Evaluate Your Teaching

In preparing an article for our upcoming newsletter, I have been doing some fascinating reading by Corrie ten Boom.  In her pre-Holocaust days, she started and led clubs for largely unchurched teen girls. While much of the club time was recreational or educational, a period of time was also devoted to what she believed was most important -- the spiritual. 

Corrie and the other club leaders would gather for leadership training and critique each other's telling of a Bible story so they could become more effective in their communication of truth.  These are the kind of questions they would use to "grade" each other:

• Was the Gospel clear?
• How was her first sentence; did it attract attention?
• Was there humor?
• What help was there for the girls this week?
• What importance did the story have for eternity?
• Did she describe colors, movements?
• Did she draw clear pictures with good illustrations?
• Was it an inspiration for action, for faith, for endurance?

Corrie and the other leaders recognized that many girls came not to hear the Gospel, but to enjoy the fun activities, and they only had minutes to hold their attention. 

Recently a child confided to me about another child, "You know So-and-So only comes to church because of the snacks!"  That is probably true, and I welcome these insightful questions as helpful evaluations of my teaching.  Perhaps you will find them helpful as well.

Note:  Questions are taken from In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom