Teaching is a Craft

I occasionally hear from people who say they don't need to learn any more about teaching, because they've been doing it for a long time and have it down.

Teachers who think they've "arrived" are not Great Bible teachers.

Great Bible teaching is a craft. We must always be working at our craft. As we mature in our craft we begin to coach others about Bible teaching -- this becomes a new means of learning for us.

I have friends who hold black belts in karate and tae kwon do. They tell me they've learned a lot more about their martial art after they got their black belt than all the time leading up that certification. I had a similar experience after getting my Eagle Scout award at age 13. I'm learning more about Bible teaching now (after I've written a book on it!) than ever. I'm still in the foothills, heading up in the real mountains.

We are called to be artisans. Bible teaching and disciple-making are not a repetitive, assembly-line, high-throughput mass manufacturing operations. You cannot automate this work. Bible teachers must work at managing themselves and sharpening their skills all the time, in order to co-labor with God to produce individual masterpieces of changed lives.

And this is work. It doesn't just happen. Working at your craft is a "long obedience in the same direction." Developing your skills takes patient, persevering endurance. It's not a sprint event, but a marathon ministry.

The journey of a great Bible teacher is worth it.

If you need some regular encouragement and ideas, sign up for free weekly teaching tips by email at http://www.teachtochangelives.com/optin.htm

Teach to change lives!