Students’ lack of study is one of the top complaints among Bible class teachers. It’s a real problem, but one with a simple solution. The key is to examine the symptoms in order to diagnose the cause (just like a good physician would). Once you determine the cause of Bible study apathy, you can better motivate your students.
For example, the times I’ve really gotten into my studies were when I had a “burning” reason for doing so. When Jessica and I faced decisions about our future, I really wanted to make sure I knew what the Bible said about making decisions. Whenever I have a question about something, I’m motivated out of curiosity…not out of being told to study.
Your motivation usually works the same way: You study for well-defined reasons. It’s not something “magic” that “just happens.” You study more in depth when you have a purpose for doing so, or when you’ve been put “on the spot” (e.g. teaching a Bible class, answering your kids’ questions, etc).
With this in mind, it’s easy to motivate your students. All you have to do is create a “need to know” in their lives. Yes. Create a need.
How does a Bible class leader do that?
Here are 4 ways to motivate your students through a “need to know.”
Motivate Your Students: 4 Ways to Create a Need
1. Ask Thought-Provoking, Challenging Questions
Have you ever considered how shallow many adult Bible class questions are? Here are just a few:
- Where is our lesson today?
- What is the subject of our lesson today?
- Who can tell me what this chapter is about?
None of these questions require much study, let alone demand it. A couple of these questions require some study, but ultimately, not much. Adults have been treated like children for too long, It’s no wonder many are still drinking milk, and it’s no wonder this problem is as old as the Bible itself (Hebrews 5:13-14).
Here’s a different question…one with a challenge built into it…from Matthew 18:15-17.
Would the process Jesus taught in this context work if we tried it today in our American society?
This question assumes your class has studied enough to know where the lesson is and what it’s about. It bypasses the “gimme questions” (above) and starts right at critical thinking. Through it, your students realize they should’ve considered the life application already, and that they should’ve been ready to defend their conclusion.
Questions like this seem casual on the surface. Yet, they indirectly communicate, “Study before class.” I firmly believe that students’ lack of study is due more to the teacher than to the student.
2. Give Your Class the Opportunity to Speak
God instilled within your students the need to be heard. They want to express what’s inside them. You need to give them the opportunity to speak in class. Don’t believe me?
Imagine yourself walking into the church building this Sunday, making your way to the class, and then stopped at the door by the Bible class teacher. He says, “Sorry bub/miss, but in order to join this class you have to agree to keep your mouth shut.”
Or, imagine yourself walking into the church building, fully prepared to teach a stellar Bible class. You’ve spent hours combing through good Bible study tools and studying through free online Bible study websites, only to be told by the class, “Hey dude, we’re going to watch this Bible documentary on DVD. We don’t need you to teach class today.”
Now…imagine that happening every week, for the rest of your life.
If you give your students no opportunity to share the results of their hard work, what reason do they have to study any further?
Teachers, again, are primarily to blame for students who don’t study. You won’t motivate your students if you’re a teacher who continually lectures, dominates the conversation, or just plain asks elementary-level questions.
Students become neighborhood ponds…they receive, but never give.
3. Make Advance Assignments for Your Class
First off, notice this doesn’t say “make advanced assignments.” It says “make advance assignments.” This third point is not about making challenging assignments (see point one), but about giving challenges before you address them. This assumes you hold discussion classes (rather than lecture classes).
Advance assignments are the key to better group discussions, and are what distinctly separates discussions from lectures.
Students can sit unprepared through a lecture because the burden is all on the teacher. In discussions, the burden is placed on each student to contribute to a better conversation. They’ll soon discover, whether through their own lack of input or someone else’s, that their lack of study really holds the class at a disadvantage.
Embarrassment and/or the need to impress are among the most powerful ways you can motivate your students.
4. Expect Your Students to Talk in Class
You, the class teacher and leader, set the tone for Bible class. If you want it to flow freely, it usually does. If you have reasons for not encouraging the class to talk, you will inadvertently limit the discussion.
The flip side of this point teaches, “Let go of your ego.”
One of the best things you can do as a teacher to motivate your students is to examine the psychology of your classroom.
Objectively.
And honestly.
The more you speak, the more the class becomes dependent upon you. But unfortunately, many teachers teach for that very reason. There is much ego satisfaction teachers get by being “the hero” or “the star” of the Bible class topic or passage.
If you’ve become accustomed to the “status” of THE TEACHER, you’re probably subconsciously limiting how much the class is motivated to speak. The less they speak, the less motivated they are to study.
The key here is to make them the hero. Let them step into the role of discoverer. Motivate your students by leading them to the point so that they’re motivated to continually discover truth “for themselves.”
Conclusion
What’s true with horse jockeys is true with Bible class teachers: All it takes to motivate your students is a swift whack near the “needs.” You can motivate your students to study by intersecting their most pressing concerns with strategic questions, expectations, and opportunities.
Discussion Question: What drives you to study your Bible the most and how can you apply that to your students?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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