Sunday mornings are a gift. For just a short time each week, we gather God’s little ones and open up the treasures of his Word. Whether you’re brand-new to teaching or have been leading Sunday school lessons for years, there are always fresh ways to grow, refine, and rejoice in this calling.
This is the first of three posts with five teaching tips to encourage you as you serve Christ and his lambs. Click here to view all three posts, as well as two additional posts with encouragement for Sunday school teachers.
1. Start With the Word
Before you teach, spend time in prayer and Scripture as you prepare. What does this particular lesson teach you about God’s love for you? Remember that you are sharing God’s Word with his children. You get to tell them about Jesus and his love for them! When you keep that in mind, your teaching flows from a place of joy and confidence.
2. Pray With Your Students
Simple prayers before and after class are a great way to teach your students about praying for themselves and others. Invite children to share requests: a sick grandparent, a test at school, or a thank you for a birthday. These prayers remind them that God cares for every detail of their lives, and so do you!
3. Keep Christ at the Center
Every Bible account, from Genesis to Revelation, points us to Jesus. Remind your students how Noah’s ark, David’s victory, or Jonah’s rescue connects to God’s ultimate rescue plan through Christ. As Jesus himself said, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).
4. Know Your Students
Learning each child’s name seems small, but it quickly communicates love. Take time to ask about their week. Remember their pets, siblings, or favorite sports teams. When students know they matter to you, they’ll listen more closely to what you teach about the God who loves them even more.
5. Use Multiple Learning Styles
Children absorb truth in different ways. Some love hearing the story, others need to see it, and still others need to move or make something. A lesson that includes storytelling, a picture, a craft, and a song will stick in more hearts.
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Are you a pastor or Sunday school coordinator for your church? Click here to learn more about Northwestern Publishing House’s Christ-centered curriculum for Sunday school for Pre-K through grade 8.
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