Sometimes Bible teachers lose their enthusiasm, sense of purpose, and joy in teaching and need to regain perspective. They’re missing that “spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).
Reasons Bible Teachers Lose Their Fervor in Teaching
When we, as Bible teachers, get stuck in a rut, teaching the same way over and over, it can get a bit boring. If we become satisfied with status quo and stop growing, no longer caring if we get better in our teaching, then we can soon become apathetic. When we merely go through the routine or obligation of teaching, we lose a sense of purpose.
Sometimes the demands of life consume and stress us out, causing us to become preoccupied. We then tend to lose focus on the eternal good God wants to do through us.
Perhaps we need a spiritual wakening in our lives. Maybe our own love for the Lord has grown cold. As a result, we lose our spiritual fervor (Rom. 12:11) and teaching the Word becomes little more than a duty.
Reminders to Help Us Regain Perspective
Whatever the reason, we need to regain perspective. Here are some reminders for us as Bible teachers.
- Let’s not forget what Jesus can do through us as we invest into our students’ lives. (Eph. 4:11-16)
- Let’s pull back the curtain on the big picture, remembering the rippling effect our teaching can have beyond our class. (2 Tim. 2:2)
- Let’s remember that what we do is worth the time, effort, and continued diligence. (1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9; Heb. 6:10)
With a renewed perspective, we can once again approach teaching with a sense of anticipation and joy.
If you’re a Christian Education Director, be sure to regularly remind all your Bible teachers of these realities. Don’t wait until teachers display apathy or become lethargic in their teaching. Check out the Rediscovering the Joy of Teaching PowerPoint presentation as one way to help teachers with their perspective.