It’s that time again.  It typically comes around four times a year.  Some are eager to jump right in.  Some are ducking behind doors, hiding behind their friends, trying to avoid being noticed.  Some are wondering what the fuss is all about, just going about business as usual. What is it time for? And why such differences in attitudes?

It’s time to start the new Bible class quarter.  It’s time to find new teachers. Bible classes teachers are some of the most devoted, hardworking, God-fearing people you will ever meet.  They voluntarily give their time and resources to teaching others about God because they know how important sharing the good news is.

There are some who consider teaching a Bible class to be the highlight of their week.  They love to peruse the internet looking for songs, visual aids and activities that will leave a lasting impression on their students.  They spend hours poring over the scriptures to gain a better understanding of what they are about to teach. These teachers are a blessing to their students, their students’ parents, and the whole congregation.

There are some, though, who consider teaching Bible class to be a chore – something done out of necessity.  They are willing to do the job if no one else will do it.    They are too busy to spend much time preparing their lesson, so they prefer to be handed a lesson book that has everything laid out for them.  They consider it their responsibility to take their turn teaching class but feel put upon if they are asked to do it more than one quarter.  They are “doing their time” in class and look forward to it being over.

Wouldn’t it be grand if every teacher were enthusiastic about their teaching?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if whoever oversees the Bible classes each quarter had to turn people away instead of pleading for someone to teach just one more quarter?

Instead of mumbling about why “so-and-so” isn’t teaching as often as I think she should or as enthusiastically as I think she should, let’s look at who is to blame for her reluctance.  If you see yourself in any of the following, good.  Hopefully, we can all be better at encouraging each other to do better.

Experienced Bible class teachers are to blame.  Yes, you heard me right.  The atmosphere experienced Bible class teachers set influences the way others feel about teaching.  If those who regularly teach have a negative attitude, the younger generation of teachers are not going to be eager to join them.  Those children you are teaching every week can tell whether or not you enjoy what you are doing.  They hear the complaints about having to teach an extra quarter because someone else is not pulling their weight.  They sense the lack of enthusiasm by the lack of preparation you put into your class.  Not only are you teaching the students about God and His wonderful plan for them, but you are also teaching the next generation how to teach…how to teach your children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

Experienced teachers influence the novice teacher just starting out.  A young, eager teacher who is pouring her all into her Bible class gets her enthusiasm squelched every time a more mature teacher makes a comment about how she used to do all that but cannot find the time anymore.  It may not have an immediate effect on her enthusiasm but little by little, each time a comment is made, she begins to have less and less joy in her work.

Experienced teachers, your job is not just teaching young students, but you should be seeking out ways to teach the younger or not so young beginning teachers how to teach.  This involves even more of your time.  It involves inviting someone into your classroom to observe, help and eventually take the lead in teaching.  It involves working together on the coming lesson.  Spending outside time in the classroom preparing the room, the activities, the hearts of both yourself and the beginning teacher.  Just imagine if every experienced teacher considered it her goal to teach others how to do what she does.  It would payoff for everyone involved for years to come.

Elders are to blame. I say this with all respect to elders everywhere. Those who are appointed as elders have a heavy weight placed on their shoulders.  One of their responsibilities is to “feed the flock that is among you”.  If the elders have chosen to use Bible classes as a means of feeding their flock, then providing knowledgeable, enthusiastic, eager teachers is part of their task as well.  Putting a warm body with a lesson book in hand in a classroom of children does not effectively meet the requirement of feeding the flock.
 
Teachers need to be taught to teach.  A teacher who does not know how to teach can be worse than no teacher at all.  Of course, one of the best teachers is experience itself but that takes years and lots of opportunities for mistakes to be made, error to be taught, souls to be lost.  Elders can provide the means for teachers, both novice and experienced, to be taught how to do their job better.  I have seen this done in elaborate teacher training events, in regular teacher meetings designed to encourage collaboration amongst teachers, and in mentor arrangements mentioned above.  Ideally a combination of these is utilized.

The teacher training events I have attended over the years have been of such value to my teaching.  They do not happen often enough.  “We had Mrs. “so-and-so” come 10 years ago to present her teacher training lessons to our teachers.”  Yes, and that was great but everyone, new and old, needs to be taught on a much more regular basis than once every 10 years.  Find someone who is eager to share what they know and invite them to talk with your teachers.  Your teachers will thank you.

Elders need to know what is going on in the classrooms.  There should be an open-door policy that any of the elders should and will visit a classroom at any time.  How else can you know what is going on if you don’t step inside the classroom?  At the very least, talk with your teachers about how it is going.  Listen to what they are saying.

Deacons are to blame.  Typically, it is the responsibility of a deacon to find teachers, order materials, supply the classrooms and see to the general week-to-week goings on in the classroom.  Do the teachers have the supplies they need?  Are the classrooms and their furnishings kept in working order?  Do the teachers know what is available to them to use?  Do they feel comfortable approaching a deacon with a need?  These are all things that deacons need to consider when they take on their job.  It takes time getting to know the teachers and getting to know those who may want to learn to teach.  It takes time to learn what the teachers needs are and to find solutions to their problems.  It takes good communication skills and the ability to deal with problems as they arise.  Without these skills or the desire to improve these skills, the teacher will get frustrated and become the one hiding behind the door trying to avoid eye contact with the deacon trying to find teachers.   That is not a good situation for anyone.

Parents are to blame.  Classrooms can be filled with beautiful furnishings and engaging bulletin boards.  Teachers can be well trained, enthusiastic, and prepared for their lessons.  Elders can be involved, and deacons can be seeing to it that everything runs smoothly but if the parents do not take their kids to Bible class it is all for nothing.  There is nothing more discouraging than to be prepared for a great class, an exciting lesson and arrive to find an empty or nearly empty classroom.  Without the students, it is all a waste of time.  No wonder teachers get discouraged.  Why prepare if there is no one to teach?

Parents who bring their children only occasionally are setting them up for failure.  These children think they are dumb because they are only hearing a portion of the Bible story.  Other children in the class who attend regularly know all the answers, have memorized all the scripture, have a good rapport with the teacher but those who are only there occasionally feel left out.  They do not realize that it is because they have missed the past two Sundays.  They just know they don’t know what’s going on in class.  They have no control over whether they are there or not.  They grow up thinking they don’t belong in church.  Then the parents wonder why they stop attending when they get their own car or turn 18.  Parents, take your children to Bible class!

If you are a Bible class teacher, I thank you.  You are doing a good work.  Keep it up.  If you are a reluctant teacher, seek someone to encourage you.  If you do not teach but would like to, let someone know. Ask them to help you be a better teacher.  If you do not want to teach but feel you must “do your time” in the classroom, don’t.  Either get a better attitude or find something else you are enthusiastic about in the Lord’s work and do it with all your might.

1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.