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    does it always have to be a sermon?
katie edwards
Kurt’s article really got me thinking about how I view the “teaching” piece in ministry. I truly understand the importance of teaching junior high students God’s word…and I know that Kurt has taught some amazing Sunday morning messages that have seriously impacted student’s lives. However, I think we need to break out of the mold of “teaching” only coming in “message” form from the junior high pulpit…and think of the teaching piece as something that can happen at any moment or in any place with students.
I have been to countless youth ministry seminars and heard a number of student testimonies that state this fact over and over…..”I don’t remember any messages my youth pastor gave” or “I don’t remember any small group lessons that my leader taught”…BUT…”I do remember the relationships I built…I do remember my youth pastor driving me home and talking to me about God…I do remember my leader being there when my parent’s divorced…and so on and so on. I truly believe that some of our best teaching moments don’t have to be in the form of a prepared message. Sometimes, it’s just be willing to journey with students and TEACH along the way.
So, here is what I am thinking….how can we teach junior highers outside of the “norm” teaching times? How can we journey with them and teach them in the midst of their life moments? How can we use the relationships built in our ministries to become powerful teaching tools? I really believe that some of the best teaching…is done through strong, trusting relationships with leaders.
What are some ways that we can be teachers in student’s lives outside the “the normal” teaching platforms.
Time can be serious teaching tool…
Make the most of your time with students. Whether it is a trip to the store or Taco Bell, recognize that your time together can be full of teaching moments. Ask questions, experience & share life together ….TALK. So many teaching moments arise in everyday life situations. Now, I don’t spend every waking minute with students….I definitely have boundaries in this area…but I do try to make the time I do spend with students worthwhile. Student + Time = Opportunity to teach.
A good listener is a good teacher…
If you are around students, I guarantee there is a teaching moment waiting to happen. Listen and observe your students…just by watching them talk and interact with one another you can learn about areas in their life where they need instruction. Pay attention and respond. For example, I overheard a group of girls at youth group on Sunday talking about another girl in our youth ministry. Let’s just say they were not affirming her….they were in total girl mode viscously talking about this other girl. One of the girls talking was a student leader and a girl I knew very well. Later on, when I drove her home, I asked about the conversation. She was defensive and embarrassed trying to explain to me why her words were warranted. This was a teaching moment…we had a long conversation about words, gossip, etc. Even though we didn’t resolve anything in the car…we had a great talk and there was an opportunity for guidance and teaching. Just by observing a simple situation…a teaching moment came to light and some seeds were planted in a student’s life.
Let your example speak for itself…
In Kurt’s article he talked about the power of sharing stories…I love this point. But lets take it a step further….your life story can be a very powerful teaching tool in the lives of students. Share not only your stories, but who you are with students. The way you follow God, pray, interact in friendships/marriage/ relationships, respond to conflict, grow, fail, and so on and so on. I think students can learn so much from just watching us live life. They don’t want to follow and learn from perfect youth workers they want to follow authentic, imperfect people. Expose students to your faith…the way you follow God. Teach them and show them through your own journey. Tip: Make sure that you set boundaries for yourself in this area….your students don’t need to know everything. There is definitely a line of appropriateness.
Teaching moments are all around you….
You are ALWAYS teaching! What Kurt says about 1/3 of the time being dedicated to the lesson is really only partially true. The fact is your entire program is teaching students something.....that you care, that you'll listen, that you are glad they are there, etc. Whether you are at an event, a small group meeting, or your regular weekly meeting – let the all of the elements become teaching moments.
You can find teaching moments in…
- One on one conversations
- Discussion Questions
- The message
- The music you listen to or lead
- The games you play
- Small group lessons you write
- What stuff you hang on your walls
- Etc.
http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/katiesthoughts.html
katie edwards
Kurt’s article really got me thinking about how I view the “teaching” piece in ministry. I truly understand the importance of teaching junior high students God’s word…and I know that Kurt has taught some amazing Sunday morning messages that have seriously impacted student’s lives. However, I think we need to break out of the mold of “teaching” only coming in “message” form from the junior high pulpit…and think of the teaching piece as something that can happen at any moment or in any place with students.
I have been to countless youth ministry seminars and heard a number of student testimonies that state this fact over and over…..”I don’t remember any messages my youth pastor gave” or “I don’t remember any small group lessons that my leader taught”…BUT…”I do remember the relationships I built…I do remember my youth pastor driving me home and talking to me about God…I do remember my leader being there when my parent’s divorced…and so on and so on. I truly believe that some of our best teaching moments don’t have to be in the form of a prepared message. Sometimes, it’s just be willing to journey with students and TEACH along the way.
So, here is what I am thinking….how can we teach junior highers outside of the “norm” teaching times? How can we journey with them and teach them in the midst of their life moments? How can we use the relationships built in our ministries to become powerful teaching tools? I really believe that some of the best teaching…is done through strong, trusting relationships with leaders.
What are some ways that we can be teachers in student’s lives outside the “the normal” teaching platforms.
Time can be serious teaching tool…
Make the most of your time with students. Whether it is a trip to the store or Taco Bell, recognize that your time together can be full of teaching moments. Ask questions, experience & share life together ….TALK. So many teaching moments arise in everyday life situations. Now, I don’t spend every waking minute with students….I definitely have boundaries in this area…but I do try to make the time I do spend with students worthwhile. Student + Time = Opportunity to teach.
A good listener is a good teacher…
If you are around students, I guarantee there is a teaching moment waiting to happen. Listen and observe your students…just by watching them talk and interact with one another you can learn about areas in their life where they need instruction. Pay attention and respond. For example, I overheard a group of girls at youth group on Sunday talking about another girl in our youth ministry. Let’s just say they were not affirming her….they were in total girl mode viscously talking about this other girl. One of the girls talking was a student leader and a girl I knew very well. Later on, when I drove her home, I asked about the conversation. She was defensive and embarrassed trying to explain to me why her words were warranted. This was a teaching moment…we had a long conversation about words, gossip, etc. Even though we didn’t resolve anything in the car…we had a great talk and there was an opportunity for guidance and teaching. Just by observing a simple situation…a teaching moment came to light and some seeds were planted in a student’s life.
Let your example speak for itself…
In Kurt’s article he talked about the power of sharing stories…I love this point. But lets take it a step further….your life story can be a very powerful teaching tool in the lives of students. Share not only your stories, but who you are with students. The way you follow God, pray, interact in friendships/marriage/ relationships, respond to conflict, grow, fail, and so on and so on. I think students can learn so much from just watching us live life. They don’t want to follow and learn from perfect youth workers they want to follow authentic, imperfect people. Expose students to your faith…the way you follow God. Teach them and show them through your own journey. Tip: Make sure that you set boundaries for yourself in this area….your students don’t need to know everything. There is definitely a line of appropriateness.
Teaching moments are all around you….
You are ALWAYS teaching! What Kurt says about 1/3 of the time being dedicated to the lesson is really only partially true. The fact is your entire program is teaching students something.....that you care, that you'll listen, that you are glad they are there, etc. Whether you are at an event, a small group meeting, or your regular weekly meeting – let the all of the elements become teaching moments.
You can find teaching moments in…
- One on one conversations
- Discussion Questions
- The message
- The music you listen to or lead
- The games you play
- Small group lessons you write
- What stuff you hang on your walls
- Etc.
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