Visions of Adult Education Forming the Faithful Visions of Adult Education

Gary Parrett and Steve Kang “Good teachers meet learners where they are and help them go where they truly need to go.” Gary Parrett and Steve Kang

11 ”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…” -Ephesians 4:11-16 Why Teach?

14 ”Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” -Ephesians 4:11-16 Why Teach?

Why Teach? Christian teaching: Equips for Service (Hands) Builds up faith and knowledge (Head) Has the end goal of becoming like Jesus (Heart) Why Teach?

How would you define teaching? What is it? What is teaching?

“To teach is to create a space in which obedience to truth is practiced.” -Parker Palmer What is teaching?

Christian teaching is about making disciples which involves: Explaining the Truth (Head) Embedding the Truth (Heart) Exercising the Truth (Hands) Holistic Teaching

Good Christian teaching takes aim at all 3 parts of the person: Head information, understanding Heart inspiration, transformation Hands Instigation, application Holistic Teaching

Engaging the Mind (Head) Teach solid content of Scripture Go deep without going scholarly Avoid just transmitting content but don’t forget it either Consider different levels of teaching Evaluating our assumptions Do not be afraid of questions Engaging the Mind (Head)

Engaging the Mind (Head) Tools for Engaging the Mind: Memorization Reading Dialogue Writing Engaging the Mind (Head)

Forming the Heart Our inner man needs to connect with the Truth Good teaching touches the heart Uninspiring teaching means forgettable Takes more effort to reach the heart We should labor is softening soil in teaching Forming the Heart

Forming the Heart Tools for forming the heart: Silence Stories Questions Music Drama Video Testimonies Forming the Heart

Equipping the Hands (and Feet) We can’t just teach the inform minds and inspire hearts without calling for obedience “You know me if you do what I command” Only when we do, can we claim to know Obedience should go along with humility. Being faithful to the Word is not always easily discernible. Equipping the Hands (and Feet)

Equipping the Hands (and Feet) “We have never been called to raise Bible trivia champions or even to raise biblical scholars. We have been called to make disciples— learner-followers of Jesus.” (Parrett and Kang) We are to become like Jesus by learning what he taught and practicing what he preached Equipping the Hands (and Feet)

Equipping the Hands (and Feet) 15 ”All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” -Phil 3:15-17 Equipping the Hands (and Feet)

Equipping the Hands (and Feet) Tools for Equipping Hands: Mentoring Serve together Set goals Accountability Equipping the Hands (and Feet)

“To teach is to create a space in which obedience to truth is practiced.” Aim your teaching at the head, heart and hands The ultimate goal of teaching is to make disciples of Jesus Summary

How do you make this holistic teaching (head, heart, hands) a reality in your context? What can you do to help improve making disciples of Jesus in your church and in your community? In what dimension of teaching are you the weakest and what can you do to improve it? Challenge

3 ”His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4