Leading Youth In Bible Study

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Leading Youth In Bible Study

• Strategies To Becoming A More Effective Teacher
  and Guide of Youth

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Old Chinese Proverb

• I Hear, and I forget
• I See, and I remember
• I Do and I understand!

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So, in order to be a more effective teacher, you
need to understand the baggage teenagers bring
with them to the classroom.
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WHEN YOUTH ENTER THE CLASSROOM TO ENGAGE IN BIBLE
STUDY, THEY COME WITH THE BAGGAGE OF THEIR WORLD

• THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT
• THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCES
• THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS
• AND THE GENERAL CULTURAL CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY
  LIVE.
• WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

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Its also important to understand some of the
ways we can motivate youth in the
teaching-learning process.
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How To Motivate Youth

• Vary the routine so the learners do not drift
  into stagnation.
• Challenge learners so they are forced to think
  more deeply than they thought when they were
  children.
• Include youth in the planning.
• Select learning activities that enlighten
  (unleavened bread).
• Focus on the needs of youth.
• Present learning opportunities with a spirit of
  enthusiasm.
• Begin each session with an activity that hooks
  the youth into wanting to learn.

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How To Motivate (cont.)

• Demonstrate by your own preparation that you
  believe learning is important.
• Develop a style of guiding that is relaxed yet,
  also expectant.
• Pray that your youth will grow under your
  guidance.
• REMEMBER Guides are PERSON-centered. They
  strive to teach PERSONS, not content!

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Sohow can we keep communication lines open with
our students?
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Here Are Five Ways To Keep Communication Lines
Open

• Remember to keep quiet.
• Let youth have a chance to talk.
• Acknowledge that the youth are listening.
• Allow youth to say what they want to say without
  making judgements.
• Interact with youth as equals when discussing a
  problem, situation or the observations under
  consideration.

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Now lets focus on the specifics of Teaching
Youth Today
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What are some of the basic teaching methods
utilized in the development of todays literature?
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Basic Teaching Methods

• Verbal--case study lecture discussion listing,
  research/report debate interview panel
  testimony.
• Pencil and Paper--chart graph time line map
  puzzle worksheet creative writing (diary,
  journal, poetry) jot sheet quiz.
• Drama--acting out a Bible event choral speaking
  skits dialogue monologue pantomime radio-tv
  formats, interviews with Bible personalities.
• Art--cartoons collages/montages drawings
  greeting cards maps mobiles murals, picture
  studies.
• Music--group singing hymn reading hymn text
  study lyric writing musical games recordings.

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Now lets look at some basic teaching principles
to keep in mind?
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NUMBER ONE...

• BUILD ON A NEED!

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Build on a need!

• Discover a need in the learners life and teach
  to meet that need.
• Of course this has an obvious implication!
• You have to KNOW your youth in order to teach to
  their needs!!

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NUMBER TWO...

• Relate the KNOWN to the UNKNOWN!

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Relate the KNOWN to the UNKNOWN.

• Begin with a topic that is familiar to the
  learner, then relate this to a topic that is
  unfamiliar.
• Jesus modeled this principle through his use of
  the parables to communicate with his followers.

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NUMBER THREE...

• Use Imitation!

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Use Imitation!

• Teachers should model behavior, attitudes and
  values that their students can follow.
• Youth would rather SEE a sermon (or lesson) than
  HEAR one!! At least when they see authenticity
  in your LIFE it will be easier to accept the
  ideas you present in the LESSON! (The leader IS
  the lesson!!)

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NUMBER FOUR...

• Repeat the information OFTEN!

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Repeat the information OFTEN!

• Present the same information using new words and
  various illustrations.
• The average youth needs to hear something NINE
  TIMES before it actually sinks in deep enough to
  be remembered!

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NUMBER FIVE...

• Build off your own personal experiences!

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Build off of personal experiences.

• Personal involvement not only achieves learning,
  but enhances retention.
• Students need (and want) to know that you are
  still growing in your own faith and are grappling
  with issues of discipleship.

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Now lets look at TEN TIPS FOR TERRIFIC
TEACHING
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Ten Tips For Terrific Teaching

• Demonstrate love for each student in the class.
• Focus on the Bible.
• Vary your teaching methods.
• Let students do more talking than you do.
• Count to ten after asking questionsthen rephrase
  the question if necessary.

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Ten Tips for Terrific Teaching

• Participate with students in the
  teaching-learning experience.
• Make lesson preparation a high priority.
• Provide plenty of opportunity for success.
• Praise, compliment, and praise!
• Meet with other teachers regularly for
  evaluation, feedback and planning.

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Its also important to understand the basics of
ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS!
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SoHow Do You Ask Good Questions?
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Good Questions.

• Challenge teenagers to think by asking...
• Why do you want to do that?
• Why do you feel that way?
• Whats bothering you?
• When asked with respect, these questions help
  teenagers look inward and examine the causes and
  effects of their actions.

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Good Questions.

• Put Responsibility where it belongs.
• What do you think you should do now?
• How are you going to respond?
• Good questions imply that we may not have the
  answers. Maybe our teenagers have the answers to
  their problems and dont know it!

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Good Questions...

• Enlighten.
• Think about itwhat kind of teacher inspires you
  more?...
• One who constantly makes statements of fact?
• Or...one who always asks questions to get you to
  probe and reflect a little deeper than before?

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Good Questions.

• Teach Critical Thinking.
• Questions that require more than a yes-or-no
  answers prevent our teenagers from jumping to
  quick conclusions!
• Good questions force teenagers to think through
  their answers before responding.

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Good Questions.

• Open kids minds to other perspectives and
  options.
• A question like
• Have you ever thought about? This approach
  can open a door our teenagers may not have known
  even existed!

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Good Questions.

• Hone decision-making skills.
• May I help you?
• What are your options?
• Whats your plan?
• Can you live with your decision?
• Is it the best option available
• WWJD? Or better yetWDJS? What did Jesus SAY
  that will get them into the Bible.

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Its also important to understand the need for
IMPROVING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
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Improving the Learning Environment

• Clean the room completely.
• Remove any furniture not used by any of the
  groups who meet in the room.
• Find out what can be done to improve the rooms
  appearance.
• Store resources that are not needed for the
  current study.
• Involve youth in cleaning the room.
• Encourage the parents of the youth to become
  involved.
• Assign someone to remove all evidence of food
  consumption after a fellowship or party.

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Improving the Learning Environment

• Remove any heavy drapes from the windows to allow
  natural light to enter the room. Blinds are even
  better!
• Appoint someone to regularly check the Youth Area
  and to report any needed repairs or other
  problems to the appropriate church committee.
• Keep the colors of walls light! It creates a
  larger feeling.
• Carpet floors if possible to cut down on noise.
• Make sure lighting is sufficient. Fluorescent is
  best!
• Keep a well-stocked Resource Room which is
  accessible without interrupting other classes in
  progress.

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And its always helpful to know some successful
ways to establish relationships with teenagers!
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To Establish Relationships...

• Send a card or note to every member of class at
  least monthly.
• Remember birthdays with a note, call or visit.
• Call members each time they are absent--or have a
  youth call or visit a prolonged absentee.
• Attend their games or special programs.

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To Establish Relationships...

• Let each youth know that you are praying for them
  regularly.
• Participate in an individual youths life i.e.,
  tennis, shopping, going to ball games or other
  interests.
• Invite the youth into your home for a fellowship
  or party.
• Visit youth in their homes.

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One Closing Thought...
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Statistics show that 85 of students who graduate
from high school having NEVER made a decision for
Christ, never will!
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My question to you is thisHow will your
commitment to teaching youth be impacted by this
reality?