Tyler Klein: Week 8

Teaching Report 2 (3/15/09)

Time Spent: 14 hours total (S.S.=1 Worship= 1.5 Youth small group Bible Study= 1.5 Youth Group 2, Winter Jam Concert= 8)

A. My Lesson (The outline I used during teaching)
9:00 – 9:15 Hangman Bible Edition
Words - Resurrection, Justification, Melchizedek, Simeon Peter, Tabernacle, Cat of Nine Tails, Mount of Olives
9:15 – 9:25 Prayer Requests – If there are no volunteers, have 3 people pray, 1 for our country’s direction/leaders/troops, 2 for the upcoming service at 10:15, 3 for Our Sunday school class lesson, that we learn something new, or are reminded of something about our God. I’ll close.
9:25 Lesson
-Beginning Question (Don’t answer this, No Names) “Do you have anyone in your life that just really tears you down, either by their actions or by their words? While you’re thinking I’ll tell you about my own.
- Joe Watt, supposed to be my friend, and was most of the time, just when certain people came around suddenly I was worthless and repulsive. I remember that he called me stupid names, or tore me down for the most trivial things, but after a little while it really started to hurt. I felt really attacked by this guy who was supposed to be my friend?
- If you have someone in mind then do any of you have examples of what just really eats away at you? (once again without any names)
-The reason why I bring this up, even though it is a little painful for me, is that this is exactly what the people James was writing to were going through.
BIBLICAL OUTLINE
BACKGROUND OF 5:1-6
- James is warning/condemning the rich person, because of the way they’ve laid up treasures here on earth, and also how they have mistreated those lower than them. V. 4 says that they are withholding fair wages and oppressing the poor V. 6 says that they have condemned and murdered the righteous person, or the lowly persons.
How do you guys handle these tough situations when you’re being torn down? OR I didn’t really ever react or do anything in the situation with Joe, I just got down about it, and allowed myself to be hurt… was that right?
JAMES 5:7-11 ON PATIENCE AND SUFFERING
- Our passage today 7-11 is James’s advice to those suffering
- Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord (1). (Illustration 1) See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (Illustration 2) As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast (2). (Illustration 3) You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (3)
- (1) It is important to note that James is primarily speaking about being patient with people, not so much in circumstances or for things to happen.
- (2) There is one prophet that I really thought of.. Jeremiah ( he was thrown in the stocks, in prison, in a hole, and he kept faithful to God and kept speaking his word.)
- (3) What role does faith have in patience, perseverance, and suffering? What does it do for those who are going through tough times?
Patience - With people Perseverance - With Circumstances.
- James is urging readers not to fight back but to exercise long-suffering patience towards their oppressors and to have perseverance in tough circumstances.
- But what good is that? Does anyone remember another place in James that would give us a reason to exercise patience and perseverance? (James 1: 2-4)
Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let Steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
- You want a better reason… this is mostly what I wanted to share….Who is the best example of suffering?
- Jesus Christ…. Because he chose to come down from heaven, to suffer here on earth, I’m sure it was hard to be away from your home if it’s heaven. He had to deal with the Devil tempting him, Pharisee’s grilling him, people doubting him, and then he was taken on false accusations, traded for a murderer, spat on, whipped, had his skin torn off his body, thorns pushed into his head, was forced to carry a heavy, splintery cross up a hill, had his hands and feet pierced with a stake, and then was mocked and suffocated next to two criminals.
- Jesus came to die, so that we could have everlasting life, and a new relationship with him that makes our life here on this earth worthwhile. He suffered, and therefore I think we need to look to Jesus’ example of patience and perseverance when we think our days are bad, and someone else is tearing us down.
- Maybe you’re feeling down, like you’re being persecuted, and maybe you are, but remember Christ’s suffering for you, remember that these trials build maturity and steadfastness, and strength in your faith. Be thankful in suffering.
- Pray
B. Response: Of the twenty some kids that were there, there was maybe one girl who wasn’t a regular, and the rest were the committed youth in the church. At the beginning they were all excited that I was teaching, and then at the end of the lesson they were really supportive and thankful for me teaching the class. We all had a good time as we played hangman, and I noticed that some of the kids really are rowdy by the number of times my laptop was stolen off the podium. Throughout the lesson they were all really respectful, and some of them really tried to be involved, even though I didn’t provide a whole lot of opportunity for them to. I’m pretty pleased with the first time that I taught, but I know I could do better the next time.

D. Supervising Teacher’s Evaluation:
Mike gave me some good advice after the lesson, mostly about the way of starting a lesson. The way I did it he said was good, but he advised me to try and use a question that really gets the kids to think about their faith. He said I did a nice job for the first time teaching, and gave me some good advice about how the first time you teach a class you always tend to go a little short, which I did. I got done about 10 minutes early, which I never expected I would have, but it worked well because Mike was able to talk to the kids a little bit and enjoy continuity since he is the teacher of the class.

E. Things I did well
1. I think that I taught the Bible passage well.
2. When I had the kids pray in groups, it actually worked because they came back to their regular seats without much prodding.
3. I got them to interact well even though I didn’t give a lot of opportunity.
4. I felt comfortable teaching in front of the class behind a podium, even though I’m usually a sitting down at a table with people guy.

F. Things I could improve on
1. I should ask more questions for people to answer.
2. I need to fill the entire hour with material.
3. Moved the podium in twitching that may have been distracting.
4. Could work more on trying to get everyone involved in the class.

G. Questions
1. How can I ask open ended questions, because that’s not how I’m programmed, I want people to get answers?
2. What could I do if I accidentally have the lesson run short that would be productive?
3. What is the right timing of how long to allow kids to think of a question you’re asking, when is too long or too short?