Everyone wants to succeed. Some do – some don’t. Teachers may define success by the numbers of attendees, or by getting through the entire lesson, or by avoiding any glaring blunders. The definitions of success vary from teacher to teacher. All of us should spend some time reflecting on how well we did or didn’t do.
The unique thing about success is that the immediate result cannot always judge it. The path to success must travel on the road named “Process.”
Here’s a process of success that should be common to all Sabbath school teachers.
S – Seek It
U – Understand It
C – Compose It
C – Convey It
E – Explore It
S – Show It
S – Sell It
Seek It.
Teachers must spend adequate time researching for their sessions. There should be the use of much biblical research, the Spirit of Prophecy and other related sources of information to serve as a foundation for your upcoming class.
Understand It.
Through prayer and study, we as teachers must “get it.” The Bible promises that God will give us understanding, and we should not leave this second phase until we understand the essence of the lesson.
Compose It.
You’ve done your research and understand the theme. Now you need to prepare your guideline and talking points in a way that helps the session flow. Each part of the subject you plan to explore should have the biblical references to build upon. Streamline your research into a few key points. Too much information can be just as bad as too little.
Convey It.
Once the class starts, you have to bring energy. Attendees are more responsive to presenters that are energetic and lively. Smiling always helps ?
It is also helpful to start the class with an interesting story or some interesting fact or statistic. Be intentional about how you start. Make sure to make this a part of your planning.
Explore It.
The best way to explore the lesson is through great questions. You should have questions that will lead the attendees in the direction of your theme. Anticipate what the answers to your questions will be and have more questions for the answers given. Go beneath the surface of cliches and standard responses. People love a good discussion, and it all starts with great questions.
Show It.
Now that you have begun the process of exploration through your questions make sure that you can reach your destination. Bring the discussion to the point where you can show the gems of truth you discovered through your preparation. There should be a method to the madness.
Sell It.
If the God of the universe has shared something with you for you to in turn share with your class, you need to sell it. Be passionate without being offensive. Don’t start strong and end weak. Give energy to your close and appeal to a deeper commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the purpose of what we do.
I like the way Jim Rohn put it: Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.
Best wishes on your continued success!
