How to Teach a College-Level Sunday School Class
If you have ever taught a Sunday School class for young adults, you probably know the challenges involved. College-age adults are often at a transition point in their spiritual lives, the result of which can be a lasting decision about values, priorities and faith. As a teacher, you should be prepared to answer difficult questions honestly, share from your own experience of faith and provide intellectually credible resources for studying the documents and traditions of the church.
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Instructions
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Research the topic thoroughly, using up-to-date resources. Many consider the Anchor Bible Dictionary and the New Interpreter's Dictionary as standards for general use in the field of biblical scholarship. Be prepared to direct class members to books and articles that are suitable for their age and level of interest.
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Begin the class with a prayer and welcome new members. Try to use the introduction to make the space as inviting as possible, to encourage open-minded and honest discussion, and also to explain to newcomers any information about the community that is germane and not immediately obvious. For example, if the class is about liturgical reform, have a brief overview of why that topic is important to consider for your community.
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Lead the class in a discussion of the topic for which you have prepared. Balance new information with invitations to class members to comment and ask questions. Keep the discussion concrete by contextualizing information that is of a specialized nature, such as references to biblical languages or theological terminology, and drawing connections to everyday life.
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Conclude the information portion of the discussion and invite class members to apply what they have learned to their own experience of faith. This part of the class can focus on personal experience, community life or discernment. It also may be helpful to invoke the Christian virtues of faith, hope and love, and ask the class members to consider the discussion topic in light of each of them. End the class with a prayer, inviting class members to add their own prayers and intentions.
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References
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