Teaching Tip of the Week

The Bible lesson should be the most important part of your teaching time. And the Bible should be the most important part of your Bible lesson. Demonstrate to the children that what you are teaching them is indeed from the Bible and not something you just made up yourself.

When you teach, even if it is a narrative lesson you know like the back of your hand, plan specific times when you will actually pick up your Bible and read directly from it. I have found that during a narrative lesson some of the best places to read are during dialog.

Example: During a lesson on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Read from John 20:26b–28.

“Imagine how surprised Thomas must have been when he saw Jesus standing there! Jesus looked at the disciples and said, ^26b‘Peace to you!’ ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ ²⁸And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Thomas stood there in amazement, perhaps he couldn’t help but fall on his knees before Jesus.”

Reading from the Bible during the lesson gives the children the opportunity not only to see that the lesson really is from the Bible but also to see their teacher picking up and reading the Bible before their eyes. In doing so, the teacher visually demonstrates what the children should be doing on their own as well.