It was that class that launched me into almost perpetual Sunday school teaching for the last 37 years. It is those years of experience and the joy they have been that has inspired me to write this article. Here's a simple guide to help anyone that wants to effectively teach on a Sunday morning for approximately 45 minutes.
Begin during the week by preparing your lesson don't wait till Saturday night or even worse Sunday morning. Your lesson should have time for God to work in it and you. By Friday at the latest your prep should be done. Whether that's reading a chapter of a book and highlighting the sections that especially speak to you or reviewing the video and study guide. You should be ready in advance as it will make you feel more confident as you teach. (At the same time I know how life goes-so last minute prep happens-just don't make it a habit or your joy will get replaced with stress and I know you don't need more of that!)
Next you need to arrive at least 5 minutes early for the class that way you can welcome most everyone that will show up and sets the standard to begin on time. The Sunday School hour is rarely an hour and to start late can easily set a pattern that will cut down class time.
On that note begin class on time with what I call "front burner prayers". This is simply to clear the air and help people focus. If there is an elephant in the room you want to know about it. Someone may have had a real tragedy or a deep concern that won't allow them to focus on the lesson. You want to acknowledge that and then move on. this is not the time for everyone to share or for regular concerns people always have. This is just for big issues that have popped up. Often there is none so you should just pray that you could teach well and everyone would be ready to learn.
Begin your lesson by pointing out what has been important to you from the material. Again whether that's a quote from the book video or Bible text. The simplest curriculum is a good book in which case you move through the chapter highlighting key points that are meaningful to you and raising any applicable question that comes along.
If there is a good study guide you can use those and they are often excellent but sometimes provide more material that you can cover in the time you have. Be sure you focus on what you are excited about or what someone else is excited about.
Be careful not to let any one person dominate the discussion. Try to establish the rhythm of speaking between every other person and if there are two that try to dominate and simply tag team speak to them after class. Encourage them to wait until someone else speaks between them.
Encourage everyone to share but know that not everyone wants to or will share. Try to create the space that all can talk if they wish. Watch people carefully and give them permission to speak by calling them out if you sense they have something to say. CAUTION! This should only be done after relationship and trust has been established with you as the teacher and the class in general which usually takes a couple of weeks.
The truly powerful part of a good Sunday school experience is when someone shares something that you may have missed but impacts you heavily. Always make sure you acknowledge that and celebrate it :)
This is when you know education is actually happening and the wisdom of God is flowing through the body of Christ which is sitting all around you! There is great joy in learning together!
The class ends when you come to the end of the material you've prepared or when the time is almost up. Either way be sure to instruct the class on how they can prepare for next week's lesson and thank them for being with you. When you reflect on the class after it's done you should pray for your students as the Lord prompts you throughout the week.
You should also be very aware of any student that seems to really enjoy the class and the material and perhaps adds a lot to the discussion. They should be tapped as a substitute for you unless you have one already established. The greatest accomplishment in my opinion of a good teacher is to raise up another teacher in your place. That way the learning goes beyond you and this should always be a goal.
This is a simple pattern I have used with children and adults and it has been effective and fun. I'm sure there are other methods and you should certainly improvise however the Lord leads you. I only offer this as one way teaching Sunday school can work and like the legendary preacher teacher Rick Warren would say if my bullet works in your gun shoot it!
PS-Here's a list of 12 book titles (and how they help) that I plan to teach or see are taught on a rotating basis until Jesus comes back: ;)
One minute after you die-how to face death with confidence
Walk across the room-how to build relationships that will last for eternity
Living with thorns-how to have joy in suffering
The anger book-how to deal with the most powerful emotion
The five love languages-how to love and be loved effectively
Boundaries-how to have healthy relationships with everyone
The power of a whisper-how to hear God's voice clearly
Ordinary disciples-how the church actually grows around the world and can here too!
Every Man's Battle-how to win the war of sexual sin
Celebration of discipline-how to have life altering habits of faith
The purpose driven Life-how to live a life of meaning
Vinegar boy-how to hear the story of Jesus in a different way
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