Sunday School: Great Teaching

We have all, at some time or another, had a great teacher that inspired us. It is hard exactly to pinpoint what it was that made them great. They were most likely prepared, and probably enthusiastic. Beyond that it is hard to narrow down exactly what it was that was so inspiring about their teaching. If you're like me, more than anything, you probably remember how you felt while they were teaching. You were excited about the topic, you believed it was important, and most of all, you were probably, as they were teaching, making plans in your mind for changes in your life based on what you were learning.

We need great teaching in the church today. We need the Almas at the Waters of Mormon, the Samuels on the city walls and the Peters at the Day of Pentecost. Nor will it suffice to hear them once every six months; we need to hear their inspiring words and feel their spirit weekly in our meetings. And, we need great learning too. Alma praised those that were ready to hear his words (Alma 32: 5-16); Jesus praised those who were like unto good ground, prepared to hear his words (Mark 4: 3-20). The most gifted teacher in the world cannot teach someone that is unwilling to learn.

The leaders of the church have long recognized this need for great teaching. In this talk (click on link below) Elder Holland speaks about the importance of great teachers and how we might become such. Read it over. Of the suggestions he offers, what have you seen as particularly effective methods used by the great teachers you've had throughout your life? Are there things that he didn't mention that you think are particularly important to great teaching? Also, to keep this specific to our situation, what things can you think of to improve your experience and that of your fellow members in our Sunday School class?

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-26-11,00.html

Lastly, speaking about why it is so important to read the New Testament, here is a long quote from Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis:

"It is quite true that if we took Christ's advice we should soon be living in a happier world. You need not even go as far as Christ. If we did all that Plato or Aristotle or Confucius told us, we should get on a great deal better than we do. And so what? We never have followed the advice of the great teachers. Why are we likely to begin now? Why are we more likely to follow Christ than any of the others? Because He is the best moral teacher? But that makes it even less likely we that we shall follow Him. If we cannot take the elementary lessons, is it likely we are going to take the most advanced one? If Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance. There has been no lack of good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more makes no difference.

But as soon as you look at any real Christian writings, you find that they are talking about something quite different from this popular religion. They say that Christ is the Son of God (whatever that means). They say that those who give Hm their confidence can also become Sons of God (whatever that means). They say that His death saved us from our sins (whatever that means).

There is no good complaining that these statements are difficult. Christianity claims to be telling us about another world, about something behind the world we can touch and hear and see. You may think the claim false, but if it were true, what it tells us would be bound to be difficult – at least as difficult as modern Physics, and for the same reason." (pg. 129, Lewis,Clive S. The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperOne, 2007.)

Supe Lillywhite

Reading for January 16, 2011: Luke 2: 1-7, Luke 2: 8-39, Matthew 2, Luke 2: 40-52

Questions to think about: What does it mean when it says Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man? (Luke 2: 52). What are you doing to increase in (a) wisdom, (b) stature, (c) favour with God, and (d) favour with man?