Basic Christian Education Principles For Teachers

By Brenda Schmidt


A teacher has a noble responsibility of developing the best Christians who can embrace faith and live it. This will only happen when he or she is guided by important Christian education principles for teachers instead of teaching in a haphazard manner. These pillars will enable the teacher to raise a critical thinker who will apply and live Christianity in a manner that transforms the world.

The best lesson about Christianity is one where the teacher lives the life he or she is trying to teach. It happens when a teacher comes from the same neighborhood as the children. It means that they will be interacting with the learners every day. If you are teaching about love yet you are known to be the most quarrelsome person in the neighborhood, the lesson will not sink.

To be factual about the gospel is mandatory. The gospel is written in different books and by multiple authors. It is easy to misrepresent it or interpret is wrongly. This is catastrophic especially for children who believe that everything a teacher says is true. Ensure that you are representing the Word of God as it is and not twisting it around to favor a position you support. It will be difficult to erase it from the mind of the child once it has stuck.

Interpret biblical teachings in context. A lot of pastors and instructors have twisted biblical teachings at the expense of the gospel. They almost make you believe that their claims are in the bible. Unfortunately, by taking any information out of context, you will be misleading those who depend on your interpretation. The wrong interpretation sticks and becomes impossible to correct.

Children and Christians require guidance to apply the teachings in the world today. The bible remains relevant despite the fact that it was written centuries ago. It is the application of the lessons that will transform the lives of Christians. The teacher has a responsibility to guide his class through interpretation and application.

Students should be encouraged to ask questions. Stories and lessons from the bible are bound to elicit questions. Be ready to answer or address these questions. By stopping your students from asking questions, you will be dealing with a gullible class. It becomes impossible for them to apply the lessons learnt in the bible. It is by asking questions that the lessons stick on their head. They also learn to apply the teachings of the gospel.

Teach them about discernment. The message of Christ can easily be lost when interpreted amidst noise. It might even not make sense to you because the context or society that existed then has changed into something else. During discernment, the learner will understand the deeper message that Christ was passing. It also makes it easier to feel this message and how it is applying in your life.

It is more important to understand what the bible says than to memorize the stories. The areas you are supposed to apply the same principle or teaching are diverse. By memorizing, you fail to think critically through the lessons. Understanding helps you to twist the information around and thus apply it in your current situation. This is what brings the gospel to life.




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