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.

Organizing: Facilitating Community

We all just want to belong. We want to feel that we are loved and can love. We want to be accepted and to accept. We are made in the image of God with a hunger for community. Triune God exists in a perfect unity so as creatures in His image, we long for community as well. And, I believe that our deepest longing for community will only be fulfilled in the perfect of unity of God’s people in heaven. Yet we desire community here and now and we can belong to His people here and now.

Meaningful community cannot be forced or contrived, but we can foster community by taking steps to help people belong, be genuine and share in Christ’s life in our small groups. Here are some suggestions that may help us foster Christian community.

1. As the leader, model the acceptance and belonging you desire group members to show to one another.
2. Organize in a way that may foster community. Consider care groups which are sub-groups in your group. This is helpful when you group is large. These subgroups can gather for fellowship and can minister to each other. Consider re-organizing these smaller groups about every 4-6 months. Add new care groups as new members enter the community.
3. Focus on care groups with the whole group gathers. The care groups can be prayer groups during larger group meetings so people can have a more intimate prayer time. Care groups can also focus on ministry projects.
4. Find ways to develop an online presence for your group. Someone in the group might open and maintain a FaceBook group for your Bible study group. Such a group site can be public or private. Since so many people use FaceBook, it may become a vehicle for support and ministry during the week.
5. Consider creating a mechanism so that visitors to your group are immediately invited out for a meal by some current members. I know a small group of twenty-somethings who are often pressed for spending money. The group collects a “kitty” of small donations each week. Then each week a different couple plays host and hostess for the group, primarily focusing on any visitors to the group. The host and hostess invite the visitors to a meal out after church that day and they are reimbursed from the “kitty” so no one is overwhelmed with an extra expense on the household budget. What a wise ministry action that can build community and acceptance.
6. Pray for unity in the group. God desires that his people love one another and live in harmony with each other.  Praying for unity is one of those prayers that God always answers, “Yes!”

Scripture:

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

                when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
                running down on the beard,
                on the beard of Aaron,
                running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
                which falls on the mountains of Zion!
                For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
                life forevermore.    Psalm 133:1-3 ESV

Prayer:

Consider praying: Father, we desire unity in our group. As we ask for unity, please  . . . .

Dig Deeper:

Consider reading Connecting in Communities: Understanding the Dynamics of Small Groups by Eddie Mosley (NAV Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-61521-685-7. An e-book version is available.