Marlene LeFever - Creative Teaching Methods

How desperately we in the church need help with our creativity in teaching the Good News. The message that we have is thrilling and priceless and life-changing. Often it sounds boring because we lack creativity in our methodology. This book is an invaluable instrument for calling forth creativity in our teaching methods.

Bruce Larson

Senior Pastor, University Presbyterian Church ,

Seattle, Washington

Preaching is my primary love. But my preaching had better include teaching. Creative Teaching Methods calls me to a new creative edge. If a preacher is so stirred by this book on teaching, I can imagine how teachers will benefit. Keep it in a permanent spot on your desk as a reminder to teach better and as a reference book of ideas on how to do it.

Brian C. Stiller

Executive Director, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

In this book, Marlene LeFever has outlined some tremendous ways to be creative which could bring new depth and excitement to your teaching.

Cliff R. Raad

Executive Director ,

Greater Chicago Sunday School Association

It is both encouragingI can do thatand challengingIve never tried that, but I could work on it. May I order three copies? One to loan, one to keep, and one for the church library.

Carolyn M. Raffensperger

Director of Christian Education

First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, Illinois

I have found Creative Teaching Methods a thorough, comprehensive, and illuminating work.

Gardner C. Taylor

Pastor, Concord Baptist Church of Christ

Brooklyn, New York

The book is delightful and filled with surprises. I think I became a better teacher after reading the first two chapters alone.

Ben Patterson

Pastor, Irvine Presbyterian Church

Irvine, California

CREATIVE TEACHING METHODS: BE AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN TEACHER

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance View

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 USA

David C Cook Distribution Canada

55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights.

Copyright 2004, 1985 by David C Cook

Revised Printings: July 1996, April 2000, April 2004

Cover Design: Nick Lee

Cover Photos: Stock.XCHNG 906249 (Ink, photo by Andre Larsson); 1081403 (Paper, photo by Dan Brady http://www.siteroom.co.uk/); 1291457 (Wood, photo by Jill Baker)

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-7814-5256-4

eISBN 978-0-7814-0721-2

First Printing 1985

My love and appreciation
to my husband, Jack Risley, who
in our team teaching modeled Christian
commitment for teenagers, and who creatively
deals with the struggles and joys of
living for Christ in our marriage
and in his very secular
working environment.

I had lost my voice. For two months I croaked along teaching Sunday after Sunday. Each week my throat hurt more and my croaks got weaker. My senior high Sunday school class members were the most lively, verbose dozen I had ever worked with. But during this difficult time, they responded to my need. They stopped talking completely while I presented the content and explained the direction of the class interaction. Then they didnt need to be prodded into action. They immediately took responsibility for the classs success. It was obvious to all of us that without them the class wouldnt work.

Id always known the principle: participation in the learning process stimulates learning and encourages growth. Negatively, when the teacher is in total control of the classs activities, his or her ego may be the only growing thing in the classroom.

Students need to feel that this is our class. Yes, we have a leader, but without our help, this class would not work. Its the leader who encourages this sense of ownership; its the smart leader who doesnt wait for a voice loss to implement the shared learning approach.

While I was whispering at my class, I had time to watch students grow spiritually. They became my support group, my church, during that difficult time. They sent me cards. They told me they were going to pray for me and confirmed that promise each week by telling me how often and for how long they had done just that.

I listened and they talked. I pantomimed and they lived out what they were discovering directly from Gods Word. I fell apart, exhausted, and they boosted me: Thanks for coming. Dont give up. Your voice will come back.

This book is designed to help teacher and students work together in the learning process. For the teacher, these methods may mean more work, less ego stroking, and greater affirmation that life learning is taking place. For the students, the processes will help them discover unique ways they can grow in their understanding of what the Christian life is all about. More importantly, they will learn how they can live out that understanding in their Monday-through-Saturday lives.

How we communicate Gods word should not be static. This book is finished, but the methods we can use to teach will never be exhausted. For example, right now Im exploring ways the internet can be incorporated in Sunday school and Bible study groups. How can we use this unique tool to train this generation for Christ? How can we develop programs for video and home computers that will aid parents in training their children?

The authors of Using Nonbroadcast Video in the Church articulate the challenge: Just as the first-century church learned through Pentecost to communicate the Gospel in new languages, the church of today must learn new languages to communicate with its world... The church often resists new technologies and methodologies until pressure becomes so great that it has no other choice but to change. This characteristic provides an excellent balance against fads and gives needed continuity, but it can also become an excuse for seldom acting innovatively when a new and useful technology for communicating the Gospel arises.

We must grow or, as John Peatling cautions, we could find ourselves the well-meaning antiquarians of the day after tomorrow.

My special thanks to Dr. D. Campbell Wyckoff (Princeton Theological Seminary), Dr. Charles Bradshaw (Talbot Theological Seminary), Dr. Dennis Williams (Denver Theological Seminary), Dr. Greg Johnson (Canadian Bible College), Dr. Carol Herrman (Asia Graduate School of Theology), and Dr. John Wilkinson (Ontario Theological Seminary) for the opportunity to teach the ideas in this book and in my book Learning Styles: Reaching Everyone God Gave You to Teach at their schools. My special appreciation goes to my students who enlarged and honed each idea.