Focused Teaching

Pointers For Effective Teaching: Focused Teaching

I tend to watch various broadcasts from my ministry and its different ministers. When I watch these broadcasts, I pay attention to the number of views they get. Some videos have high viewership, while others receive minimal attention. This situation reminds me of why some churches struggle to grow. The issue isn't always people's ability to grasp the Word of God, but often it's how the Word of God is presented. Some ministers present the Word effectively, while others don't.

So, what's the connection to the pastoral class? It's a direct illustration of why some churches can't grow. It's based on the same principles. Sometimes, ministers fail to engage their audience effectively, resulting in poor response to their teaching. This issue relates to the concept of "focused teaching."

Focused teaching is essential, especially on Sunday mornings. In focused teaching, the speaker ensures that their message is accessible to all levels of understanding. They don't assume that everyone in the audience knows the jargon or concepts within their community.

To demonstrate focused teaching, let's consider the example of teaching about faith. In a community that's familiar with a minister's teaching style, they might understand that "faith is the operation of the Holy Ghost." However, in a broader audience, that concept needs to be explained using Scripture to make it clear to everyone.

Community teaching, where you teach to those familiar with your style, can limit the reach of your message. Effective teaching requires a deep understanding of the Scripture and the ability to reference it to explain your points clearly. It's crucial not to overload your teaching with opinions, commentary, or fillers. This can bury the main message.

Avoiding Fillers

I want to emphasize the importance of avoiding filler content in your teaching. A filler is any unnecessary chatter that adds no substance to your message. It's essential to eliminate fillers, especially when explaining critical concepts like faith, salvation, or other biblical teachings.

Often, fillers happen when a teacher isn't adequately prepared. They may resort to anecdotes and analogies without first providing a biblical context. For instance, they might share a story or an analogy that doesn't have a clear connection to the main point.

This type of filler can be frustrating for listeners, as it diverts them from the primary message they came to learn. They may have specific questions or topics in mind, and excessive filler can deter them from engaging with your content.

Think about it like watching a YouTube video where you want a quick answer to a specific question, but the creator spends too much time on unrelated stories and anecdotes before addressing your query. It can be quite annoying and lead to viewers looking elsewhere for more concise and focused content.

It's crucial to recognize that as teachers, we often feel the pressure to constantly go deeper and deliver more information in each message. This self-imposed pressure can lead to the inclusion of unnecessary jargon, anecdotes, and tangents, making it challenging for our audience to understand the core message.

In my own journey as a teacher, I've experienced this pressure to go above and beyond in every teaching session. However, this tendency to overload the message with filler content can create confusion for the listeners. I've had to grow, learn, and be more mindful of how I convey the message.

What’s driving you?

The motivation behind our teaching is vital to consider. Sometimes, we teach as if we may never have another opportunity to do so, trying to cram everything we know into a single lesson. This approach often results in excessive filler content and a message that lacks focus.

To address this issue, we need to focus on the main topic and resist the urge to add irrelevant information or anecdotes. Instead of teaching multiple deep concepts in one session, focus on teaching one concept clearly and effectively. This way, we ensure that our message is both impactful and easily understood.

Another aspect to consider is the length of our teachings. Extended messages often result from straying off-topic or introducing filler content. To combat this, we should keep our teaching concise, making it easier for the audience to follow and engage with the material.

Furthermore, we must exercise self-control and temperance during our teaching. Our goal should be to guide our audience into all truth, but we should also recognize where they currently stand in their spiritual journey. It's crucial to avoid wandering off-topic during a teaching session, even if we have many ideas or insights to share.

Filler content often takes the form of jokes and jesting, which can be used when we're nervous. While it's okay to use filler occasionally, excessive filler can be annoying to listeners. When someone clicks on a video or channel with a specific thumbnail that piques their interest, or when they attend your sessions, they expect the teacher to address the topic indicated in the advertisement. If the teacher diverges into unrelated humor or banter, it can feel deceptive and frustrating for the audience.

Teaching vs Preaching

Now, let's address the difference between teaching and preaching. Some people have traditionally associated teaching with a more sober, instructional tone, while preaching is seen as more impassioned and motivational. However, these distinctions aren't set in stone.

Teaching and preaching can share many attributes. The key difference lies in the setting and situation. For instance, I've been labeled a "Sunday morning preacher," but upon closer examination, my Sunday morning lessons or videos are primarily teaching moments. The setting and the context differentiate teaching from preaching.

Teaching tends to focus on a specific subject and can occur in various settings. Preaching, on the other hand, involves declaring the Word of God, which may encompass a broader range of topics. Preaching has the power to reach a wider audience and can even affect those who may not yet believe in God.

Two Bible verses emphasize the role of preaching in bringing people to belief:

1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

In this verse, it's highlighted that the wisdom of the world couldn't make people know God, but it's through the "foolishness of preaching" that God saves those who believe.

Romans 10:13-17

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This verse reinforces the idea that people must hear and believe in God before calling upon His name. The presence of a preacher is crucial in this process. Someone who is anointed has to interact with you through preaching, in order for you to believe on God. Preaching doesn't require a stage, a microphone, or even a church. Most of the preaching in the Bible happened outside, in the world. Preaching is about sharing God's word with people wherever you are.

So, how do you distinguish a tangent from the guidance of the Holy Spirit while preaching or teaching? The key is to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit throughout your message. The Holy Spirit will never lead you in a way that contradicts His purpose. He will guide you to build upon the message, not distract from it.

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Moreover, when you're preaching or teaching, remember that you may only know part of what God intends to convey. You don't have to understand everything at once. The Holy Spirit will reveal more as you go along. Don't try to download the entire message before you speak. Let the Holy Spirit guide and reveal the message as you need it.

Also, when you're teaching, make sure to avoid simply parroting what you've heard from others. It's crucial to support your teachings with the foundation of Scripture. Understanding the Bible and being able to show scriptural references for your teachings is vital. Your credibility as a teacher is based on your ability to teach from the Bible, not just repeating what you've heard.

Finally, embrace questions from your congregation. When people ask questions, it's an opportunity to provide them with a solid biblical foundation for your teachings. Don't get offended by questions; instead, be ready and willing to guide them through the Bible to find the answers. As a teacher, your role is to aptly teach and share God's Word, and if you follow these guidelines, you will be able to teach effectively.