What greater example can Bible teachers learn from than Jesus, the Master Teacher. Benefit would come from studying Jesus’ teaching ministry in the Gospels to observe how the Master Teacher taught using object lessons. They could make three columns:
| Object Used | How Jesus Used the Object | Why Jesus Used the Object |
A broad sweep of this study would show the following:
The Way Jesus, the Master Teacher, Used Objects:
1) Jesus painted word pictures by referring to objects.
Examples: many of the parables
2) Jesus used actual objects.
Examples: coin (Matt. 22:15-22); child (Matt. 18:1-6)
The Reason Jesus Used Objects:
A worksheet available from Ministry Tools Resource Center, suggests that Jesus used object lessons like a bridge to move people from the known to the unknown. Click on the image to the left to learn more about the Tips for Using Object Lessons Worksheet.
Who Jesus Taught Using Objects:
As I was completing this article it occurred to me that a fourth column could be added to a study on Jesus’ example on using objects — Who He Was Teaching.
One observation would be that He used object lessons with adults, His primary target group recorded in Scriptures. I wonder how many teachers of adult classes would even read a post like this. My guess is that a large percentage of them would think this means of teaching is for children’s classes!
I love your teachings, it is very good and useful for our teens group.
Thank you
Praise God this has been a help with your teens group. Teachers of all ages need equipping.