One of the things the modern church seems to have lost is accountability. We aren’t spending enough time with each other to have any idea whether or not someone is struggling spiritually and when we do find out, often little is done to attempt to hold the personal accountable. But it goes beyond that. Often someone preaches a great sermon or teaches a wonderful class – on a “big idea” level. Unfortunately, it’s wasted on many, because they have no clue how to take those big ideas and actually put them into practice in their own lives. This is especially true for kids and teens.
There is one question that can help you, as the teacher, and your students overcome these accountability issues. At the end of every class, ask “What is one thing you are going to do this week because of something you learned in the lesson today?” Encourage everyone to answer. You may want to have them write it on sticky notes before saying their answer, to encourage each of them to really think about how they need to answer the question, instead of just copying everyone else.
Talk about the answers. Did they understand the points you were trying to make in the lesson? Do they understand what God wants them to learn and do because of those scriptures? Can they think of more than one way God’s command or principle applies to their every day lives? Can they analyze their current beliefs, attitudes and behaviors and see where they differ from what God wants? Are they willing to make changes in their lives to obey God?
Encourage students to take their responses home and place them where they can see them. Spend a few minutes the beginning of each class to talk about the answers they wrote down at the end of the previous class. What challenges or problems did they face making those changes? What strategies can help them use what they learn in class in their lives? What encouragement do they need to keep trying?
We may not be able to bring the accountability back to church as it was in the first century, but you can add a bit to your Bible classes for your students.