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Embrace Visual Learning
There are four main learning styles that most people are able to learn under. They are visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. In your classroom you likely use auditory and reading/writing the most. You probably do not need to use kinesthetic. Most of your class members are happy to sit still for a while. The style you could try adding is visual. It is an important learning style that we often use for children but fail to take advantage of for adults. Whenever possible, bring in visual aids. Maps are great for showing where things were in biblical times, pictures of artifacts can help bring a lesson to life, and diagrams help us make connections by organizing what we have studied. If you have access to the Internet, you can easily find ways to visually enhance your lesson and help your class members remember more of what you have taught for weeks to come.
The Great Guide
Read John 16:7-15
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (v. 13).
We were traveling off the beaten path. The trip that could easily have been done in one day had been divided into two days, simply for our enjoyment. We knew that our general direction was west, and rather than follow the main routes, we chose some highways that were just little lines on the map. Driving through some very sparsely inhabited country, our GPS somehow lost contact with the satellite. Thankfully, our compass still worked, and we found our way through. This road of life goes through some challenging terrain, too. It is easy to get off course and lose our way. Except that the Holy Spirit has come and He guides us through the maze we call life. Our Sunday school teacher recently referred to the Holy Spirit as God’s Positioning System. He has the ability to lead us through the challenges of life. When we listen to the instructions given in the Bible and maintain sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, He guides us in, through, or around the pitfalls of life. (Mark D. Avery)
Holy Ghost, with light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine;
Chase the shade of night away, Turn my darkness into day. — Andrew Reed
The Holy Spirit living in us helps us stay on course.
Life in the Spirit
Focus Text: John 16:13-15; Galatians 5:16-26
Central Truth The Holy Spirit has come to guide us in God’s ways.
Objective By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify evidences of being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Lesson Outline
1. The Work of the Spirit
2. Victory Through the Spirit
3. Walking in the Spirit
Pray for Each Other
We all know that prayer is a critical component of the Christian life. Let’s make sure it is an important part of our class time, too. Begin class by asking for prayer requests. Keep a list of the requests where you can add to them each week. This could be kept on the wall for all to see as a reminder to pray and praise God for His answered prayers. You should also try to minister to any of the needs as you can. Send cards, deliver cookies, make phone calls, and do not feel like you have to do this all by yourself. Ask other class members to help. Make sure you take these prayer requests home and pray for the needs during the week. Begin regularly praying for each other and see what God will do! “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
Yielding Good Fruit
Read Luke 6:39-45
“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (v. 43).
I once heard a story about a man who was attempting to launch a homemade rocket into the sky. In his hurry to get away after lighting the fuse, he bumped the rocket, causing it to launch sideways into the church he attended, which subsequently burned to the ground. His wife, surveying the carnage, shook her head and said, “Oh, this is the worst thing you’ve ever done.” The husband replied, “Honey, you say those words to me so often that they no longer have any meaning.” In our reading today Jesus reminds us that we are to be far more critical of ourselves than we are of others. In fact, Jesus reminds us that if we are overly critical of others, we are a corrupt tree bringing forth corrupt fruit. He says that when we do this, we have a beam in our eye. Basically, we are spiritually blind and have no business trying to fix someone else’s faults. Yet, there are times when people need to be corrected. I’ve discovered that when I really want to tell someone what they are doing wrong, then I’ve almost certainly got a beam in my own eye. However, if I don’t want to correct the other person, then the Holy Spirit is probably leading me to do so. This is my own standard though, so it may not work for you. (Randy J. Bland)
Are you overly critical of those around you?
The Fruit of the Christian
Focus Text: John 15:1-17
Central Truth: Abiding in Christ requires knowing Christ’s words.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain how abiding in Christ brings fruitfulness.
Lesson Outline
1. The Vine and Its Caretaker
2. The Vine and Its Branches
3. The Vital Connection
4. The Link of Love