Teaching: A Goal Works toward Change

As we think about teaching with goals, we must also think about the nature of learning. What is learning? Learning is a lasting change in knowledge, understanding, attitude (value), and skill (or behavior) brought about by experience. To identify a goal for learning in your group, you must first identify what area of their lives you see a need for lasting change. What are some examples of lasting change? Here are some teaching goals with the area of change:
Knowledge: The learners will recall the major events in the life of David. (This goal works toward simple recall of information, a great starting place in Bible study.)
Understanding: The learners will explain the danger and long-lasting results of sin after studying David’s sin with Bathsheba. (This goal requires that the learner use and interpret new information with concepts and in her own words.)
Skill (or behavior): The learners will demonstrate a gain in skill in prayer by confessing sin using David’s pattern in Psalm 51. (This goal requires the learner to change a behavior or develop a new one.)
Attitude: Learners will develop an appreciation of genuine kindness after reflecting on David’s treatment of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. (While attitude goals are hard to measure and difficult to see in one only Bible study session, becoming Christ-like requires attitude changes.)

Learning is the end goal of all Christian teaching. We would even say that life change is that end goal. God is not interested in how many Bible facts we know but how we are becoming like Jesus. As we plan to teach our next lessons, let’s identify what life change associates with the Bible passage we are using. State that desired change in your teaching goal. Pray that God will use the study to develop such change in the lives of the learners. Then select the words and learning activities to use in the study that will help learners connect with that change. As the next few weeks go by, we will examine these steps more closely.

Scripture:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

Prayer:

Ask God to help you see areas that need learning (lasting change) in your life.

Dig Deeper:
Read Design for Teaching and Training by LeRoy Ford.