|
Monthly Message---Poetry---Events Calendar---Need a Laugh
Sherman Williams
More and more we have come to realize that the success of any church, both numerically and spiritually, depends upon a church working force that is spiritually motivated, adequately trained, and properly enlisted. Since, to a great extent, the motives of the motivator determine the amount of motivation possible, we shall emphasize this facet of our subject.
The pastor is a pace-maker! Ideally, he must be a leader both in articulation and in action. He must be able to size up the situation, map out a workable plan in his own mind, and explain and sell it to others. More than that, he should provide a lead for others and get them to fit into the course of action he already is taking himself.
People must know where you're going. There can be no indecisiveness or lack of explicit purpose if you would have them follow you enthusiastically. A leader is a man who makes decisions after care-and thought; sometimes they turn out right, sometimes wrong, but either way, he makes them.
The basic attribute of a good leader is the ability to inspire people to their best efforts. Experts know what should be done; leaders know what should be done and how to get the people to do it.
Challenge and inspire your people with the greatness of the task. We are not just trying to keep an organization going or to keep the machinery operating. We have a great job, of molding lives for time and eternity. Specific goals of achievement, not too high or low, should be set. Get the scoreboard ready so people will know what the score is{Special Char 190 in Font "Symbol"} what progress is being made.
Recognition and praise are great motivators. Take an interest in people. Recognize the uniqueness of each individual with whom you deal. See people not as means but as ends in themselves, each person gifted with a dignity of his own. Go out of your way to understand, help and improve people. Help others to gain self-respect and a feeling of importance. Never belittle anyone by word or attitude. Speak to people, praise them, give them a smile.
A Christian leader must not merely challenge people to carry out his purposes, but must help them to attain their personal spiritual goals as well. Think more about giving than getting. The more a man gives of himself in effort, kindness, praise, helpfulness, the more he receives in return. Your people- must know that you care for them. If you are thoughtful, encouraging and considerate, they will give more of themselves to the program you are directing. But if you are considerate only because you want them to do more for your program you will lose their loyalty in the end.
Inspire Loyalty. Like enthusiasm, it's contagious. It breeds success and contentment. Keep morale high. Encourage team spirit. A feeling of belonging is essential. Praise in public, criticize in private. Be willing to share bouquets. Don't be a boss, be a leader.
Prepare to Enlistment In the youngest Sunday School departments and earliest training groups there should be developed the concept of a "participating, " not a "spectator" Christianity. Everything should be geared to preparing the hearts and minds of all who come for Christian work and service.
Enlist by means of a "Privilege and Responsibility" sheet. (other mechanical devices will be suggested and discussed for use in recruiting and enlisting workers). Training must be provided to make your people confident and capable. Assure them of God's limitless resources." I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13)
RECRUITING WORKERS
Most Christian Education Departments are handicapped by inadequate leadership. There are seldom enough trained leaders to carry on all the work that needs to be done. To enlist and train leaders is not an easy task.
The church needs to face up to the facts that have brought the shortage. At least five of these are immediately evident.
In order to have available sufficient Leadership we must begin immediately to discover and recruit from every age level those who can be trained to do an efficient job within the church. This should be done consistently and constantly There are at least four major steps that must be taken to accomplish this .
Survey. The present leadership should make dual survey of the congregation. (The pastor should inaugurate this.) The first half of the survey should deal with the various tasks. Every task in the church should be listed, and a blueprint of the work outlined, i.e, a job analysis for every church office the second half of the survey is that of listing every potential worker for specific tasks. This survey should be accomplished through the right kind of permanent records kept by the church office. (Sample survey sheets are available through most denominational Christian Education Christian Education headquarters.)
Promote. Too often we assume people realize need for leadership. They do not. We must promote. That is, let people know the need. This will call for combined effort on the part of all who are now in places of leadership.
Ask. Jesus himself gave us the first clue to leadership when He said, "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers." The church must be enlisted in prayer for leadership. The people, to be involved, must be invited personally to do the task. They should be given a copy of the job analysis, and faced squarely with the rigid requirements of time and talent to do the job. They should be given full information on the people with whom they will be working, and those to whom they will be responsible. The committee on personnel must carefully screen those to be contacted for the task, remembering essential qualifications.
Train. To correct the problem of inefficient workmen, a constant training program is essential. This program will involve direction, proper working conditions, and tools, proper supervision, and an exposure to men and materials that have been successful in the same kind of tasks.
Glenn T. Zachary
You may have many suspects for the job but usually only a few will be real prospects. Keep an open mind on who may do the best job. The Holy Spirit constantly surprises us by using people we think are unusable.
It is better to do a poor job than none at all. If a Christian educational program in your church is worth doing at all, it is worth doing even though the quality is poor. Do not wait until you can do it perfectly. Start with what you have. Teachers and leaders are made - not - born! There is nothing about the depraved nature of a saved sinner that naturally makes him useful to God. He may be trained however to use talents given him by the Lord.
The preacher who constantly preaches a salvation message gets converts because sinners, like foxes, enjoy being chased. The pastor who is an outstanding Bible expositor naturally attracts Bible students to his pulpit. The pastor who challenges people to consecrated Christian service gets volunteers. Keep plugging away in the pulpit for workers in Christian Education, and you will get them!
A salesman who presents his product but neglects to ask for an order is wasting his employers money. The evangelist who preaches but fails to ask the unsaved for decisions is misusing God's time. A pastor who preaches for dedication to Christian work and fails to ask for people to make decisions is wasting his opportunities.
Dedication to a task is the result of a burden. Enthusiasm in a task is a result of a vision. The Christian Education teacher must visualize the fruit of a good class. The youth worker must see the possibilities of a youth group in their church. The thing that separates prospects from suspects is VISION and BURDEN. A pastor or youth leader should not go seeking worker for a job until his own soul is set on fire with compassion to see the job done and with vision that is so vivid that he can not help but share it with others.
Enthusiasm is the result of vision. One of the greatest elements of a successful program is enthusism. Sales authorities claim that selling is 90 per cent enthusiasm. The sales meeting is a time when the sales manager pumps his salesmen full of enthusiasm. The man who is able to put people to work will have to be able to build their enthusiasm. We must, therefore, constantly challenge and motivate them with a vision and stimulate with incentives such as competition, contests, rewards, recognition, etc.
The biggest obstacle to overcome in putting people to work in Christian education is to remove the excuses, "I do not know how to do it," "I am not able, " and " I am not trained." People can do more than they think they can, especially when they have the right tools for the job. A youth leader deserves to have all the tools he needs to do his job well.
DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITIES
Brigadier Edward Deratany
There are six reasons:
Try to select the right person for the right job. Use the "eager beaver"- but beware of the "lime-light" seeker. Don't overlook the "shrinking violet"- He may have the spirit and the capacity of Andrew. Capitalize upon the unbounded energy and enthusiasm of youth. They are the leaders of tomorrow
Some of the basic aspects of delegating responsibility are:
from "God's Man of Suspense"
PRINCIPLES OF SUPERVISION
Milford Sholund
Supervision is the effort to improve the effectiveness of leaders and workers by encouraging unity in goals, and by training them to do better work through reading, observation, group meetings and personal guidance.
Supervision is not administration. Supervision is working with the administration. Administration is the responsibility and executive action for the work in the direct line of action.
In the local church, the supervisor is the person(s) to whom the church has delegated the responsibility
In determining who should be the supervisors of Christian Education in the local church, there will be several factors. The size of the church may be decisive. In many churches the pastor has the role of supervisor of Christian education. In the Christian Education Dept the supervisor is not the student, not the teacher, not the departmental superintendent, not the general superintendent, but the supervisor. He works in relationship to the general superintendent to help him accomplish his task. Members of the Board of Christian Education may serve as supervisors. They may be responsible for making policies and they may also participate actively as supervisors. One of the members may supervise the children's work, another the youth work, another the adult work. In larger churches the minister of education or the director of Christian Education may be the supervisor. Two conclusions may be drawn. In discussing who would be supervising the program of Christian education in the local church, perhaps it would be better to use words like "helping," "encouraging," or "consulting." There is no single way to supervise nor is it limited to one activity. There must be flexibility if one is to be a successful supervisor. In the second place. There is a sense in which a Supervisor is referred to as a professionally trained person. This suggests that the scope of activities, the need for familiarity with programs, organizations, processes, resources would indicate that a person needs special education.
The person who is a supervisor must earn the right to supervise. He cannot simply claim it. He is engaged with other persons in a common purpose. He cannot simply claim that he has been delegated the responsibility to order others to do what he wants done or to simply exercise his authority.
Whenever a church approves a supervisor either professional or volunteer, the church should provide a job description and such pre-service training or in-service help that will enable the supervisor to understand his task and to succeed. That means that the relationship of the supervisor to the official boards and to the church is very important and must be clear.
The supervisor has a definite responsibility to help the church understand how to improve the program of Christian education. The supervisor should be able to evaluate and to Communicate what is happening in the entire program of Christian education.
The supervisor is concerned with the attitudes and with the whole program by having a "light touch and a long view." Supervisors in Christian education need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Kenneth Riee
There is a proverb to the effect that an army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. Marion Lawrence used to say, "Leadership is the only problem before the church." John R. Mott has said, "Whenever the church has failed it has been because of inadequate Leadership. The Christian Education Dept. needs more and better leaders.
From hundreds of definitions of leadership the following from Weldon Crossland's book, "Better Leaders for Your Church" is given as a summary definition: "In essence a leader is a Christ like personality, whose wisdom, self-sacrifice, and labor cooperate with others in finding and doing the will of God."
Jesus has set the example for us. He started with those he has who were willing to be his followers. He spent three years training them. Too many churches are waiting for leaders to transfer into the church They never will. We must train and develop our own.
There are many types of leaders. Each group will eventually determine its own leader in one way or another. Leaders are both formal and informal. Leadership will shift with varying situations. The group will follow the person who proves capable of helping them reach their desired goal.
There are many places of leadership in the church. Every worship service will have a leader. Teachers are group leaders. Other places needing leaders include discussion groups, committees, class meetings, etc. Wherever two or three are gathered together there will be need for a leader.
Certain personal qualifications are essential to leadership. The ability to think, be alert, and use wisdom in every circumstance is essential. Physical and nervous energy is needed to make possible the persistence necessary. Contagious enthusiasm is a must. Adequate training and experience helps give self-confidence. A leader must be able to speak effectively enough to make the group know what he wants. Their confidence in his character will largely be based on his reputation.
A leader must know where he is going and be adaptable, cooperative and friendly enough to make others want to go with him. Above all, he must have an adequate faith to make him believe with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. " (Phil. 4:13)
Professional traits are essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to visualize the program. He must see the possibilities in the midst of impossibilities. He must see people, not for what they are, but for what they can be through Christ. He must be able to organize the plan. Every effective action needs a plan of procedure.
The leader must deputize the people. He will have to supervise the procedure. Good guidance will guard against foolish failure. Further action will be motivated by recognizing the producers. A pat on the back is worth a dozen spanks.
Various methods are used in leadership. Instruction has to be given. Often correction is needed. Wise leaders endeavor to get suggestions from the group. A cooperative effort is always most fruitful .
There is a price to be paid by leaders. Most leaders suffer periods of loneliness and are often misunderstood. Even though they are looked up to, they are still human.
Leaders must know and understand the people. The group must be known collectively and individually, by abilities, and by desires. The Leader must make them feel he understands them even when he doesn't agree with them.
Christian leaders need power beyond themselves. God is a Spirit and many of our weapons are spiritual. (Zech. 4:6 Eph. 6:10-18) The presence of God is our strength. (Matt. 28:20; Acts 1:8)
RECRUITING LEADERS
John Turandky
They are there! I believe God will provide enough workers in every church to carry on His program. Pray them in! Many churches have problem adult departments. They sit comfortably in their classes every week. In fact, they sit, and sit, and sit until it becomes a "SlTuation."
Sometimes the most unlikely person, will do a good job. Make up a recruitment form, with a list of all your needs clearly defined. These forms could be passed out in a morning service, and filled out by prospects, or the entire Church family.
The first introduction to the job is important then you introduce a prospect to the job, place him with someone who is experienced. Let him get started first. As he gets used to the group, he will see the needs and volunteer to do more. Then the responsibilities can be increased.
Give them the assistance that they need. Free their minds of any problems they might have that would hinder their service. If you help your workers, you will keep them.
Give each worker a definite assignment regularly. Define it carefully. Outline it Clearly. Try to remember the interests and abilities of your workers. List all goals and needs and keep these before them constantly.
If you have the authority to ask, then you also have the authority to check up on them. It is easier to get them to say "yes"{Special Char 190 in Font "Symbol"} but much harder to get them to do the work. Impress the people with the importance of this work. It is the greatest work cause it is God's work. We don 't like to be checked on but we all need it. However, don't nag! We need diplomacy! Keep on asking in different ways.
Get all your workers into the habit of turning in a report. Pastors have told me that when they provide envelopes in an adult class, for the offering, that the offerings increase 10 percent to 20 percent or more. It pays to ask the visitation committee to report specific information for the church files .
Many churches are catching the vision of having a regular monthly and, in some cases, even a weekly Workers' Conference. A Workers' Conference should include:
Frances Simpson
Purpose should be defined. A business meeting should be geared to assist the group in accomplishing the task for which it was assembled. It is the responsibility of the chairman to guide the group in determining consensus of opinion, in deciding action to be taken, and in implementing the decisions. In order to restrain the individual in the interest of the group, there must be recognized rules of procedure to guide the moderator as he directs the group.
Principles should be followed. A widely accepted practice in business meetings
is to accept Robert's
Rules of Order as the standard for parliamentary procedure. There is available for
the moderator a kind of slide rule providing pertinent information for quick reference:
Parliamentary Law by Benjamin Griffin. In leading a meeting it is advisable for the
chairman to consider the following points:
Personnel should be notified. Inform those scheduled to participate of their responsibility at the meeting.
Promotion should be effective. Make an early announcement of meeting to those who attend and espouse interest by various types of good promotion.
Opening provides climate for meeting. Begin with a devotional thought. After the chairman has called the meeting to order, the agenda (previously prepared) should be presented for discussion or adoption. Following this guests and personnel, who will be participating, may be introduced. Necessary announcements are made.
Review offers an orientation for present business. First, minutes of the previous meeting, should be approved. Following this, reports of boards and standing committees may be presented. Special orders (business assigned at a previous meeting) should then be considered.
Business involves group in orderly process.
Conclusion should provide perspective. The chairman should provide a summary . Assignments for future work should be reviewed. If refreshments are served following the meeting, it will provide opportunity for fellowship and for brief committee meetings .
In evaluating the meeting one should
Church business is important business. Maintaining decorum and following proper procedures in a business meeting cannot be considered an elective to the leader who takes seriously the injunction of Paul, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
CONDUCTING A DEPARTMENTAL MEETING
The larger the school, the more necessary the departmental meeting although small schools can profit greatly from them. Such a meeting provides for fellowship which is vital for the morale of the workers, as well as meeting the need for planning. (Good planning is necessary for good work.) It also gives opportunities for training (Good training precedes good teaching.), it provokes better lesson preparation as teachers study together and maintains unity and purpose in the department.
The responsibility of the superintendent is to administer his department in accordance with the Christian education policy of his church, to direct the planning and of the opening or closing departmental worship as well as to delegate and supervise work so that he will not be a "one-man-show." He is also responsible to conduct the departmental Workers' Conference.
"At no other point in the supervision of the department can the superintendent make a more valuable contribution. Rarely will the meeting rise higher than the level of interest and concern of the department superintendent.
The superintendent presides at the departmental meeting. He is responsible to see that it begins and closes on time. Since much of the workers' conference will be given to lesson preparation and teacher improvement, "the superintendent should be a student and an exponent of the art of teaching, and give creative guidance to the practice of this art by those who teach in the department.
Devotional period and prayer. The devotional thought should give emphasis to the theme of the meeting. May be dispensed with if the general workers' conference has a good devotional period.
Review the work. Review of class activities and pupil response from previous lesson or lessons will indicate accomplishments and the need for new goals. There should be a monthly or quarterly review of the department standards to and give proper emphasis to the major elements.
Plan for Sunday morning. Unless the department superintendent secures the help of the workers in planning, programming, and conducting the opening or closing department worship, they will not be able to intelligently cooperate with him. The workers will need additional instruction in connection with special days and events as Promotion Day, Christmas, Easter, etc.
Teaching improvement period. The basic purpose for, and the main goals of the departments meeting, are for improving the teaching. At the beginning of each quarter and year, a preview of the lessons should be made. When new teachers are assigned to classes in the department, it will help them to study the next Sunday's lesson with the teachers. A session on "How to Study" will help all the workers.
Several meetings a year should be given to techniques and methods of teaching. Special study of the characteristics and needs of the department age groups is essential.
Workers should be assigned duties in the departmental meetings as often as possible. They can give demonstrations of teaching and visitation as well as reviews of books and magazine articles
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Chas. W. H. Scott
Public relations is more than publicity about the church. It is the church projected into every day life of all the people of the community and the relationship of the church to the people, in order to bring about increased public support for its ministries.
Public relations is any and all of the relationships; between the church and the public. such as the feeling which the public has for a person, an organization, or a cause. It is the church understanding its relationship with the public and its effort to win friends for the church. It is connecting the teachings and philosophies of the church to the public to apprise them of its policies and procedures, It is the fine art of maintaining a proper rapport with the public for the purpose of building good will and securing proper cooperation for the church as it maintains right human relationships
The Book of Acts verifies the fact that the Holy Spirit at His descent on the Day of Pentecost proved Himself to be the greatest public relations expert the church has ever had. Acts 2 indicates that He attracted the multitude, confounded and amazed them until they were convicted by His presence and converted through His influence. This is the public relations that captivates the attention compels the interest, and brings lasting results.
The public relations of the church should be directed first towards the members and friends who attend its services. Second it should maintain a good public relations with those who never attend its services, the public who recognize its presence in the community and who are aware of its ministry
The physical appearance of the church directly affects its public relations. The exterior of the church can attract the public by maintaining an attractive appearance and good care. Conversely, our public can be repelled if the church is permitted to deteriorate in its appearance. The interior of the church also contributes much to the attitude of the public who avail themselves of its facilities. Poor housekeeping has a tendency to discourage attendance in the Lord's sanctuary. The parsonage should also be a symbol of the message of the church.
The use of the right kind of personal mail from the church, developing good techniques for telephone contacts, and alertness to welcome new arrivals in the area will go a long way to win friends and influence people for the church. Radio broadcasting and use of television programs, proper newspaper stories And church advertisements will all be helpful in creating a favor-able image of the church. Christian Education visitation and outreach programs, when properly conducted can also create good public relations for the church.
It is imperative that the minister maintain proper relations with his public. He must live a life above reproach, recognizing that he is under constant surveillance. He should make his pulpit a power house of good will and a table of bounties.
Robert R. Yardley
Before the public can "belong" to the church, the church must "belong" to the public. No church may isolate itself from public interest and appeal without defeating its purpose or limiting its effectiveness .
Outreach is a continuing responsibility of the church. Within any given community, systematic interchurch surveys will identify the church background or every family in the community.
Once this is done, every possible means should be taken by evangelism committees to reach such families as are not already identified with the various churches; and families which show no specific denominational preference should be visited and encouraged to align themselves with one of the churches in the community. It is imperative that such evangelism should be conducted unselfishly, with the interest of the family as the primary consideration, rather than the interests of the individual church. Should any one church prove unacceptable to a family, the family should nevertheless be encouraged to affiliate with some church, regardless of whether or not its denominational character is compatible with that of the visiting church.
The church may not isolate itself from civic responsibilities and obligations. Laymen should be encouraged to participate in the affairs of government. The church should, within its own policy restrictions, take a tasteful yet forceful position with regard to community affairs. The voice of the church may be heard with authority in the councils of government in matters affecting the common welfare. The church must rejoice with the community, weep with the community, work with the community, serve with the community, progress with the community and suffer with the community. But first and always, the church must stand at the forefront of community leadership in matters pointing to the common good and this leadership must always be directed toward highest Christian idealism.
The Sunday church school program never stands still. There is no static area in consideration of this vital factor in church life. Each year another large group of children reach church school age. Each year a new group of youngsters must be indoctrinated into the ways of God within the church. To accomplish this, the church must relate its program to the community with increasing intensity.
At the same time, the church must ingeniously devise methods by which growing young people will be held within the interests of the church. These devices must be transparent. No church may presume that teenage young people are gullible in their adherence to the church. It is the responsibility of the church to provide ocoupational interest adequate to challenge the best efforts and the highest ambitions of its young people in order to hold them through the perilous years which lie near the thresh-hold of adulthood.
It is unrealistic for the church to separate itself from outstanding community events. In the past, only the Lutheran Laymen and the Salvation Army have been represented in the Tournament of Roses. There are similar affairs in almost every large center of population, recurrently. If such participation is too expensive for any one church, then let a group of churches unite to present Christ to the viewers in a unique and attractive manner.
Pastors and laymen should be represented in service clubs and other civic Organizations, and they should let it be known that they are Christian laymen.
Newspapers in every community welcome interesting news events from churches and church groups. When there is a dry season, and little is being done to stimulate publicity, let the church promote some event of public interest which will stimulate publicity. Radio, television, outdoor advertising, and other media are also available for exploitation by the church. Almost any denominational office will have pamphlets or other material which will assist interested laymen in preparing acceptable publicity material for any medium. Most news-papers have church sections which welcome material, especially when it is properly prepared. The church should find the best possible method to bring Christ before the public mind. Unless we do this, and do it immediately, we will find our-selves writing across our portals "Ichabod--the glory is departed. "
Paul R. Fin.
The church cannot function properly without the cooperation of the home and neither can the home operate effectively with out the church. There must be cooperation. The need presents one of the greatest challenges to evangelical churches today.
Individuals are members of a family in which they usually have more opportunity for interaction and Christian living than in a church.
The home is the primary center of Christian education. The church is only one factor in the spiritual development of children and adults.
The home has prior right to the child and the church must gear its program to recognize this principle.
Interest in families rather than in isolated individuals ought to characterize the educational program.
Use men throughout the entire educational program of the church.
A parent-teacher association organized for the purpose of acquainting parents with the objectives and program of the educational agencies of the church is important in trying to effect church-home cooperation Parents ought to be invited to visit the church to see the work which has been accomplished by the children. Occasionally a visit to the class or activity will help parents understand the program better.
A visitation program is also necessary. It is taken for granted that Christian Education teachers should visit in the homes of their students but a more comprehensive visitation is needed. The pastor will make his regular visits but one of the deacons or elders ought to be assigned to each home and make a call there at least once a quarter. In addition to this, teams of lay visitors, usually a husband wife team, are effective in specialized areas, such as financial problems, teen-age problems, and times of special crisis.
Organized classes for mothers- present another opportunity of service and ministry to families. These classes can assist young mothers in many ways .
Classes for parents can give suggestions on how to teach children about sex, how to maintain discipline and child characteristics.
Classes for newly weds and engaged couples offer a wonderful opportunity to help couples establish a Christian home. The church can assist in problems of adjustment and finance.
Classes for youth ought to be held periodically in which they are instructed with regard to the Christian philosophy of dating and sex.
Pastoral promotion for the program of church-home cooperation is necessary. Among other things he can make public recognition of engagements, marriages and births. He ought to have a program of pre-marital and post-marital counseling. From the pulpit he ought to emphasize the sanctity of Christian marriage and the centrality of the home.
A literature program should include information to parents outlining the program and objectives of the educational work of the church.
Family nights at church and family camps ought to have a place on the well-balanced program
An enlistment program for actively seeking out the parents who are spiritually indifferent is necessary for a Biblical program for church work. Urge parents to help their children in regular Bible study and prayer at home and indicate to them the responsibility which God has placed upon them.
Home Bible classes offer one of the greatest potentials for reaching the unchurched in the community. People will come to a home to study the Bible who will not come to a church. The classes must be kept strictly for Bible study.
A PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The times call for fundamentalist to examine the Biblical patterns for Christian education in the local church. We must consider four basic areas.
Teaching was an integral part of Christ's ministry (Matt. 9:35). Jesus gave the Church a teaching commission (Matt. 28 :19-20). It was the practice of Jesus to gather about him a small group whom he instructed to teach others (Mark 3 :13-15).
The practice of the apostolic church is note-worthy.
The purpose of education in the local church is to equip believers for service. (Read Eph . 4 11-13 in a modern translation. > Christian education has no objective of its own; its task is to carry out the mission of the church! "It was assumed in the early church that anyone who became a Christian had chosen this life of discipleship and was prepared to take training for it." All other objectives find their place in this supreme purpose of equipping the saints for service.
Christ is the content of church teaching. What the apostles taught was exactly the same as what they preached (Acts 5 :42). It does not say that they preached Christ and taught ethics! Man's need for a Savior is more real than his need for instruction
The Bible is the content of church teaching. "Pass on these orders and these teachings. . . Until I arrive, devote your attention to the public reading of the scriptures, to exhortation, and to teaching. . . put that teaching into the charge of men you can trust, such men as will be competent to teach others. . . proclaim the message, press it home on all occasions, convenient or inconvenient, use argument, reproof, and appeal, with all the patience that the work of teaching requires" (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 2 2-4; 4:2 New English Bible). Christian education is to interpret the Written Word so that men come into experience with the Living Word.
The home is God's first media for religious instruction (Deut. 6 4; Eph. 6 :4; 2 Tim. 1:5; Acts 5:42.) It is not too much to say that the first great teaching which a child receives concerning God is given him by his father and mother through what they are. . .and there is no way to put off teaching this kind of theology.
The church is the divinely ordained teaching agency on earth (Matt. 2 8 :19 -20 ) . "The early Christians followed this pattern of Jesus and made their churches schools. The deterioration of Christianity followed closely the gradual abandonment of this teaching goal. God meant for the church not the state, to be the teacher of the world
The Holy Spirit now occupies the position of the great teacher of the church (John 14:26). Yet, it amazing how little attention the spirit as teacher receives in our church educational meetings! The motive for service is not only the great commission, but Pentecost.
THE SEVEN LAWS OF TEACHING
C.C. Larson
Would you be foolish enough to doubt the laws of nature which control outer space? No astronaut ever would for they are basic to his existence while in outer space. The laws of teaching are also basic to teaching. These laws were defined by John Milton Gregory. Let us once again consider what he said:
The teacher must know that which he would teach.
The learner is one who attends with interest to the lesson being taught.
(A) Discover the student's level of thought.
(B) Guard against outside distractions.
(C) Provide lessons suited to the student's capacity.
(D) Plan for the student's cooperation in every lesson.
The truth to be taught must be learned through truth already known.
The language used as a medium of communication between teacher and learner must be common to both.
The teacher must direct the self activities of the students and do nothing for him that he can do for himself.
The student must reproduce in his own mind the truth learned.
The completion, test, and confirmation of the work of teaching must be made by review and application.
THE LEARNING PROCESS
Milford F. Henk
For ages men have searched for some magic formula which would open the doors to learning. What is the magic formula? Is it the laws of learning, or principles of learning? Without present knowledge, we cannot state the laws of learning absolutely, but we can discuss general principles which influence learning. There is no quick and easy formula: learning is not something which is static and fixed, rather it is dynamic and growing. Certainly, the teacher must be a Christian, be living for God, be familiar with the material to be taught, and know the general characteristics of the pupils in their class. All of these factors are vital, but in themselves do not explain how the pupil learns .
Learning may be defined in different ways:
To transfer knowledge from one situation to another, the pupil must have a high degree of understanding. Learning is a two-way street.
We teach the individual principles: he can learn to apply these principles to specific things in his life. We also teach the individual particular things: from these he can gradually form principles. A Christian teacher must use both ways.
Mrs. Domination demands obedience. But, have the pupils been motivated? Oh, yes, but in reverse. You can lead a pupil to the fountain of knowledge but you cannot make him drink. There is not a magic formula of motivation that works for each individual. The use of awards often motivates, but not as effectively as arousing interest in learning. Praising motivates more than criticizing or threatening. Some pupils will rise to heights of potentiality by the challenge of a difficult task. Remember, too, the pupil who likes and admires his teacher is inclined to imitate her conduct, and learn more. The teacher must motivate positively: lead the pupil to a desire for learning.
The pupil begins learning where he is. He may not be where the teacher wants him to be . . . but this is the starting place. The teacher may make two mistakes if he does not associate what he is teaching with the pupil's present knowledge. First, the teacher may talk "over the pupils' heads," and they cannot learn. Second, the teacher may continuously repeat "old stuff, "and merely bore pupils. Learning involves the acquiring and mastery of new concepts.
Crash! Bang! As the Junior Superintendent hurries to the boys' class-rooms he; sighs and thinks to himself, "At it again!" They seem to know the Bible lessons. . .Why don't they behave?" Mr. Superintendent, it is because Christian teaching involves presenting materials in such a way that they will be Learned and will change pupils' actions. Learning, especially Christian learning, must influence every area of life.
The teacher must know her subject matter, but that does not guarantee learning. Good methods of teaching are important in aiding learning.
Testing will help reinforce learning and show the teacher what has not been learned. It shows which pupils have only hazy ideas. Have you ever heard the remark, "Well, I know the answer. I just can't express it." This really means, we have an idea about it, but I just don't quite have all the facts that I need to explain it. I really have not fully mastered the material, but I have more knowledge than 'zero' about it. "Many of these pupil problems can and will be discovered if we follow a testing program. The teacher must determine what the pupil knows.
PASTOR'S WIFE
Because of her position in the church and community, the pastor's wife will be called upon to provide many services. She must happily accept this fact and be as prepared for it as possible.
The women of the church expect the pastor's wife to know how to preside and to be able to make suggestions when problems in procedure arise. Many wives have had the advantage of a college or seminary training and will consequently have had some formal training as well as practical experience. Roberts Rules of Order and the brief edition based on Roberts Rules of Order, Parliamentary Law at a Glance by E. C. Utter, may be secured from the library for guidance in procedure and methods of organizing and conducting business.
The pastor's wife will constantly be asked for names of speakers. She will want to know her group, inquire as to what previous speakers they have had and the purpose of the service. She should see that her group sends the recipient of the invitation all the necessary data, such as, subject matter; occasion, size of the group; purpose of the service; what the total program will be, the time of the service, the time allotted the speaker; compensation (expenses, honorarium and hospitality); the name of the group; where the service will be; and the physical arrangements.
Catalogs list resources.
The denominational publishing houses should be known in every parsonage. Often uninformed people secure "cultist" literature because they do not recognize these publishers.
Manila folders may be purchased at the variety stores or stationery stores. Each folder should be clearly identified. These will be filed away for easy reference. Poems are always in demand. They should be clipped and filed. Recipes for cooking and baking as well as recipes for handicraft projects may be pasted and copied and placed in a folder.
"To know where to find a thing is half of being educated. "
The pastor's wife should have favorite books to recommend in various areas such as evangelism, storytelling, devotional, missions, music, youth, crafts, games, parties, recreation, Christian Education, and Bible Study.
         |
Make a Donation |
© All Rights Reserved By Amazing Grace Ministries
1401 Newcastle
Westchester, IL 60154
Phone 708/223-0070 -
Fax 708/223-0071