A misconception about content-driven curriculum has been, ‘The teacher will be able to relate the material to his or her learners.’ This is a misperception that took me several years to come to grips with. Many teachers, i.e. Christian educators, do not know how to relate anything other than what is in print in front of them to their listeners. Albeit most teachers can be trained. All that is required is a willing heart and a teachable spirit.

My wife was teaching fifth and sixth graders at a church where I was serving in my early ministry. It was her first-year teaching and she was having difficulty with her lessons. I would periodically sit down and help her. When I sat down to look at the lesson, ideas and application began to leap off the page at me. I was glad to help and thought the reason she could not ascertain teaching possibilities as easily as I could was perhaps due to her inexperience and the fact that she had not grown up in Bible study.

A few years later while serving another church, Pam again accepted teaching responsibilities in the fifth and sixth grade class. While making my rounds one Sunday morning, I noticed her class playing Bible games twenty minutes into the hour. I was pleased knowing that games are a real source of learning for grade school children. However, Pam expressed later that she just could not get anything out of the lesson to last more than fifteen minutes. She was getting frustrated with it.

Concerned that we might need to change curriculum, I decided to reevaluate her material. To my surprise, within ten minutes I had made notes and comments, highlighted, underlined and scribbled in the margins enough teaching possibilities to last most of the teaching hour, and I had only focused on the first of three sets of scriptures for the day.

My surprise had not come in what I had accomplished through my review of the curriculum. Rather, it was a much deeper realization. That evening I realized not everyone in Christian education settings has the creative ability to construct a life-changing application-driven lesson from material.

Also, that evening I realized the need for equipping teachers. Proper ongoing training assisting them in delivering scriptural truths in ways to transform lives. I was struck with the realization that Christian education had been failing in its intent and purpose for years, in part due to the lack of proper training for teachers. If we expect our foot soldiers, teachers, to be able to teach to change lives we must provide proper ongoing training.

Please do not overlook the importance of ongoing teacher training. For more information on resources and delivery methods of training contact your denomination leaders or reach out to me. I have a passion to assist churches and teachers in being their best.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.