One Good Idea
for Teaching Youth and Teens
“One good idea. I’m not looking to be overloaded more than I am. Just give me one.”

This month we have the third part in the four-part series, “One Good Idea.” Pastor Dan Schroeder of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Modesto, California, will share one idea for teaching adults, youth, children, and confirmation. Although each group has different learning needs, the one good idea for the month may spark ideas for teaching other age groups. This month’s article focuses on teaching youth and teens.



Pastor Dan Schroeder serves as pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Modesto, California. He previously served in Jackson, Wisconsin; Chula Vista, California; and as Bible Study Editor at Northwestern Publishing House.
They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. — Acts 5:42
Adult Education: Additum
Questions That Evoke Wonder

Leading students to share in the wonder we experience in Bible study involves asking questions—truly big and difficult questions that haunt the experts and leave us in awe. Although we won’t agree with its few evolution references, this article can help us think about questions we may use in Bible studies to lead learners on a journey of discovery.

Teaching Toolbox
12 Tips for Teaching Adult Learners

How do you match adult learning needs with appropriate teaching methods? Start by remembering how adults learn best. Use this chart to help you develop learning activities and questions for your Bible study participants.




Curriculum Connection
Lord's Supper: The Lamb's High Feast

If you are looking for a four-session Bible study to use around the time of Holy Week, you might consider Lord’s Supper: The Lamb’s High Feast. 

The study covers the following four lessons:
  • Old Testament Background, New Testament Fulfillment
  • Why Come to the Lord's Supper?
  • How Do We Celebrate the Lord's Supper?
  • The Lord's Supper Serves the Church

The course complements Prof. Arnold J. Koelpin's book Lord's Supper from the People's Bible Teachings series.

 
Click below for a sample lesson.

 
Order the Complete Study.
Order the Book.
Teaching Tip
Open-ended vs. Closed-ended Questions

When teaching adults, youth, and older children, try to ask “open-ended” questions—questions that may not have a single answer. Stay away from “closed-ended” questions—questions that can be answered with a simple, regurgitated answer or a “yes” or “no.”

For example, instead of asking, "How many loaves of bread and how many fish did Jesus have when he fed the 5000?" (a closed question), ask, "Jesus had only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish when he fed the 5000. For what reasons might God have told us the exact amount of food he had at the beginning?" (an open question).

Be patient when waiting for answers. Give your learners time to think before they answer the question. Count to five or ten slowly to yourself. If you answer your own question, then learners will always learn to let you do so!
  Teach the Word  is a collaboration of Northwestern Publishing House,
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and WELS Discipleship.