Through the Years

Hello and Welcome!

Being A Bible Class Teacher!

Matthew 5:14-15

"You are the light of the world. 

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, 

but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

When I think back over 30+ years of teaching children's Bible classes, my first teaching experiences, were really in need and want of so much. 

There was a need. 

I had a glimmer of desire and yes, my Bible, which is always the best place to begin, but so many questions raced through my mind...flickering that flame of desire...especially in the beginning. 

• How do I begin to teach these young hearts? 
• What is the best way of teaching these children?
• What level of understanding do my students have about the Bible? 
• What will interest them? 
• What can I use for my visual aids? 
• What kind of activity can we do that will reinforce the lesson? 
• Do I even have paper for the activity?

I was hungry!

Hungry for knowledge and understanding of the Word and for some good ideas about how to bring this Word, God's Word to "life" for my students.

You have to understand, I come from the non-computer age! 

Unlike today, it was not as easy to find information, study helps, or even paper for that matter.  

I read the text, and as I read, I visualized it. Main characters, setting and so forth. 

Thankfully I was blessed with some vision and a little artistic ability.

Many stick figures and magazine pictures have been put to use for God's glory.

My Very First Teaching Experience

I had been asked to teach one little 4 year old boy. 

I and was happy to do so but was OH SO nervous! 

I wrote out a basic lesson plan to help me stay on track.

It looked something like this:  

• Welcome
• Prayer
• Singing
• Bible lesson
• Take-home activity

Even with a lesson plan, you cannot just step into a classroom and expect it to all just happen, 

Preparation is KEY!!! 

I was learning so much from the prep and delivery of my lessons but was lacking in knowing what this particular age level really needed in order to be taught. 

It was a lot of trial and error. 

My Second Teaching Experience

My second teaching experience was the cradle roll class. 

The students ranged in age from 6 months to 2 years. Our youngest son was one of these students. 

What a joy it was to introduce him to God in this way at such a young age. (Matthew 19:14)

My visual aids were limited and had no funds for much at all in the way of buying or making the visual aids. We did our best and sang, sang, sang.

I remember saving 6x10 inch white card stock from inside women's stocking packages to glue or draw pictures on. I even made a flip chart out of some of them and still have it to this day, It was a lesson about God's creation of this world and everything in it.  

A great reminder of where I began and that there is always a way no matter how lacking things are.

What is that saying? 

"Keep on Keeping on!"

Well that is what I did. I kept trying!

I've known the lack and the abundance of having good visual aids. 

As time went on I was introduced to more and more Bible class resources. 

My desire was beginning to be fed. 

Here are a few teaching resources I was happy to add to my personal library. 

"Rays of Sonshine" books by Sherryl Jones and Donna Lawhon 

"Hooked on Imaginality" books by Beverly Scott and Jana Smith. (No longer in print)

A song/poem book by Mary Oler and even got her signature. 

"Mail Box Swap Shop" (No longer in print.) 

"Idea Shop" books by Gospel Advocate. (No longer in print.) 

I also kept my eyes open for any good pictures from newspapers and magazines to enlarge and develop into a bulletin board display. 

I Was Asked to Teach the 4th Grade

This is where I truly fell in love with teaching. 

My flame had grown stronger and brighter. 

One of my greatest joys was having our daughter in Bible class with many of her friends.  

There were about 12-13 students who attended this class. 

I remember how valuable a teacher's training series called T.A.T.T.S. (Tulsa Area Teacher Training Series) was for me during this time. It's here that I began to really "find my feet". 

I had the opportunity to listen to experienced teachers give advice on not only visual aids but also how to teach specific age groups! 

Finally. 

Different congregations of the area held Teacher Workshops. 

A team of ladies came in and had many displays and demonstrations of visual aids. We then were given copies of some of the things that had been demonstrated to add to our own supply. 

By this time our youngest son was in the 4th grade and it was a pleasure to have him in Bible class. There were about 13 of them! We did all kinds of extra devotionals together and service projects. Another lady with whom I co-taught had her daughter in the class as well. I thought we made a great team, and from time to time do still! 

Climbing the Ladder

I began to notice there were others who were interested in teaching the 4th-grade Bible class when I had taken an usually long break from teaching - a whole year!

When my break was over all the slots were full to teach in the fourth grade 

but there was a need in the cradle roll class. 

So I filled in there, and a few other ladies and I worked on developing the lessons from 

Palma Smiley's Early Childhood Curriculum. 

It was such a joy to have all the little ones in class. 

It took me back to when I taught our youngest son.

I moved up to another need. 

The 2 yr. old class. 

We had a table full of two-year-old little boys! 

They were so fun and we had a set of twins!

It was all a new adventure for me. 

They were so good and I loved every minute of it but was ready to move up to another class when the time came, and that is just what happened.

I moved up to teach Kindergarten and 1st grade, then the 2nd and 3rd, and then to finally reacquaint myself with the 4th and 5th once again.  And that is where I kind of landed and have stayed ever since. 

Who knew I would be teaching long enough to actually have had the same 2yr. olds in my 4th - 6th grade class on Sunday mornings! It was such a true joy to teach these guys again.  

Such great blessings!

Having been involved in a Future Teacher Training Camp as the Bible class visual aids teacher was a great delight and highlight in my life! In this program, Christian teen girls have the opportunity to gain spiritual knowledge and confidence as they take advantage of learning how to study and present topical and textual Bible lessons for children and women.   

I have also been involved, but lower-key, in teaching ladies and teen girls classes.

At Present

I love having the pleasure of being involved in the church with a congregation that sees the good in and has the ability to lavish upon their teachers, art supplies plus technology to help the Bible come alive for our students! The Word of God certainly paints an amazing picture but helping our students learn in more ways than just reading can be a tremendous help. 

I enjoy teaching our 3-4th graders on Sunday mornings and use most of the space available in the room to teach my students. Sometimes even the floor and many times hang things from the ceiling! 

Such rich blessings are found in all this process but one blessing I am so very pleased about is to have passed on my love for teaching to our daughter, Cassy Dee! I love it when she calls to tell me her latest brainstorm for a Bible lesson and how she is developing her visual aids, to discuss scripture, or how the class reacted to the Bible lesson.

I have had the pleasure of having a very supportive husband over the years, who has realized and supports my passion for teaching the Bible to children. 

With our children grown and on their own I have been blessed to be able to claim some space for a "Bible class closet" in which I store my personal visual aids. 

I have shared many ideas through Come Fill Your Cup by Mary Rose and Me, (which is now in book form), and am still sharing via Perk Up Your Bible Class! 

May we never take the freedoms we have in this country of worshipping God, meeting with our Christian family to commune with and be encouraged by them for granted, (Hebrews 10: 23-27) for it is something many have paid for with their lives. 

Let us take every advantage of this freedom to encourage our brethren young and old! 

My husband and I do love opening our home to teach the gospel to others and most always use the Ambassadors for Christ lesson series called Quest for Truth. 

It's my prayer that we as Bible teachers continue to abound in and teach God's Word. To impress upon soft hearts the truths God has laid out for us to live by. 

Many times I have gone to God in prayer and continue to ask Him to help me remember the things I have studied, to help me speak the truth, to help my students have good nights of sleep and good mornings. I pray for the parents, for other teachers preparing their lessons,...and the list goes on.  

May we continue to teach how God had a plan for His people before He laid the foundation of the earth, (Ephesians1:4) and how grateful we should be for that plan.

May we remain humble and continue to grow in His Word with our students.

To bring His Son into the world to die for the sins of the world to give us the opportunity to OBEY that gospel/good news that He so graciously has bestowed upon us.

(1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Romans 6; Galatians 3:27; 2 Thessalonians 1: 6-10; 1 John 1:5-10, 

Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 2:2)

One thing is for sure, today there is always room for more at the Lord's banquet table. 

I am so very thankful for God's grace that shows His loving-kindness and mercy toward me and others. 

About my light? 

Well, you can be sure it is there. 

And yes, growing. 

Always.

It began as a glimmer and may have flickered in times of discouragement.  

But with the encouragement of Christ, His Word, and my church family, my hunger has begun to be satisfied and with that my light seems somehow to have grown, if I may, 

into a beacon! 

God is my constant, always, and forever!

Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 5:16

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment!