Every year an Iowa newspaper hosts a bike ride, RAGBRAI, across the state. While a pastor in Iowa, I chose to take part in RAGBRAI with a group from our church. Our purpose was to make the trek and share the gospel. I could get away for only one day, so I chose the day with the shortest route: sixty miles.

I was confident that I could handle the ride. I had watched television news coverage of cyclists young and old breezing through stages that were much longer than the one I chose. Even though I had only four or five hours of restless sleep the night before the trip, I still felt confident that I could complete the course. After a few bites of a disgusting protein bar and a splash of water on my face, I headed out with the team.

Five miles in, I started to fatigue. Ten miles in, I started to wobble and slow down. After twenty-five miles, I was utterly exhausted. I got off my bike and slowly pushed it along the shoulder of the road while I gasped for air. I felt particularly low when an older woman slowed down, asked me if I was all right, and then sped off over the next hill. Not a real boost to my ego. Thankfully the team members sensed my weariness and had a ride waiting for me at the next corner. I rejoiced when the car came into view, but I also regretted falling so far short of my goal.

What went wrong? I was not serious about my training. I had an anyone-can-do-this attitude. It looked easy. Consequently, my preparation for the bike ride included only a few casual rides up and down my street. I was doomed before I even got on the bike.

Teaching an adult Sunday School class may look easy. Often adult teachers will take on a Sunday School course with no training. But teaching is too important to do haphazardly. Teachers must present the Word of God effectively and efficiently if they hope to see maximum results in their learners’ lives. Even teachers with natural teaching abilities should seek training in order to sharpen their skills.

What are opportunities you have for teacher training? Consider some of these options. 

1. Attend training meetings.

Take advantage of any teacher training offered in your local church. If your church normally offers training just for teachers of children, ask those planning the training to include training for adult teachers. RBP’s Impact Teaching and the Impact Teaching Leader’s Guide combine to make an excellent training course for teachers.

2. Attend training conferences.

Conferences, such as RBP’s Impact Teaching Seminars and Success in Bible Teaching Seminars, are extremely beneficial. Conference workshop leaders will help you develop your teaching skills. Also, the leaders can answer your questions about teaching and suggest solutions to your frustrations. Find out about coming seminars at RBP.

3. Enlist a mentor.

Ask a successful teacher in your church to be your mentor. Share a class with him or her for a quarter. Have your mentor teach a few lessons to start the course while you watch and evaluate. Pay close attention to how your mentor teaches.

Consider the following questions as you evaluate your mentor’s teaching: How did the teacher introduce the lesson? What types of questions did he or she use? How did your mentor use teaching methods to communicate truth? How did he or she involve the students in the lesson? How did the teacher apply the lesson? How did your mentor use the curriculum? How well did the learners respond? What role did Scripture play throughout the lesson?

Discuss your evaluation with your mentor. Ask for help and tips as you make plans to teach. Run your lesson ideas by your mentor before you teach. Then have your mentor watch you teach a few times and evaluate you.

4. Survey your class.

Ask your learners to evaluate their educational experience in your class. Have them answer some general questions such as: What do you like most about the class? What do you like least? What would you like to see changed? What do you think are the strengths of the teaching? What do you think are the weaknesses of the teaching? How has this class helped you spiritually? As you read your learners’ answers, you will gain valuable information to help you improve your teaching.

It takes a humble person to ask for criticism. Your humility and openness will serve as a model to your students and will communicate to them that you are highly interested in whether they are actually learning.

5. Identify and use training tools.

Books such as those listed under the Christian Education section of www.regularbaptistpress.org or in RBP’s Church Ministry Resources Catalog provide a wealth of knowledge about teaching. Encourage your pastor or church librarian to purchase a few books that can help you with your teaching. If your church does not already have a teacher training library, consider asking your pastor or librarian to start one. If possible, keep the teacher training library distinct from the rest of the library so teachers can access the resources easily.

6. Follow the curriculum.

RBP’s Life Design curriculum is designed to help you teach in a way that fosters growth and change in your learners. You will learn much about teaching by simply using the curriculum.

Pay attention to the activities. They involve the learners in the lesson and thereby increase the possibility that the lesson will impact them.

Take advantage of Life Design’s teaching materials: full-color transparencies, Bible study books, and resource CD-ROMs offering ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations, case studies, extra application ideas, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and more. Visuals may not be important to you, but many of your learners will benefit from seeing the concepts you are teaching. The Bible study books will buttress the students’ learning. Encourage your learners to complete them each week so they are prepared to give input.

Following the curriculum closely for a quarter or two will help you gain the confidence to begin implementing some of your own ideas. Whether or not you pursue training actually has more to do with your learners than it does with you. You will most likely be able to teach each week and never run out of things to say. But that is not the point of teaching. Your goal should be that the learners take God’s Word and apply it in a life-changing way. This goal should motivate you to get all the training you can!

My RAGBRAI experience has given me profound respect for Lance Armstrong, winner of the last six Tours de France. Lance did not become the best he could be by following my slipshod training approach. He has dedicated his life to cycling. He trains every day, following a strict and calculated regimen. Lance’s incessant training has made him the best in the world. Training can make a difference for you too. Don’t be satisfied with a few laps up and down your street. Your learners’ lives are at stake.

Give yourself to being the best teacher you can be!