The Nitty Gritty of Teaching Adult Sunday School

By Curtis Mosley

By learning the techniques in this book, you will be able to confidently approach your teaching assignment, knowing that you are fully capable of:

1. Handling the spiritual demands of leading a Christian group. 

2. Constructing a scripturally sound lesson.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CURTIS MOSLEY
• Release date: Feb 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9780692894590

Curtis Mosley

Curtis Mosley is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans also earned two graduate degrees (Pepperdine University and Grand Canyon University). He has taught organizational change and management at LeTourneau University and the University of Phoenix. He has composed and published over 100 songs. Curtis has operated his own business for 30 years.

Book preview

Chapter 1

A Teacher is a Minister, Salesman, and Visionary Leader

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings (and teachers) is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)

Your role is to teach, to advise, and to persuade your class members to become like Christ. Your goals require natural talent and supernatural anointing.

You are a Minister

You want more for your class than merely knowing about God, you want them to experience him. Therefore, in addition to teaching the scriptures, you want to minister to your students. Allocating time for praise reports, prayer, and testimonies are all wonderful ways to minister to one another. Singing is also a way to invite the Lord’s presence into your classroom. In these practical ways, the class will see God at work from week to week as prayers are answered. They not only become more knowledgeable, they gain first-hand experience in walking with God. Students’ gifts will emerge during these times of testimony. This heart-to-heart sharing with one another and communion with God transforms your class into a ministry. In fact, if your class is one hour long, you should not teach more than 40 minutes, because you’ll need ten minutes at the start and close for greetings, fellowship and prayer requests. If it weren’t for fellowship, your students could simply stay home and study the Bible through correspondence courses. Making time for relationships strengthens the Christian body through emotional support, accountability, and service.

Through practical in-class ministry, students learn to bear one another’s burdens, and carry the concerns of their friends to the Lord in prayer. They also go beyond asking for blessings to seek the Blesser; beyond asking for healing, to seek the Healer. Ministering to one another creates Christ-likeness.

We are to be doers of the word, and not hearers only. (James 1:22) Many Christians already know more about the Christian life than they are putting into practice.

You Are a Salesperson

A good salesperson likes to create drama and enjoys the suspense of influencing others. You are persuading all the time, for good or not, by your credibility, attitude, and character. You are the most compelling visual aid that your students will see. But remember that you are never alone on the teaching platform because you are a coworker with God. Lastly, keep in mind that persuasion takes time. Although you should expect progress, the length of time required is in God’s hands. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

Verbal skill is helpful. Proverbs 16:21 tells us, A wise, mature man is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is. Frame your lessons in language that is tasty and wholesome. When a wise man speaks, he makes knowledge attractive. (Proverbs 15:2). Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love. And Proverbs 15:4 says that kind words bring life.

A good teacher not only conveys information, but also expresses care. They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

You Are a Visionary Leader

From the very beginning, a visionary leader knows what the project is supposed to look like in the end. Although Peter did not see himself as the chief apostle, the Lord did. Paul did not see himself as a great evangelist, but Jesus did. Mary Magdalene saw herself as a castoff, but the Savior saw what she could become: a person of courage, faith, and love. Pray about the direction of your class and the needs of its members. God has placed you there to develop them.

Jesus inspired his disciples by sharing his vision for them as fishers of men. God’s vision for all of our lives is always much bigger than our own.

You have a huge responsibility and a great opportunity. Your lips should flow with the knowledge of God so the people will learn God’s laws. (Malachi 2:7, TLB)

Chapter 2

The Blessings of Being a Teacher

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8)

The greatest benefit of being a teacher is increased insight in becoming more like Jesus Christ. You have the unparalleled gift of studying God’s revealed truth, the Scriptures. There is nothing that compares to the Bible.

♦ The Word was with God at creation.

In the beginning was the Word. (John 1:1)

♦ The Word is God.

The Word was God. (John 1:1)

♦ The Word is Jesus.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

It is not enough to say that the Bible tells us about Jesus: the Bible is Jesus! Studying and applying the Scripture is an awesome honor and privilege!

Be joyful that it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) You are following in the footsteps of Jesus, the greatest teacher, King Solomon, the wisest man, and Paul, the Apostle. Before his ascension, Jesus asked Peter the question that qualifies you for being a teacher, Love me more than these? Jesus needs teachers who love him more than anyone else, more than anything else, and more than their own lives. If you answer with the confidence of Peter, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you, then, and only then, will you receive his command: Feed my lambs. (John 21:15) Don’t be cold-hearted, the hard-hearted, or the half-hearted.

Kindness and Peace

"Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!" (2 Peter 1:2, 3, The Living Bible)

Eternal Honor

Billy Graham’s Sunday School teachers could not have known the great impact that he would later have, but they contributed to his success and will receive a reward like his. Jesus said, If you welcome a prophet because he is a man of God, you will be given the same reward a prophet gets. (Matthew 10:41, TLB) Bible teacher, there is a permanent, glorious reward waiting for you in heaven. Eternity will prove that Sunday School was a great and worthy service for God.

♦ The reapers will be paid good wages and will be gathering eternal souls into the granaries of heaven! What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together! (John 4:36, TLB)

♦ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)

♦ And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)

Earthly Honor

"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." (1 Timothy 5:17) The church depends upon teachers to bring out the wonders of SCRIPTURE skillfully. Your fellow Christians know how much time it takes to be a good Sunday School teacher. They also recognize that God has given you a gift and that you live close to the Lord. Psalm 25:14 tells us that The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him. This means that God shares his thoughts with you and you are familiar with matters of faith. You are a custodian of God’s riches.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15) You are a close friend of the Lord.

Would you rather be anywhere else?

Would you rather do anything else?

The Very Presence of the Lord

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)

Isn’t it encouraging to know that Jesus is right there with us as we teach?

I will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

You don’t have to teach alone.

Chapter 3

Don’t Teach Without These 10 Things

Be thou prepared. (Ezekiel 38:7)

1. The gift of teaching.

Teaching without the gift of teaching is like placing a pack horse in the Kentucky Derby. It just doesn’t look right. Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.

To someone not gifted for the classroom, teaching can be unpleasant and burdensome. However, if you’re a teacher, you like a lively debate, a thoughtful question, and interaction with your class. Mixing it up with your students is fun. It’s what makes you a teacher.

It is important that you minister in your gift. Second Timothy 1:6 tells us to stir up the gift of God. When we operate in our gift, we teach with confidence, not arrogance. Like the prophet Habakkuk, we say "The Lord God is my strength."

A good Bible teacher is also a good Bible student, so you will enjoy studying the scriptures and becoming thoroughly familiar with them. You will delight in your own walk in Christ and learning more about God’s will. And when God reveals something powerful in the scriptures, you will want to share it. You will also have a desire to see others grow into mature, strong Christians. In short, you will want to do your best to help others: and continuing your own Christian education keeps you sharp. When you stop learning, you will soon neglect what you already know. (Proverbs 19:27, TEV)

2. An understanding that God expects more from you.

God holds teachers to a higher standard than others. James 3:1 tells us "Dear brothers, don’t be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater than it would be for others. Luke 12:48 reinforces this admonition: Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.

Maintain a godly life. Although your salvation may not be at stake, your eternal rewards are. Pray that God will give you the wisdom, strength, and faith to live a clean life: worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. (Ephesians 4:1, The Living Bible)

The Lord warns us in Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Ezekiel 34:2 says Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves instead of their flocks.

3. A realization that your life speaks louder than your words.

I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Job 42:5 I once traveled a great distance to attend a seminar for Christian men. Although I was impressed by the effort, organization and lectures at the church, I noticed a few of the key leaders failed to apply their own lessons. They spoke of having a humble heart, yet exhibited a self-centered attitude. This discouraged me from attending future training there.

From the book of Judges, we learn that people require leadership that they can see. Each time a judge died in Israel, the Israelites reverted to their old sinful ways. Without visible examples, people turn away from God. If you don’t live the truths you espouse, your credibility will suffer. At the end of the day, the life you lead is the real Bible lesson.

4. God’s anointing. What is the anointing?

Dr. Harold Hunter, the admired President of Trinity Theological Seminary, defines the anointing as:

A special touch of God to do a special task at a special time in your life.

♦ The anointing will allow you to comfortably perform the ministry to which you are called.

♦ The anointing will enable you to do what others cannot. In other words, your ministry will work.

♦ As you minister, people will recognize the anointing.

The anointing occurs when God places his Spirit upon you for a certain purpose. In Luke 4:18, Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. The anointing is God’s spiritual blessing of liberty, authority and power. Ask for God’s blessing to bring freedom to you as you teach. Remember, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Teaching under the anointing is different than teaching for God: it is God teaching through you.

If you are to demonstrate Christ to your students, you need God’s commission, affirmation, and enablement for teaching. If Jesus needed God’s divine touch, surely you do also: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power." (Acts 10:38) Jesus is known as The Christ, which means The Anointed. Jesus spoke only the words which God gave him. (John 17:8) Listen to his astounding words: The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10, NKJV)

The apostle Paul spoke of God’s anointing of Silvanus, Timothy and himself as preachers of the gospel: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God." (2 Corinthians 1:21) Like Timothy, we should seek the anointing of God to teach. The anointing brings the truth to life. It is the Spirit to Spirit connection from God to us.

A review of the Bible tells us that the anointing brings great and wonderful blessings:

♦ God’s approval (Matthew 3:16)

♦ Crowning, signifying royalty (Leviticus 21:12)

♦ Respect (Exodus 30:30, 31)

♦ Formal consecration and declaration of ordination for ministry (Acts 13:3)

♦ Honor as holy and godly (Exodus 30:30)

♦ Sanctification, or being set apart for a specific ministry (Leviticus 8:12)

♦ Placing of responsibility on a minister (Numbers 18:8)

♦ Preparation and beautification (Isaiah 21:5)

♦ A sign of affection and care (John 12:3)

♦ Bestowing of a fragrant aroma (John 12:3)

♦ Establishment (2 Corinthians 1:21)

♦ Deliverance and victory (Isaiah 10:27)

♦ The Holy Ghost and power (Acts 10:38)

5. A caring heart.

The primary motivation for teaching is caring. You don’t teach to be admired or to demonstrate your public speaking abilities. Students do not remember the wittiest, most theatrical or the most educated teachers. They cherish the teachers who took a personal interest in them and spent time with them. You will have the greatest and most lasting impact on them if you are available at crucial times when they need you. These moments are not always scheduled: they occur unexpectedly. Because ministering is the more important half of teaching, be willing to interrupt the lesson to pray for someone or speak a word of encouragement to him. TIME is an acronym for "Taking Interest in ME."

Consider Paul, the author of much of the New Testament and founder of many churches. The scars on his back from five brutal whippings displayed his devotion to the early Christians. Yet, he called his suffering a light affliction. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Also note that King Solomon recorded his wise sayings out of compassion for his people. Solomon gave special care to word his proverbs in a pleasing manner, so that his readers would enjoy becoming wise. But then, because the Preacher was wise, he went on teaching the people all he knew; and he collected proverbs and classified them. For the Preacher was not only a wise man, but a good teacher; he not only taught what he knew to the people, but taught them in an interesting manner. (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12, The Living Bible) He cared enough to make learning enjoyable.

People need to know someone cares. When the Israelites were slaves in a foreign land, the Lord said, I know their sorrows." (Exodus 3:7)

The Greek translation of teach is paratithemi, which means to set before. It connotes placing a nourishing meal in front of someone.

Do you recognize the great need? Do you care enough to prepare wholesome, spiritual food for them? Are you available?

6. Passion for the Bible.

Passion is the difference