Curtis Hall Blog

Everyone wants to succeed. Some do…some don’t. Teachers may define success by the numbers of attendees, or by getting through the entire lesson, or by avoiding any glaring blunders. The definitions of success vary from teacher to teacher.

All of us spend some time in reflecting on how well we did or didn’t do. The unique thing about success is that it cannot always be judged by the immediate result. The path to success must travel on the road named “process”.

Here’s a process of success that should be common to all Sabbath school teachers.

S – Seek It
U – Understand It
C – Compose It
C – Convey It
E – Explore It
S – Show It
S – Sell It

Seek It.

Teachers must spend adequate time in researching for their sessions. There should be use of much biblical research, spirit of prophecy and other related sources of information to serve as a foundation for your upcoming class.

Understand It.

Through prayer and study, we as teachers must “get it”. The bible promises that God will give us understanding and we should not leave this second phase until we understand the essence of the lesson.

Compose It.

You’ve done your research and understand the theme. Now you need to prepare your guideline and talking points in a way that helps the session flow. Each part of the theme you plan to explore should have the biblical references to build upon. Streamline your research into a few key points. Too much information can be just as bad as too little.

Convey It.

Once class starts you have to bring the energy. Attendees are more responsive to presenters that are energetic and lively. Smiling always helps
It is also helpful to start the class with an interesting story or some interesting fact or statistic. Be intentional about how you start. Make sure to make this a part of your planning.

Explore It.

The best way to explore the lesson is through great questions. You should have questions that will lead the attendees in the direction of your theme. Anticipate what the answers to your questions will be and have more questions for the answers given. Go beneath the surface of clichés and standard answers. People love a good discussion and it all starts with great questions.

Show It.

Now that you have begun the process of exploration through your questions, make sure that you can reach your destination. Bring the discussion to the point where you can show the gems of truth you discovered through your preparation. There should be a method to the madness.

Sell It.

If the God of the universe has shared something with you for you to in turn share with your class, you need to sell it. Be passionate without being offensive. Don’t start strong and end weak. Give energy to your close and make an appeal for a greater commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the purpose of what we do.

I like the way Jim Rohn put it: Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.

Best wishes on your continued success!

For the most part, it’s unavoidable. It’s topic A at the water cooler and the subject of endless emails. Pundits debate with passion the merits of their fancy and around the dinner table we hear the spirited defense of one’s political choice over another’s.

This has been labeled as one of the most interesting political seasons leading up to a presidential election that our country has ever had. It cannot be denied that history has been and will be made throughout the course of this election.

There is at least one place however where one’s passion for or against a political candidate should not appear…that place is Sabbath School. As teachers, with a captive audience, it might appear very tempting to plug one’s political choice (or denigrate another’s).

To speak a word in favor of a candidate that you feel passionately about may seem to be a natural fit for a Sabbath School discussion. The storylines may seem to be fruitful areas of a good discussion but, as members of the disciple making body of Christ we have to aim our hearers higher than mortal men. Our mission is to preach Christ. Our goal is unity, not division.

Those who have charge of our institutions and our schools should guard themselves diligently, lest by their words and sentiments they lead the students into false paths. Those who teach the Bible in our churches and in our schools are not at liberty to unite in making apparent their prejudices for or against political men or measures, because by so doing they stir up the minds of others, leading each to advocate his favorite theory. There are among those professing to believe present truth some who will thus be stirred up to express their sentiments and political preferences, so that division will be brought into the church.
The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. FE 475

We can be grateful as teachers that we have such clear guidance to help us navigate the many pitfalls that would sabotage the quality of our classes. Let’s make sure that the guidance we give on a weekly basis is in harmony with our calling as disciple makers for Christ.

Everyone has problems. It’s just a fact of life. Problems come in all sizes and shapes and affect all ages and races. Some problems are viewed as insurmountable and some problems may be viewed as simple annoyances. What they all have in common is that they present a challenge to those they involve.

Realizing this fact, as teachers we must ask ourselves, “Am I offering solutions to real problems?” We know the Word of God has answers to all of life’s problems. Are we conscious of the opportunity we have to make a difference in the lives of those who attend our sessions?

Some of the more common problems many of our class members face today involve:

• relationships, especially marital
• lack of finances and job opportunities
• children and siblings needing a spiritual rebirth
• guilt and remorse over past decisions and actions
• health concerns of their own or loved ones

The Word of God has guidance for each of these areas and part of our responsibility from week to week is to allow the scriptures to come alive with relevant meaning for those who attend our sessions.

Safe Environment

Many factors are necessary to have a class that functions as a problem solving experience. One of the primary ingredients is to have a class that is known as a Safe Environment.

A safe environment is one that is genuine in its mission to be a blessing to those who attend. You can tell a class is safe if it is free from ridicule of opinions and expressions expressed by the participants. Discussion of real life events in a class should be fostered by honesty and humility by the leader that would transmit to those who attend.

When we look at the example of Jesus and his interaction with people of all walks of life, we find that they all felt safe in his environment. With Him there was no spirit of condemnation detected, but instead they all felt genuine love and sympathy.

As we help turn our class members’ attention to He who can solve all of life’s problems, we should make sure that we do all in our ability to imitate His ways and particularly His compassion.

There are many to whom life is a painful struggle; they feel their deficiencies, and are miserable and unbelieving; they think they have nothing for which to be grateful. Kind words, looks of sympathy, expressions of appreciation, would be to many a struggling and lonely one as the cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. A word of sympathy, an act of kindness, would lift burdens that rest heavily upon weary shoulders. And every word or deed of unselfish kindness is an expression of the love of Christ for lost humanity. MB 40.

Yes, we as Sabbath School Facili-Teachers are part of the solution, never the problem.

“Never man spake like this Man” John 7:46

The greatest Teacher the world has ever known, was the most definite, simple, and practical in His instruction. GW 50

There is no higher example for a teacher to follow than the example given by the greatest teacher of all time, Jesus Christ. His method of communication can never be improved on and has lasted undiminished through the ages.
“The common people heard Him gladly.” Mark 12:37

While we are many times mesmerized by the eloquence of the worlds great orators, our mission as teachers is to communicate eternal truths in a manner that is best suited for its reception; SIMPLICITY.

Christ always used simple language, yet His words tested the knowledge of deep, unprejudiced thinkers. His manner of teaching should be followed by teachers of today. Spiritual truths should always be presented in simple language, that they may be comprehended and find lodgment in the heart. Thus Christ addressed the crowds that pressed and thronged about Him; and all, learned and unlearned, were able to comprehend His lessons. CT 261

In our classes, whether youth or adults, the need for simplicity in our language is vital. All class members, uneducated or educated, should be able to comprehend what we say and to find their time spent in Sabbath school beneficial.

A Worthy Goal

The Prince of teachers, He sought access to the people by the pathway of their most familiar associations. He presented the truth in such a way that ever after it was to His hearers intertwined with their most hallowed recollections and sympathies. He taught in a way that made them feel the completeness of His identification with their interests and happiness. His instruction was so direct, His illustrations were so appropriate, His words so sympathetic and cheerful, that His hearers were charmed. The simplicity and earnestness with which He addressed the needy, hallowed every word. MH 23, 24

Christ never flattered men. He never spoke that which would exalt their fancies and imaginations, nor did He praise them for their clever inventions; but deep, unprejudiced thinkers received His teaching and found that it tested their wisdom. They marveled at the spiritual truth expressed in the simplest language. DA 254

Let’s all pray that our testimony will be: The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. Isaiah 50.4

Ex”cel*lence\, n
The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree;
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary

I remember a sports shoe commercial many years ago that featured Michael Jordan and Spike Lee. In the commercial Spike Lee was trying to determine what made Michael Jordan so good at the game of basketball. The key phrase used throughout the spot was “Is it the shoes?” While Michael simply answered “no” to the questions, the implication was that it was more than the shoes. Through closer investigation we learned that Michael Jordan worked tirelessly at his craft and that “success” was not instantaneous, but rather a process that he was dedicated to.

Similarly, when we see Sabbath School teachers that excel, we are tempted to ask in our own way, “is it the shoes?” Just what makes a person a teacher of excellence? Is it genetic? Is it the setting? Is it the topic? Or is it fate? Like Michael Jordan, teachers that excel share some of the same attributes.

Without exception, those who succeed in a particular field, whether sports, academics, professional or spiritually related all must begin at the same starting point. It is here that you can trace back the secrets of their success and it is here where many people falter.

The first step in the quest of excellence is to make the DECISION. Being able to make up one’s mind to commit to the goal and to pay the price to do it well, will separate those who excel from those who just maintain. The true force of the will has been described as “the governing power in the nature of man,–the power of decision, of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will”. MH174. The mark of a true decision will be indicated by what happens after the decision is made.

Michael Jordan’s decision to excel at his craft was indicated by his daily commitment to improve. Hours spent practicing, hours spent improving his physical strength, hours spent learning the nuances of the game from past legends and daily competitors all testified that he had made a true decision to be his best.

True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God’s providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. PK486

We as teachers have great opportunities but we must ask ourselves individually, “What am I doing with my opportunities?” Am I like Michael Jordan, putting in the appropriate time to improve my skills? Am I allowing God to direct me in avenues to increase my effectiveness? Am I putting in the effort to learn from others who can elevate my level of effectiveness or am I just maintaining from week to week?

There’s no better time than today to reevaluate if you have truly made a decision to be the best at what you do. Today is a new day of opportunities. What use will you make of them?

By Curtis Hall

It seems today that Sabbath schools are falling into 2 categories; either vibrantly alive or dry and dead. Some Sabbath school classes are eagerly looked forward to and some are simply tolerated as something we do but not necessarily enjoy. The people who fall into the latter group have increased over the years. Far too many regular church members (especially without very young children) are skipping this portion of our services.

To reverse this trend is an undertaking that many churches are tackling. The difference between the two extremes of the Sabbath School experience is determined by the leadership of the individual church and most importantly the leadership of the Sabbath School department.

The role and service of Sabbath School is still relevant and needed. The opportunity that Sabbath School department leaders have in assisting the church in the building up of disciples is enormous. We must recommit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to become effective to the audience we serve.

What are you observing at your church? Do you know of a church’s Sabbath School department that has found ways to keep the weekly program fresh and relevant?