Sunday School Resource - Guidelines for Coordinators and Teachers

Teachers in the Sunday School Department (SSD) are expected to attend the teachers preparatory meeting. It holds at least once a week. It is a must for all teachers to attend; on no account should a teacher who did not attend the preparatory meeting be allowed to teach. The purpose of the teachers preparatory meeting include:             To do a careful study and analysis of the lesson in view until the core of the lesson is understood by the teacher (who should first learn as a student)             To read and critically ascertain the correctness and relevance of every Bible quotation in the lesson.             To discuss and agree on the divergent views on a subject and reach a unified conclusions in line with the Scriptures.             Since teachers are not expected to argue on a topic in the presence of the students the preparatory meeting will enable teachers sort out the grey areas.              Teach the Word without compromise or apology, but with love, humility but firmness. Ephesians 4:15, 25. Exalt Jesus in all your teaching. Let everyone know they need a saviour regardless of personal challenges, status, religion etc. John 3: 1-5, 14-15; Acts 8: 5, 27-35, Acts 9:20 (what are the attributes of Philip as a teacher and preacher demonstrated here?) Emphasise salient doctrines and spiritual experiences in your teaching. John 3:1-7; 4:19-24 – Salvation, Holiness, Holy Spirit baptism etc. Teach until your listener understands, for no learning has taken place till the students know what you are teaching. This can be achieved through various means, viz:             Teach in plain simple terms, and not grand theological phrases.             Use picture language that will make the truth come alive in living colour. Metaphors, parables, similes, etc. were used by Jesus in the gospels.             Build on what the listener already know and believe. Jesus and the disciples never attacked others for their beliefs. They used their beliefs as a basis to help them understand the truth they were teaching (Acts 17:22-23).             Relate and repeat your message when necessary. Be focused in achieving your objective. Students must go home with cogent lesson, i.e. forcefully convincing. Hence, you need thorough preparation so that you can discover the basic lesson taught in the lesson. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!  This can never be over emphasized. Jesus prayed the whole night for just few hours teaching. Pastor E. A. Adeboye fasts and prays for weeks in order to prepare for a sermon or teaching that may take some minutes or hours. We are shaping lives and destinies through the Word. It‟s a sacred job. People‟s lives and eternity depends on the Word. RESULT          The Word will bear fruit and our labour in the teaching ministry will not be in vain.          The church will be at peace. Wrong doctrine brings disharmony and aggravation. Acts 15: 1-2, 22-23, 30-31.          Tremendous growth. Acts 5:11-16; 19; 9-10; 6:27-28.          The church will be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Eph 5:27.          The doctrine of Christ will be preserved for coming generation. CONCLUSION True believers must be unwavering in the practice of the doctrine they accepted. This is why removing the ancient church landmark is a gross abuse of the call to teach and lead in the body of Christ. Any deviation from sound doctrine in the church is an end time spirit. Watch out! 2Tim 2:13; John 17:16; 2Tim 4:1-3.