Teaching: <i>how</i> as well as <i>what</i>

The main point: Evangelicals are great at focusing on what we teach in church—we also need to think about how we teach.

How do evangelical churches do their teaching at Sunday meetings? Chances are, it’s done by one man, in one go.

And Scripture supports that method of teaching—there’s a lot of it in the Bible! But it’s not all there is in the Bible.

BIBLE TEACHING

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he thought it could be a good idea for “everybody” to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14 v 24). “Everyone” seemed to turn up with something to offer teaching-wise (v 26).

The Colossian church was told to make space for the gathering to “teach and admonish each other” (Colossians 3 v 16).

In Acts, Luke describes the way the apostles taught as “preaching” (eg: Acts 9 v 20)—and as interactive (2 v 36-39); “reasoned with” (18 v 4); “public debate” (v18 v 28); “discussions” (19 v 9); Bible study (17 v 11).

Should a block of up-front, top-down teaching be the only way Christians learn when they meet together as church?

EDUCATIONAL THEORY

Educational theory (as well as the Bible!) would suggest not. Of course, we don’t want to use secular research uncritically. But equally, we shouldn’t just write it off.

What to teach isn’t flexible: the unchanging truths of Scripture. But when it comes to how to teach, it’s helpful to bear in mind:

• in the UK, the average attention span of a university student in 2011 is 10 minutes (we may not like this, but it’s a reality).
• the way people most retain something is by teaching it themselves; then by talking about it with others; then by seeing it; then by hearing it. Combining these increases retention.
• some people are mainly auditory learners. They’ll love the typical sermon! Others find it easier to think and learn visually, or through movement.

THINKING THROUGH THE HOW

What implications might this have?

• Teaching doesn’t have to be all up-front, and top-down. Use short Bible studies. Encourage people to discuss a question or issue. Let people share what struck them and how they’re applying the passage. Get different groups to think about different parts of the passage, and share what they’ve learned.
• Allow interactivity. Invite questions. Things get less controlled. That’s scary. But it means the whole church is learning together, and helping each other to learn.
• Think hard about visual aids, film clips, movement-based illustrations. And if your church is full of auditory learners, that doesn’t necessarly mean your culture is. It may just mean those are the only people you’re catering for.
• Break the teaching up. Use a song, or a discussion slot, or a time of prayer, in the middle of the sermon.
• Have a simple summary sentence. It’s what you want members to be able to remember on a Wednesday. The teaching (and maybe even the whole meeting) outlines, explains, responds to or reinforces this one sentence.

Of course, the what is more important than the how: but the how is still vital. We have many organizations, courses and conferences helping church leaders think about the what: is it time to begin to challenge ourselves and equip ourselves when it comes to the how?

Practical suggestion: Primary school teachers spend almost all of their prep time thinking through how to teach. Why not get a primary school teacher in your congregation… give them the main point of the passage for next week’s service… get them to imagine they’re teaching a lesson, only to adults… tell them to think imaginatively how they’d teach it… and see what they come up with!