Bible Teachers: Here's How NOT to Get Through That Dry Spell
- Date: 2007-11-22 - Word Count: 401
Share This!
You can count on it: you'll have times when you lose the excitement, lose the passion, lose the strong desire to teach the Bible to others.
I wish it were always sweetness and joy, but experience tells us that we will not always feel wonderful about our teaching ministry.
I listened to someone "coaching" another teacher about "revving up" their presentation by pretending to be excited. "If you aren't really excited, it's ok, just fake it," was the advice given. "You'll start to feel more natural as you go. If you don't show 'em passion, you can't sell 'em on the application."
This was a disturbing message to hear.
Don't try to fake passion.
Don't try to fake passion, enthusiasm, or anything. The people in your class or study group are not going to be fooled. God is not going to be fooled. And if someone is fooled, it's only going to be temporarily -- with no real life change result.
It's absolutely true to people respond -- powerfully -- to genuine emotions. If their "sincerity meter" registers, emotions can make a huge difference in their understanding and retention of what's being taught. We are wired to learn better when there is an emotional component to the lesson. (It can be simply that someone is having fun.)
But faking anything is not honoring to the Lord, and will not be used by God to bring fruit that lasts.
So what do you do if you're not feeling excited or passionate? We've all hit some dry spells. How should you, dear teacher, handle it?
First, you should take this to the Lord in prayer. "Renew me, Lord. Help me to see your presence right around me, even now. Restore to me the joy of your salvation! Reveal to me anything which is blocking my experience of joy in the Holy Spirit, and help me to confess it." Second, keep going. It's tempting to quit or bow out, thinking to yourself that you're not qualified to teach. Don't do it.
Depending upon your teaching situation, this can be a great opportunity for transparency. It's helpful to know that other people don't always "feel" passionate. Our discipleship walk is not really about our feelings, right -- it's based in the FACTS of our salvation and sanctification.
Be sure to ask others to pray for you. We are not solo Christians, we are designed to operate in community.
Be patient with this process.
God is faithful. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
I wish it were always sweetness and joy, but experience tells us that we will not always feel wonderful about our teaching ministry.
I listened to someone "coaching" another teacher about "revving up" their presentation by pretending to be excited. "If you aren't really excited, it's ok, just fake it," was the advice given. "You'll start to feel more natural as you go. If you don't show 'em passion, you can't sell 'em on the application."
This was a disturbing message to hear.
Don't try to fake passion.
Don't try to fake passion, enthusiasm, or anything. The people in your class or study group are not going to be fooled. God is not going to be fooled. And if someone is fooled, it's only going to be temporarily -- with no real life change result.
It's absolutely true to people respond -- powerfully -- to genuine emotions. If their "sincerity meter" registers, emotions can make a huge difference in their understanding and retention of what's being taught. We are wired to learn better when there is an emotional component to the lesson. (It can be simply that someone is having fun.)
But faking anything is not honoring to the Lord, and will not be used by God to bring fruit that lasts.
So what do you do if you're not feeling excited or passionate? We've all hit some dry spells. How should you, dear teacher, handle it?
First, you should take this to the Lord in prayer. "Renew me, Lord. Help me to see your presence right around me, even now. Restore to me the joy of your salvation! Reveal to me anything which is blocking my experience of joy in the Holy Spirit, and help me to confess it." Second, keep going. It's tempting to quit or bow out, thinking to yourself that you're not qualified to teach. Don't do it.
Depending upon your teaching situation, this can be a great opportunity for transparency. It's helpful to know that other people don't always "feel" passionate. Our discipleship walk is not really about our feelings, right -- it's based in the FACTS of our salvation and sanctification.
Be sure to ask others to pray for you. We are not solo Christians, we are designed to operate in community.
Be patient with this process.
God is faithful. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Related Tags: passion, bible study, bible teaching, sunday school, small groups, bible teacher
Looking for more tips and strategies to improve your Bible teaching? Glenn Brooke has coached thousands of Bible teachers around the world. He has a package of helps for Bible teachers at http://www.teachtochangelives.com/gift Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Unused Power
Ever wondered what would have already been accomplished on this earth if only a handful of people ha - How Horoscope / Astrology Does Affect A Person's Happiness
When we speak about happiness, it reflects on two variations. One as an emotion like being happy or - Using The Internet For God
Do you have a Christian product, service or message that you would like to inexpensively advertise a - Get The Latest Catholic Church Mass Times Now On The Internet
Get to know the Catholic Church Mass Times through the Internet. It is generally obligatory to atten - Horoscope Compatibility For Libra, Capricorn, Sagittarius
According to psychic readings, people under this horoscope signs are somewhat different and somewhat - Know Your Life Through Psychic And Clairvoyance!
Having psychic and clairvoyant readings done from professionals is the best way to know the flaws th - Astrology/horoscopes: Why People Love Astrology
Astrology/horoscopes is the study of celestial body movement. Astrologers believe that the movement - Benny Hinn: India Healing Crusade
Benny Hinn recently conducted a healing crusade in India that drew one of the largest crowds ever. P - Sun, Moon, Ascendants Sign In Birth Chart Wheel
The Ascendant signs or the rising sign - is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the e - Zodiac Sign Gemini And Its Houses Description
Understanding Zodiac is not that difficult at all, determining your reading for the said subject doe
Most viewed articles in this category:
- No Sign in the Prayer Test
The recent release of the Richard Dawkins book, "The God Delusion", has brought renewed accusations - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences Array (2) the Bees
Before dealing with the topic of the Bees in Quran versus Bible versus sciences, it is mandatory to - Understanding the Heart
(If you wish to more benefit from this article, please read first our "The Alems" titled article. - Christian Dating vs Courtship
Over the past decade, or so, It's become popular in modern churches to use the concept of courtship - Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences, Array (19) the Birds
The issues concerning the Birds in the Bible are:1) The Birds are Detestable and intolerable, 2) The - Starting the Wealth Process
Luke 6:38 KJV Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken togethe - Dissolving the Illusion of Fear
Webster defines fear as unpleasant emotions cause by expectation or awareness of danger. However, - Crossing Paths with a Whistleblower
Mordechai Vanunu grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home but abandoned the faith by his mid teens. He bec - Conspiracy Madness
In connection with the WTC disaster there are conspiracy theories that have been proposed. Such as t - How You Dream Your World Into Existence
Reality is not real. It is a dream. This is not a metaphorical statement. On the quantum level of
