Whether you're a preacher or teacher of God's Word, we need to understand a couple of things.
Over the past several years I've been blessed with the opportunity to teach adult Sunday school classes in our church. Teaching God's Word is not only fulfilling and rewarding, it is also challenging and life-changing as God often needs to work in the teachers life to fully bring out the lesson.
In 2013, I was given the opportunity to co-teach the senior high school Sunday school with our Youth Pastor Mike Kraft. This young man (almost half my age) is a real blessing to me, the kids and so many others in our church. This young man has a passion for souls in general and young souls in particular. Pastor Mike has helped me come to understand that there is a difference teaching young people (although slight, it is significant) as opposed to adults. To start with, you have to be really real. Teens can smell phoniness or insincerity a mile away. Take heed teacher, God has called you to not only a high calling, but an interesting challenge.
What follows is a great article from the website "The Resurgence", a ministry of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA, USA:
Finding your own voice, style, and rhythm as a communicator of God’s Word is a journey that takes a lifetime. However, you can get a head start by learning to avoid these common mistakes preachers make.
When I sat down after preaching my first sermon, I felt like I had done a pretty decent job. In reality it was about as smooth as a circle of white guys on the dance floor during happy hour.
Fail #1: Give good advice instead of Good News
By far the most common mistake I see early on in preachers is telling your students what they ought to do, without showing them again and again what Jesus has done. Any sermon that does not connect the commands of God to the cross of Christ is a damnable moralism that is devoid of the power of the gospel. Your good advice might temporarily change your students’ behavior and raise the moral standard in your church, but it comes with the side-effects of moral superiority or despair.
continue reading here via theresurgence.com
