What Makes A Good Teacher?

Excerpted from Our Church and Our Children by Sophie Koulomzin

1.     He must have an authentic experience of participation in church life, on however modest a scale.  In other words, his Orthodox faith, however incomplete, must be his own sincere faith.

2.     He must have a capacity, perhaps only a potential one, for communicating with children.

3.     He must have the capacity to grow and develop his gifts.

1 Corinthians 13.1-8

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ...

4Love suffers long and is kind;  love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8Love never fails.

Why Do I Teach?

excerpted from I Love Sunday School by Joseph Bayly

 Why do I teach Sunday school?  The questions sometimes comes to me.

Because they needed a teacher; because someone asked me to; because I like people; because teaching forces me to study the Bible; because I want to help influence the next generation for God; because I have at least a small gift for getting through to adults -- helping them think and discuss -- and I feel responsible to use it. All good reasons, I guess.  But not the key one, the best one perhaps -- the one that will hold me when all else fails.

I teach because the last words Jesus spoke before He ascended to heaven were these:  "Go ye therefore and teach . . ." (Matthew 28:19)  I teach my Sunday school class because Jesus commanded His followers -- and I believe that includes me -- to teach His Word.

During this century, we've put a lot of emphasis on the word "Go" --this is a strong basis for foreign missions.  But the real emphasis in this verse is on "Teach":  "While you are going, teach."

My pattern of life is to teach others, especially my Sunday school class, the things Jesus teaches me. 

 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."   - Matthew 28:19-20

What is a Teacher?

excerpted from Me? A Teacher? by Donna Mason

A TEACHER isn't a Bible expert, BUT - has professional help and guidance.

  Curriculum materials do not assume that teachers are Bible authorities. Resource materials provide thorough Bible background.  Staff members are always ready to help.

A TEACHER doesn't know all the answers, BUT - is a learner among Learners.   

  The teaching process emphasizes the teacher as a guide - a fellow discoverer. The teacher is not embarrassed if he does not know the answer.  He says, "Let's find out together."

   A TEACHER isn't tied to a rigid program, BUT - is free to be creative and flexible.

  The teacher can make use of his own special talents and avoid those areas which he finds difficult or awkward.  The teacher may call upon resource persons for some parts of the program.

   A TEACHER doesn't teach a curriculum, BUT - teaches persons.

  The teacher attempts to meet the needs of each student.  Students remember teachers long after the lessons the teachers teach.  God works through persons to reveal his love and truth.

   A TEACHER doesn't teach all the time, BUT - takes time to listen.

              Maybe this is the only place the child can talk to an adult who listens and really cares.

   A TEACHER doesn't do it alone, BUT - is part of a team.

  Life together in the church is team-work.  Teaching in the church requires team-work between teachers and student, between teachers and other teachers, and between teachers and other staff.