It seems that an ongoing problem in many churches is the enlistment of effective teachers in the Bible Study ministry. If a church is going to be successful in reaching, teaching and keeping people in its discipling/disciple making process, then we must make necessary changes in the enlistment of teachers. I believe that it all starts with commitment, This commitment to Christ, the church, the community, to personal cultivation and organizational change.
When you enlist someone to teach, you must be convinced of their personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our teaching ministries must have teachers who are sold out to God. These teachers are only found through times of genuine prayer and seeking. Do not short-circuit God.
An enlisted teacher must also have a commitment to the local church, demonstrated by a positive attitude toward the pastor, staff, and over all church ministries and by his personal involvement through attendance and support.
A newly enlisted effective teacher is also one who has a genuine commitment to the local community. This teacher is willing to invest the time and effort to build intentional relationships outside the walls of the church. It is easy to be comfortable with working with those we know, but it is kingdom focused to love and reach out to our neighbors and our community.
When you are enlisting a teacher, look for one who is serious about their own personal cultivation. A good and effective teacher knows that they have not arrived. They know that spending daily quality time with the Lord is a necessary component to being used by the Lord in a classroom or small group setting. They also know that it is important to be trained and to keep up to date on teaching methods and resources.
Knowing that organizational change is inevitable, it is important to seek people who have a commitment to the ministry organization and to the changes that will happen. The effective teacher realizes the importance of positive structure and will be accountable to the overall ministry goals.
Therefore, to effectively enlist teachers, check their level of commitment to Christ, the local church, the community, their personal cultivation and the changes that may occur in the organization.
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Dale Davenport is the Director of Education for the Illinois State Baptist Association
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