Principles of Jesus' Teaching

Here are five principles found in Christian Education, Foundations for the Twenty-first Century of Jesus' teaching practice that can guide our own practice:

1. Jesus' teaching was authoritative. Jesus taught as one who had authority (Mark 1:27), a fact demonstrated by his actions and words. His authority was authenticated by the content of his teaching and by who he was as a person. the content of his teaching was the revelation of God, ,for he spoke with the words of god the Father (John 14:23-24). In addition, Jesus' life and ministry authenticated the authority of his teaching.
2. Jesus' teaching was not authoritarian. While being authoritative, Jesus' teaching was not forced or imposed upon his hearers (John 6:60-69). Jesus specified the costs and demands of discipleship and encouraged his followers to make personal commitments of their choosing. Once having delivered the message, he allowed the individual to confront the truth and come to his or her own conclusions.
3. Jesus' teaching encouraged people to think. Jesus stimulated serious thought and reflection in his teaching content. He expected his hearers to carefully consider their response to many inquiries, he did not provide simple, ready-made answers to life's problems. Jesus expected his students to search their minds and hearts in relation to his teachings and to consider the realities of life.  In encouraging others to think for themselves, Jesus posed questions and allowed for questioning.
4. Jesus lived what he taught. Jesus incarnated his message faithfully in his life and ministry. Before commanding his disciples to serve and love one another as he had loved them (John 13:12-17, 34-35), Jesus demonstrated the full extent of his love by washing his disciples' feet. He then further demonstrated his love by laying down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13). No one had ever personified or embodied instructional content as much as Jesus.
5. Jesus had a love for those he taught. Jesus loved his students, his disciples, in a way that indicated the deep longings of every heart for an intimate relationship with another person and with God. This relationship of love with Jesus was also characterized by an equal concern for truth as the Master Teacher communicated it. 

Jesus: The Master Teacher

The Content Of Jesus' Teaching.
Below is an excerpt from Jesus The Teacher: Examining His Expertise in Education.  Jesus taught in many, many different ways.  Here is a list of observations about Jesus' teaching (I bolded and colored ones that I think particularly apply to children's ministry):

• The teaching situation is complex, though it may easily be resolved into its essential elements: teacher, student, lesson, aim of the teacher, method of teaching, and environment
• The conversation of Jesus with the women of Samaria is an object lesson in teaching in all these respects.
• Jesus began by winning attention through openers that centered students' interests; then he established some point of contact with his hearers on the physical or spiritual plane.
• As a teacher, he was not only a tactician with methods but also a strategist with objectives. His greatest objective was to share with people that sense of union with the Father that he enjoyed.
• Jesus based his teaching on the vital problems in the lives of his students.
• Though he was not a Greek, he was ready to converse in a profitable way as was Socrates, and he led a more public life, though shorter, than did Socrates.
• He asked and answered questions to stimulate self-expression, desiring conviction rather than persuasion on the part of his followers.  His questions are better than those of Socrates because they are mostly of a kind other than leading.
• He used discourse at many different times before many different groups on many different themes, but always in a more or less informal way.
• He told stories with a point, the parables, which his listeners did not always understand but which always made them think and led the spiritually minded to inquire into their meaning.
• He knew and used the Old Testament Scriptures, both for the needs of his own soul and as a common meeting ground with the religious minds of his day.
• He never let an occasion slip but utilized it as it arose to clarify thought and to guide life.
• The principle of true learning is recognized in his words: "He who has ears, let him hear," and all his parables present the less familiar in terms of the familiar. Even so, he was often misunderstood.
• He used the principle of contrast to make real the portrayal of truth, concrete examples to bring the abstract near, symbols to make, if possible, difficult meanings plain, and wonderful imagery to enhance to appeal to the imagination and so to lead people to conviction.
• He cared more for individuals than for crowds, though he would often minister to crowds, perhaps with a view to reaching individuals.
• He trained his disciples as witnesses of him, by personal association, individualizing instruction, and meeting the needs of each one.
• The work accomplished by Jesus and through others, under his tutelage, was based on high motivation because of the awakening spiritual and altruistic impulses rather than those of personal advancement.
• In a most interesting way, Jesus probed the depths of human nature and touched on most of the innate reactions of man, though some, like rivalry, he did not conspicuously appeal to, and some, like sex, he sublimated.
• All the methods of impression he used were but means to expression. Jesus was far more pragmatic than either idealistic or mystic.
• Jesus appreciated childhood and made its characteristics identical with those of membership in the kingdom.
• In a way not surprising but confirming our previous impressions, Jesus embodies those qualities of the teacher commonly set up as ideal.
• As we followed these discussions, we doubtless discovered repeatedly that the problems of teaching that we ourselves face are similar to those that Jesus faced and that the solutions he found will greatly assist us in our work.

Jesus is the master teacher. Have we made him ours?

Understanding Learning Styles

This little except from Teaching Kid Authentic Worship, by Kathleen Chapman, is extremely important for all of us to hear as ministers and teachers to kids! I'll definitely try to read back over this now and then to remind myself!



"Do we know what our children are spiritually grasping on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis?  Can we teach so the message will stick in their hearts? Will they get it when we teach the meaning of worship from God's Word?

"Children have diverse learning styles that affect how or what they hear.  There are many opinions on how many learning styles actually exist, but the four basic ones that I've found valuable in teaching theater are visual, kinetic, language, and logical.

1. Visual learners need to see things. They like to see colors and objects, and they learn through images. For example, they love to watch Bible stories being acted out.
2. Kinetic learners process knowledge through physical sensations. They commicate with body language and gestrues. They like to participate in musical choreography and actually do, rather than watch, the acting in dramas.
3. Language-oriented learners think in words and verbalize concepts. They are great tellers of Bible stories.
4. Logical learners think conceptually. They are the "wonderers" who ask all the questions.

"Spiritual giftedness, personalities, and various temperaments also have an impact on how kids learn and respond to learning. If you teach the same lesson to ten kids at the same time, each will digest the material differently!

"Six-year-olds will not get the same meaning from a lesson as nine-year-olds. Consider the following: Two sisters had the same teacher for children's church. The lesson was about the feeding of the five thousand from Luke 9. The six-year-old told her folks their lesson was about a little boy who shared his lunch and how we should learn that Jesus wants us to share. Her nine-year-old sister said their lesson was about Jesus performing miracles. They had the same teacher and the same lesson, but they arrived at a different understand.

"Have you ever heard of a sermon that every adult in the congregation processed exactly the same way? A senior pastor has staggering odds against him. During a year's worth of sermons, parishioners hear only haf the intended messages (and personally apply even fewer of those), though they faithfully sit through every service.

"Look at a few of the variables involved in an audience of one hundred adults: age, economic and educational differences, spiritual maturity, gender, stress levels, fatigue, and health. Different people hear the same sermon in very different ways. The best way to know if a person understands a message is to ask follow-up questions. The pastor is at a disadvantage because he lacks question-and-answer time.

"The same variables and true for an audience of children, but we can ask questions. Where children are involved, so much is at stake! If we don't reach kids for Jesus by the age of twelve, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim.

"When I think of all the 'lessons' our kids hear in age-appropriate church classes without having a clue what they mean, I shudder.  Imagine what they don't grasp sitting in an adult church service! We assume far too much when it comes to children's interpretation of spiritual and biblical language.

"Recently, a seven-year-old girl announced to her parents that she wasn't going to pray anymore! Surprised, since prayer had been a big part of their everyday family life, her parents asked why she would say such a thing. She explained, 'Why should I talk to God when He never talks to me?'

"She assumed God spoke aloud to her mom and dad. All other adults in her life referred to things God had told them, but she had never once heard Him talk. She had tried her best to hear God speak but had failed to hear His voice. So she decided to quit talking to Him.

"Many children get lost in adult vocabulary. Their maturing in the Lord stops the moment they accept Jesus.

"We waste so many valuable years because kids don't comprehend what we say in church. My Christian experience was only somewhat important to me as a child. I liked going to my classes at church, and unlike some of my friends, I never rebelled against attending. It was a nice, social, predictable part of my existence.

"When I was six years old, I accepted Jesus, asking Him to 'come into my heart.' I really understood it because my parents painstakingly explained it to me. (However, one of my friends was frightened at the thought of someone cutting her chest open to get into her heart!)

"I remember having the act of baptism carefully explained to me as well.  The same ritual ensued when I wanted to take part in communion. Those three areas had clarity.

"The majority of the other 'Christianese' spoken by my parents and church leaders lost a lot in the translation on the way from my ears to my brain.

"We are, as teachers and parents, interpreters of God's Word, translating it into a child's language. We are dictionaries defining things and encyclopedias explaining things to help children know God better--enabling them to worsihp Him.

"We may have to repeat and vary the process many times. Every child is different. Each one grasps information at his or her level of understanding. Therefore, in talking about spiritual truths, we need to turn around immediately and ask each child what was just said."

Living a life of WORSHIP

I just found the new focus of my week, month, year, LIFE!  WORSHIPing God.  I am a veteran Christian, a life-long believer.  Since I could believe, I was believing in God!! Prayers were practically the first words upon my lips.  And yet, I never took this particular concept about worshiping God to heart.  Worship is about GOD. Not about me.  Not even about things God is doing for me.  Worship is about HIM.  Therefore, even saying, "I love you so much, God", isn't worship.  It's not focused on him, it's focused on me.  It could be praise! Praise is about us--our response to what God has done for us, thanking Him, serving Him, but worship is about God and the actual things that he has done!

I'm reading a book right now that is really opening up this whole new world to me, and teaching me how to teach it to children!  Teaching Kids Authentic Worship.  It's amazing! I highly recommend reading it!!

This research came from a desire for a great worship curriculum to teach to our new Kids Worship Band.  We started it with 6 great kids this past Wednesday, March 17th, and we'll be teaching the kids a short worship lesson every week!  I'm so excited to really delve into God's Word with these kids, and worship God with them!

Social Media Advertising!

Social Media is no doubt rising in influence in our daily lives.  Some of you may not feel it, but in the world of ministry, it is necessary that we take steps to get involved in the conversation. Children and teens ARE spending an increasing amount of time on the internet and in front of the tv, and we need to be a part!  The following articles may help you understand this point of view, I know they did for me!

Facebook Approaching World Dominance

Media in the lives of 8- to 18-year olds

Cool church with a Facebook service!

How Do I Teach Students Who Seem to Know It All?

How Do I Teach Students Who Seem to Know It All?

Here is a helpful little reminder about how to teach children the same old, same old but with a fresh attitude and heart! I believe even lessons you've never taught before should included these principles. There's a quote I love from a writer named Frank A. Clark that I think about a lot in Kids Ministry. Mr. Clark said, "There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child."  Please click the link above, read, and enjoy!

Toddler Learning Styles

I just stumbled upon this awesome article about Toddler Learning Styles put out by this month's Gospel Publishing House e-mail newsletter!  Click here to view.

Toddler Nursery Teachers & Helpers, please read!  I love great insights into the world of children!  So interesting.  While we're talking about little ones, here's another article/video teaching about how to minister in the nursery setting.  Click here to view.


Thank you all!!  You're amazing!