The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

* How might you better employ Jesus’ use of metaphor and story in your teaching, as well as keep the theme of your teaching on the Kingdom of God as it has now appeared in the person and work of Jesus? * What practical steps could you make in learning to better connect the content of your teaching to the practical concerns, needs, and challenges of those whom you teach? Name three. * Complete the following statement: “As a result of this module, the one thing I want to trust the Holy Spirit more to improve my preaching and teaching in is . . .” In equipping others for ministry, you will find that your selection of curriculum is one of the most important decisions in your teaching ministry. Selecting the wrong curriculum can prove to be a huge waste of time and resources in your training, and bring confusion and frustration to your learners. In one case, a superintendent of a Sunday School in an evangelical church adopted a new curriculum for the adult classes based on serious discussions of social issues. The curriculum came highly recommended, but unfortunately, it did not recognize that godly, sincere Christians might not agree on the same political strategies or social policies. All the “hot button” issues were included: pornography, abortion, and others, each with the author’s own views interwoven throughout. Rather than being the kind of curriculum to encourage serious Christian reflection on difficult issues, it polarized many in the Church. Some now are convinced that they ought to avoid controversial issues at all costs, while others believe that only in the fire of controversy can you really detect what you think and believe about an issue. What do you think about the use of curricula that may cause some degree of heated discussion among those whom you are committed to equip for ministry? Whose Curriculum Will We Use?

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A Broken System of Accountability?

A teacher of the young people in the church is determined to help them learn how to appropriate the truth of God for their own growth and maturity in Christ. Recently after much prayer and conversation with the pastoral staff, the teacher/leader established “AG” groups (i.e., AG or accountability groups) among the youth group. The criteria is simple; to talk to each other in the group at least