When asked what the greatest commandments are, Jesus said to love the Lord with all of who we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). Loving students should therefore be a priority for Bible teachers.
Questions Bible Teachers Might Have about Loving Students
What’s the best way to show students you love them?
The Bible says “let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18). That doesn’t mean we never say “I love you” but rather that to love as God loves (agapao, the verb used in that verse), it needs to be demonstrated by our actions, not just our words. Agape love is also authentic. To love with “actions and in truth” is therefore the best way to show students we love them.
There may not be one best way to demonstrate love to students. Rather, it may depend on the individual student’s needs or how they most prefer to receive love. Since we might not initially know the needs and preferences of each person, we should show love in a variety of ways. We must guard against projecting on them the way we prefer to give and receive love. We need to get beyond what feels comfortable or convenient for us. God’s love, agape, looks beyond one’s self and often acts in sacrificial ways. (Learn more about love languages in Gary Chapman’s books: 5 Love Languages …link takes you to one of our affiliate stores)
The Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions also asks, “What if we struggle with the hard-to-love students?”. Find a response to that question as well answers to questions covering 49 different teaching issues.