In Mark 10, Jesus teaches on marriage. He sees the Pharisees looking for loopholes in the law. Jesus then uses the law to teach his message and uses the whole of scripture to do it. Then, to explain the message he is trying to get across, Jesus uses a narrative from the Old Testament. Finally, when his disciples are still confused, Jesus took time to reteach the lesson to them. 

Study Mark 4 with us.  In the Parable of the Sower we learn that people are affected by the seed in different ways. Our job is not to worry about the soil as much as it is to Sow the Seed. In the Parable of the Seed in Mark 4:26-29, the sower doesn't understand how all the growing happens or works. As Bible class teachers, we may not understand or see how we are helping students. Our job is to Sow the Seed. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the seed grows into a great tree even though it starts small. Look what we can do if we Sow the Seed.

Jesus used Setting to teach His lesson. Jesus was careful to select the content of His Message and fit it with the context of the lesson. He went where they lived and worked. Think of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism. Think of Peter, Andrew, James, and John and their boat mending their nets as Jesus talked about being fishers of men.  Jesus used Visual Aids to enrich His teaching. When he was asked about paying taxes, what did he say? (Matt 22) How did Jesus teach His point about having a Childlike faith (Matt 18:2)? Jesus was Very deliberate with his timing. He allowed the listener to get slightly uncomfortable--Mentally and physically. In Matt 15--the people were hungry but he was teaching them what he could provide for the people. Jesus waited until they were uncomfortable when He stilled the storm at sea in Matthew 8. Jesus used wait time to make the men in John 8 uncomfortable.  Jesus used Questioning to help His listeners stay engaged. When He was teaching, He was working together with His learners--They were working side-by-side instead of sit-n-get. Usually, Jesus countered with a question that challenged the listener and caused the listener to reflect on the thinking or think logically through a situation.

Can you have teaching without learning? I would say there is no teaching without learning. As a teacher, we have to be careful not to make the lesson or the class about us. But beyond that, we have to have a way to assess student learning. How can i know if I taught them if I don’t know if they learned it? What if there were no students? Would the class have been the same?

K-W-L is an instructional reading strategy that is used to guide students through a text. Students begin by brainstorming everything they Know about a topic. This information is recorded in the K column of a K-W-L chart. Students then generate a list of questions about what they Want to Know about the topic. These questions are listed in the W column of the chart. During or after reading, students answer the questions that are in the W column. This new information that they have Learned is recorded in the L column of the K-W-L chart. 

How did Jesus use parables to reach those who needed the message? How can we teach like the master? What can I do in my own Bible class or personal work to teach using the powerful stories Jesus used?

Jesus was a powerful storyteller. How can we use His style of teaching in our own teaching? What skills do we need to teach like the Master? 

This activity helps students organize their thoughts as you study a section of text. Here is an example: SAC the Text Summarize  Retell the story in your own words. Give a name for this parable Analysis Name the characters of this story. How do you think the Jews who heard this message would have received it? Which Jewish sect do you think would have been most offended by this message? Why? Conclusion What was the lesson Jesus was teaching with the parable?

Think of any skill you would like to master—who do you go to in order to learn this skill? Do you want to be a chef, craftsman, or woodworker?If so, you would want to study with a master? Who could give us a better idea of how to teach than Jesus himself? (Jn 7:40-46) What are some things you notice about Jesus’ teaching style? First, Jesus’ teaching was simple. This is not to be confused with simplistic.  Sometimes Jesus concealed a point so that the arrogant and self-righteous could not perceive it (Matt 13:10-13). However, a great teacher is one who can take a complex message a present it to the common man so that he can understand. Look at the Parable of the Sower. Jesus was able to take the complex and make it simple for everyone.  Jesus’ teaching was also insightful. Look at Jesus’ profound understanding of the scriptures in the situation about the Sadducees. They come to him with a hypothetical discussion about a woman whose husband die. Jesus understands that the problem is not about the marriages of this woman, but of their understanding of the resurrection. He answers their questions with a simple, two-word answer—I AM. We could chalk this up to Jesus’ being deity or we could try to emulate this in our own lives. Meditate on the scriptures and learn the complex messages students need to know from us.  Finally, we notice that Jesus’ teaching was penetrating. Jesus threw his words like darts that were to Penetrate the hearts and minds of listeners (Jn 8:1-11) Jesus dealt with the problem of the Pharisees and their arrogance while keeping the law, but Jesus also dealt with the problem of sin with the woman. Teaching must be aimed. There has to be an arrow and someone to receive the arrow.  Jesus Knew the Scriptures and had the Right Attitude. How did he handle the issues when Satan tempted him? “It is written…” This shows that if something is right to do, scripture authorizes it. Jesus’ attitude made the difference in his knowledge of scripture. We can have a great knowledge of the word of God without having the right heart about what we study and present to students.  Let us work to Teach Like the Master. 

Think of any skill you would like to master—who do you go to in order to learn this skill? Maybe you want to be a master chef, a skilled Craftsman, or an excellent woodworker. To learn the skill or trade, you go to a Master Tradesman.  Who could give us a better idea of how to teach than Jesus himself?