Topic(s): Teaching

• Blessed are the teachers who set a good example before their students in all things: for they are worthy members of a great calling.
• Blessed are the teachers who know their subject: for their students shall learn much.
• Blessed are the teachers who share with their students that which they have learned: for this is the true nature of teaching.
• Blessed are the teachers who strive to understand their students: for they will be able to comfort and guide them.
• Blessed are the teachers who make provision for differences in individuals: for their students will rise up and praise them for their understanding.
• Blessed are the teachers who make their work interesting and profitable: for they shall attract many into their classes.
• Blessed are the teachers who exhibit self-control: for they shall influence their students to do likewise.
• Blessed are the teachers who plan their work wisely: for their students shall be lead to more successful understandings.
• Blessed are the teachers who use a variety of methods: for their classes do not become dull.
• Blessed are the teachers who maintain good classroom order: for they are leading their students toward self-discipline.
• Blessed are the teachers who are fair and impartial in evaluating students’ work: for they shall enjoy the respect and loyalty of their students.
• Blessed are the teachers who accept criticism constructively: for they shall improve their efficiency and their personality.
• Blessed are the teachers who work cooperatively with their associates: for they shall be worthy of recommendation.
• Blessed are the teachers who hunger and thirst after new materials and ideas: for they shall broaden their own perspective of teaching.
• Blessed art thou, teacher, though your reward may seem small, and some may criticize you, and rebuke you, and say all manner of discouraging things to you – Rejoice; and be exceeding glad: for yours is a great work!

“And he began to teach them . . .” —Mark 8:31

The Bible Perspective

Topic(s): God's Will

• During the 15th century Michael Angelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It is considered one of the greatest works of artistry ever accomplished. When Michael Angelo completed the work, he admitted the difficulty he had in seeing things in a horizontal way—at least, for a short period of time. In fact, he found it impossible to look at a work of art in any careful way unless he held it up over his head. —Jason Hart
• Young people are growing up with heavy influences upon them. They are learning to look at the world through the eyes of evolutionists (cartoons, library books) and humanists (textbooks), and the secular-minded (television/movies). We have to help them come to see the world through the eyes of Christ. It is our job to help them learn to think biblically and spiritually. It is a big task, but we have a “big” God to help us accomplish it.”
• Os Guinness believes we are a generation that has "dumbed down" everything that is important to the level of bumper stickers and Hallmark cards, and we are suffering the consequences. One revealing bumper sticker, of the type Guinness has in mind, reads, “There is no right or wrong—only fun or boring.” Yet, God desires people to consider, reason, analyze and study. He has given us His Word in propositional form; a Word that must be carefully dissected if it is to be understood. —Gary E. Gilley, "Entertainment," This Little Church Went To Market, 40

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” —Proverbs 22:6

Keep Them Coming

Topic(s): Children

• The child comes home from his first day at school. His Mother asks, “Well, what did you learn today?” The kid replies, “Not enough. They want me to come back tomorrow.”
• The teacher asked her preschool class, “Now how many of you would like to go to heaven?” All of the kids but Tommy raised their hands. “Tommy,” asked the teacher, “Why don’t you want to go to heaven?” He answered, “I’m sorry, but I can’t. My mother told me to come right home after Sunday School.”   
• Children spent 64.9% more time on pornography sites than they did on game sites in September 2000. In addition, 27% of children age 17 and under visited an adult website, of which 21% were 14 or younger and 40% were female. Adolescents ages 12-17 are among the age groups most frequently exposed to pornography.

Three Concerns of a Good Teacher

Topic(s): Teaching

Teaching is serious business, especially when the subject is religion. That doesn’t mean that teaching should be dry, severe, or always sobering, but it does mean that teachers of God’s way must realize the urgency and importance of their task, and so discharge their duties with a view to standing before God with a clean conscience.

Some people are gifted by God with talents that make them exceptional teachers almost from the start, others seem to struggle, but the fact remains: whether gifted or not, all teachers must grow and develop and will greatly benefit from training to be better teachers.
Quality teacher training will aid teachers to excel in three basic areas of concern:

1. the content of their lessons,
2. the personality, or spirit in which the lesson is presented, and
3. the teacher’s relationship with the students.

Most teachers will find excelling in one of these three areas easy, doing well in a second not too difficult, but will deal with weakness in regard to their third concern. Teachers must seek excellence by focusing on that which comes most naturally (focus on your strength), persevering in that which is challenging (this will support and magnify your strength), and growing in the ability to accomplish that which seems the most difficult (here you will find the most personal growth). Teachers who neglect any of these three fundamental concerns will face disappointment as their students fail to grow the way they should.

The students are what matters. A teacher is reflected in his or her students. The students are the measurement of a teacher’s success. Teachers, devote yourselves to prayer, study, and lesson preparation. An unprepared teacher does not deserve time with God’s students. Teachers, strive to be excited and emphatic when you present your lessons. If it is worth saying, it is worth saying well. Teachers, love your students and get to know them well. If you truly hope to have a lasting impact, you simply must have a relationship first. May God bless our teachers!