Teaching the Christian Faith
The continuation of Christian religion not only involves maintaining the
Content of Christian faith, but it calls for the need to develop teaching skills to insure that the content of Christian faith is preserved in its integrity. A survey on several religious teacher training institutions by (Driessnack 1970) lead to an astonishing conclusion that many Christian organizations put emphasis on mastering the content with little or even no attempt to master the skills involved in developing actual teaching skills that are necessary for effectively communicating the doctrinal content.
The, “Teaching the Christian Faith” manual can be divided into four areas that aim at addressing the teaching/ learning process of the Christian faith. First, focuses is on the teacher. Participants as teachers are encouraged to understand the practical “how to” teach the Christian faith for all its worth. The content addresses the many teaching methods in the bible that Jesus and his disciples used. Each lesson encourages those involved in teaching the Christian faith to see the importance of the having the knowledge and the skill of what it takes to engage in a teaching/ learning process that produce results. The teacher as the leader of the teaching/ learning environment is called to acknowledge the teacher/ learners role for a successful learning to occur.
Second, is the learners’ role in teaching and learning which is important tool. Participants as learners realize that the learner’s attitudes equally play a major role in learning and should be encouraged. This awareness leads participants to see the need for special recognition of the learner’s contribution to the teaching and learning process and as a result, the learners are respected. Through these lessons participants understand the role of attitude in learning the Christian.
Third, is the need to know how to prepare good Bible lessons? Whose responsibility is it to teach all the age groups represented in your church? This question is answered in depth for each age group. The steps of a good lesson are discussed. Theme, main idea, and the three keys of good teaching are some of the things addressed. Other important things to consider when preparing a good lesson involve, deciding what activities, and methods will be used to communicate the intended concepts. This too is discussed in great depth.
Finally each participant prepares a six month action plan after the 12 lessons. After the 12th lesson, each person uses the teaching skills learned in this session to prepare a plan to accomplish a project of their own choice. The project can be in the region/ organization or the church a participant is part of. It at this point that “SMART” takes its true meaning.
Since the lessons are intended to be used by a wide range of people. Each lesson is easy to follow. Bellow are the fourteen lessons that guide the, “Teaching of Christian Faith” theme.
1. Great Teachers and How They Teach
2. Teachers and How They Teach
3. Learners
4. Two Informal Ways of Teaching: Example and the Apprentice
5. Action Planning for Change.
6. The Theme of the Bible Text
7. Teaching for Results.
8. Teaching Activities
9 The Lesson Plan
Driessnack, A (1970). "Teaching Listening in Grade Two," Ed. M . Thesis,
William Paterson College, Wayne, New Jersey
