This exciting children’s ministry training programme is focused on a single goal – to prepare leaders to help children come to know, love, and obey God. The twenty-two training sessions of In Step with the Master Teacher are divided into four main groups.
Each group is built around one hour of Core training. Together, the four hours of Core training provide a foundational understanding of a teacher’s role. The Satellite session in each group expand on ideas presented in the Core session and can be mixed and matched according to need. Each session is full of creative and practical ideas that you can use regardless of the location, size, or resources of your children’s ministry.
Group 1 The Teacher
Core Session
Developing a Biblical Attitude and Modeling: We will not disciple our students if we are not convinced from God’s Word that it is important. The first part of this session examines Scripture to see what God says about children. It sets out the goal clearly for teachers – to help our students come to know, love, and obey God. The second part of the session looks at the importance of modeling in the life of the teacher – the importance of the teacher in moving towards the goal in his or her own life.
Satellite Sessions
Studying the Bible for Yourself: This session helps the teacher work through a Bible passage using a basic inductive Bible study method.
Depending on the Holy Spirit: This session looks at the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing about life change in our students and the importance of prayer in our ministry.
Group 2 The Student
Core Session
Building Relationships: We will not disciple our students if we have not taken time to build relationships with them. This session looks at how we can get to know our students and show them that they are valued.
Satellite Sessions
Knowing and Meeting Student Needs: When we get to know our children and build relationships with them, we discover many needs that can overwhelm us. This session looks at how to recognise and respond to those needs.
Developing a Discipline Plan: This session looks at the importance of discipline in discipleship. It deals practically with how to plan ahead to prevent discipline problems, how to respond to problems in the classroom and what to do when it ‘all falls apart’ and you have a major confrontation.
Working with Preschoolers/Working with Students who have Intellectual Disabilities: These two sessions look at the characteristics of these special groups of students and how we can respond appropriately to their unique needs.
Group 3 The Lesson
Core Session
Teaching for Response: It is not enough to model God’s truth and to build relationships with our students. We need to present God’s truth and challenge our students to respond with faith and obedience. This session looks specifically at how we do this in our Bible lessons.
Satellite Sessions
Preparing Bible Content: This session looks at the centrality of the Bible and how to prepare to teach the Bible lesson without the benefit of a teacher’s book.
Involving the Senses: This session looks at practical ways we can get the children hearing, seeing, saying and doing during our Bible lesson.
Communicating with Children: This session looks at how we make sure the picture in our minds and hearts is being accurately transferred to the minds and hearts of the children we are teaching. It explores how to develop an introduction that will capture their attention and how to ensure that the words and concepts are clear.
Encouraging Response: This session looks at how to develop a clear teaching aim together with appropriate application and response activities.
Presenting the Gospel Clearly to Children: This session looks at how to explain the key points of the gospel clearly and visually.
Leading a Child to Christ: This session looks at how to respond sensitively to a child who responds to a gospel invitation—either by redirecting them or by leading them to accept Christ.
Following-Up a New Believer: This session looks at how we care for and teach a child who receives Christ as Saviour.
Group 4 The Programme
Core Session
Using Your Time Effectively: We have so little time with our students each week. This session looks at how we use all of our time with the students to help them move towards the goal. It explores how we can use the various elements of our programmes to reinforce the truth taught in the Bible lesson.
Satellite Sessions
Holding Students Accountable: This session looks at the importance of reviewing Bible truth as well as application from week to week. It includes many practical ideas for the teacher.
Teaching Bible Memory Verses: This session looks at the importance of ‘hiding God’s Word’ in the hearts of our students as well as practical and fun ways to do that.
Helping Students Grow: This session looks at practical ways we can help our students learn to pray, read the Bible and find church fellowship for themselves.
Teaching through Music: This session looks at how we can use our song time as a key part of our teaching programme rather than a time filler.
