His work from advancing.

Understand What Hinders the Advancement of God’s Work

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Tim. 1:3b-4a). The reason? “Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith.” (1 Tim. 1:4b)

He was addressing some specific diversions of certain people in the Church at Ephesus. But really …

• Anything not solidly based on the Word of God can be considered “false doctrines” (1 Tim. 1:3).
• Anything inconsequential made into a point of contention becomes “meaningless talk” (1 Tim. 1:6).
• Anything based on personal opinions rather than the Bible becomes mere “speculations” and often controversial at that (1 Tim. 1:4).

Discussions centered around false doctrine, meaningless talk, and mere speculations tend to divide rather than build up — hindering the advancement of God’s Work.

Why Hindering the Advancement of God’s Work Matters

To focus on that which isn’t true or that which is inconsequential gets our eyes off of what is most important and living the life of faith God calls us to (1 Tim. 1:4).

Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith comes by hearing but not just listening to human speculations. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17) — the unadulterated Word that “is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Debate for the sake of debate, arrogant airing of personal opinions, or disputes over controversial issues, pits one person or group against the other, tearing down rather than building up.

When people don’t sense the classroom to be a safe haven for expressing doubts and fine-tuning their belief-systems, they tend to shut down and the work of God is squelched in their lives.

Yes, hindering the advancement of God’s work matters so Bible teachers need to intentionally do that which promotes His working — the topic of the next post.