There are two different ways that we can approach our teaching opportunities with our students. One, we can go week to week, hopping from subject to subject. Or two, we can set out a plan for the semester, the upcoming year, or even several years in advance. Many will say that planning too far in advance eliminates the Holy Spirit from the work, but I would argue that the Holy Spirit can be just as much a part of the planning process as when we prepare week by week.
Planning ahead for your teaching can be of great value in your ministry. It produces less stress since you don’t have to spend hours simply selecting your topic. It allows for greater alignment with the different ministries of the church. It can also give you the ability to share in advance with your parents what you will be covering. It is important, as we open up the Word of God to our students, that we plan in advance.
However, how do we navigate those waters, especially if planning ahead doesn’t come easily to us?
• Talk with your lead pastor. What direction is he taking in the fall with his teaching? Is there a direction that he would like you to head? Communication with your lead pastor is vital in many areas, but especially in the area of the Word. It might be easy to say that he doesn’t know the needs of your teenagers. However, that might need to be a part of the conversation. It is important to remember that student ministry is a part of the church’s ministry not an end unto itself.
• Keep it biblical. When I share this, people respond with, “That’s obvious. I wouldn’t teach anything else.” Sometimes we can make our lessons or messages focus on the wrong things. Our goal should be to rightly divide the world of Truth. That means sharing directly from God’s Word. Avoid only topical messages. There are moments when they serve their purpose, but digging into God’s Word should be our primary goal.
• Communicate with your adult volunteer team. They may see a need that you are missing. As they interact with the students, they may uncover something that you are missing in your interactions. As we plan, it is essential to consider both our students and the content we are teaching. Spending time with our volunteers can be extremely enlightening. While we want our students to be open with us, they may still hide things from us.
• Consider a multi-year plan. The students who are connected to your church may be in the student ministry from 6th to 12th grade. It is important to head in a specific direction with your students. It can be a 7-year or 4-year plan. The idea is to think about the important things that you want them to know, and what books of the Bible you want to cover. In previous churches, I have had a 7-year plan that took us through the New Testament.
• Remember that having a plan doesn’t mean that you ignore the Holy Spirit as you walk through the school year. As student ministry workers, there are times when we must set aside our plan and speak to the world that our students are facing. Any number of things can cause the shift. We must recognize what is happening in the lives of our students and sometimes step away from the plan.
Planning your teaching is perhaps one of the most important things that you can do. The local church has hired or appointed student ministry workers to pour God’s Word into their students. Spend time praying for direction and trust that God will guide you in the right way.
