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Showers for the Tender Harvest--"Let my teaching fall like showers on tender plants." - Deuteronomy 32:2
Time Tamers for Sunday School Teachers
by Jill Nelson (Jill's bio)
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My grandmother had a hot pad hanging on her kitchen wall embroidered with the words, "Round Tuit." Now that she'd gotten a "round tuit," there were no more excuses for procrastination! Not that any of us deliberately procrastinates. Heaven forbid! (Sheepish grin.) It's just that we're so busy, it's easy to say to ourselves, "I'll get around to it later." And so we find ourselves quickly reviewing that Sunday School lesson with bleary eyes in the last half hour before bed on Saturday night, or—-ugh!—-on the way to church in the morning (if we can manage to entice our spouse to drive, that is).
I know that's not the way any of us plan to do it, and we certainly don't feel that casual about our ministry to the children, but...helpless shrug. And then guilt sets in, maybe a little discouragement, too. In this article, let's see if we can discover some ways to tame the time for more thorough preparation.
1. How about starting preparation for the next week's lesson immediately after completing the current lesson? Can you spare five minutes after dismissing the children to review the next week's topic and jot down the Scripture verses to carry with you in purse or billfold for reference all week long? If so, you've already taken a huge step forward in getting a "round tuit."
2. You'll be even further ahead if you incorporate that Scripture passage into your regular daily devotions. Add it to whatever passages you regularly read. It won't lengthen your devotional time by more than a minute or two, but it will build those Scriptures into your spirit so that when you share with the kids in class you'll be sharing from your heart, not just your head. Who knows? The Holy Spirit may reveal all kinds of things about that Scripture you never thought about before. YOU may be the one to learn the most from the Sunday School lesson you are supposed to teach the kids!
3. Keep a palm-sized notebook and pen handy in most places where you plan to be during the day—at work, in the car, at home. Since you've already armed yourself with knowledge of the next week's topic and Scripture verses, ideas may come to you at odd moments. You won't risk forgetting them if you can easily write them down. If you're a techno-whiz and often have electronic devices with you, type your thoughts into your palm pilot or laptop for later reference.
4. Do you jog, walk, ride an exercise bike, or do aerobics on a regular basis? Make a pact with yourself to use that precious cool-down time (when those creative endorphins are flowing) at least once during the week to read over the lesson more thoroughly. Write a list of any supplies you will need and jot down the thoughts that come to you as you study.
5. If you're more of a couch potato, contract with yourself for a time during the week when you are at your best to study the lesson from start to finish in one sitting. For the larks, this may be right away in the morning; for the night owls, this may be late at night. Before I had children of my own, I was a night owl. Now, I am a 10 p.m. yawner. No good. The best time for me is after my morning shower and coffee.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT BLOCK OF STUDY TIME, BUT IT MAY HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IF YOU SCHEDULE IT LIKE AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT…BECAUSE IT IS!
6. Start a discussion about the lesson topic as you sit at the meal table with your spouse and/or children. Let them help you with creative ideas and insights. Don't be afraid to bounce questions off them, or let them ask you questions. At the very least, you've imprinted the lesson more thoroughly on your own mind by verbalizing it before class. Big corporations use a similar technique and call it "brain storming." They pay consultants large fees to facilitate such discussions. (Don't let your kids know that, though, or they may want a raise in their allowance.)
7. Have patience with yourself. One of the most important things to keep in mind when you're struggling to manage time is that a new habit takes time to acquire. If you stumble and miss your goal, get up and get goin' again. Motivate yourself with this thought: Think of all the time I'll save from repenting and fussing at myself for letting my preparation go too late…again…if I simply set myself a somewhat flexible schedule and stick to it.
The following checklist may be helpful to you in developing these new habits:
- Did I review my new topic and jot down the Scriptures right after the last class?
- Have I filed the Scriptures in a handy place in my purse, billfold, or briefcase for reference during the week?
- Am I reviewing the Scriptures faithfully during my quiet time with the Lord and letting Him speak to my heart about them?
- Have I kept my personal appointment to study the lesson thoroughly from start to finish?
- Have I talked to others about my ideas and questions?
- Have I obtained all the supplies I need?
- Am I excited about the lesson? (If not, maybe I need to repeat some of the steps above.)
Incorporating these preparation practices into your life can help turn frustration into adventure. Watch out! You may be bubbling with excitement and overflowing with revelation by the time Sunday rolls around. Instead of praying for class time to end, you'll wonder, "Where did the time go?" The smile on your face and the fresh enthusiasm for your position—whether it be volunteer or paid—will be contagious to the other teachers and "infect" the kids with your obvious love for the Word of God. If they ask you what's changed, you can tell them that you finally got a "round tuit."
If any of you employ other unique methods to ensure preparation time for your Sunday School lessons, I would love to hear from you. I'd like to include them in a follow-up column on this topic some time in the future.
Copyright 2002, Jill Nelson. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Jill Nelson: Children have been the focus of Jill Nelson's ministry for twenty years. She and her husband have four--two boys, two girls--all teenagers. (Prayers, please.) Jill supervises the children's ministry at her local church and delights in writing her own material. Her heart is to glorify God by guiding children into a powerful personal relationship with Him. E-mail Jill |
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