Thursday, July 16, 2009

How to be a Creative Teacher (like JESUS) - Principle #1

Let's begin with a look at Jesus - The Most Creative Teacher!

Principle #1 - Jesus invited others to talk

Jesus interacted with his learners. He built relationships with them based upon two-way communication. Interestingly he would sometimes begin discussion by asking the disciples a general question about what other people thought about things and then he would bring it to a more personal level. One example can be found in Matthew 6:13 and the following verses. Jesus invited talking in this situation by moving from GENERAL TO PERSONAL discussion, perhaps because people find it easier to begin talking about other people's opinions.

In Matthew 16:13 Jesus asks: "Who do men say that I am?"
Later he made it much more personal when he asked "Who do you say
I am?" (Matthew 16:15) It was at this point that Peter made one of the greatest confessions of faith - "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

Jesus often asked questions that invited others to talk. Sometimes Jesus used questions to help people draw conclusions, such as when He spoke with the rich ruler about eternal life (Luke 18:18-29). At other times Jesus used questions to correct faulty thinking, as when He talked with religious leaders about authority (Matthew 21:23-27). Often Jesus did not answer His own questions but used them to lead His listeners toward truth.

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