Adult Sunday School Teacher Evaluation, Part 2

James 3:1 (NIV) says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” So judgment is based on content, right? Yes and no! We want to make sure our teaching is correct. We want to use God’s Word in the right way. Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Ti 3:16-17, NIV). Use His Word for life-change!

But serving as an adult Sunday School teacher is more than a deliverer of content. Your example speaks more loudly than your words. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a life is worth a million. Your life reinforces your teaching or destroys it. I like what Randy Fields stated when he said, “the leader is the lesson.” So in addition to content, judgment is based on your life and example.

If you want those you teach to live the truth, they need to see you living it. A revolutionary teacher is aware of the potential lesson of his/her life, and he/she chooses to use it for God. Thus, teaching through life and example is expressed in intentional leadership of individuals as well as the class. Leadership by shepherd-stewards (teachers) is prayerfully taking sheep where they need to go.

What does example have to do with teacher evaluation? A teacher not only needs 360 degree feedback about the Sunday morning experience but also about the teacher’s example and leadership. The two broad questions to ask after ever class session are appropriate to ask in evaluation of example and leadership: (1) what went well and (2) what should I do differently next time? Of the hundreds of potential questions, here are a few specific questions to pose about the teacher’s example and leadership (use a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being great):

1. Do I spend time regularly with God in Bible study and prayer?
2. Is there anything in my life that would not be pleasing to God or that might cause my brother to stumble?Have I confessed my sins to God and sought forgiveness from those I have sinned against/hurt?
3. Am I giving God my best effort as Sunday School teacher to lead the sheep He has entrusted to me? Have I assembled a class leadership team which regularly evaluates, sets goals, plans, and leads our work?
4. Do I regularly fellowship individually and as a group with class members and guests in an effort to strengthen relationships, trust, and teaching effectiveness?
5. Do I regularly invite and enroll guests and lead in participating in class outreach efforts? Do I challenge them to fill the open chair?
6. Am I leading the Christians in my class (including myself) to be like Jesus, grow in the fruit of the Spirit, become disciples and disciplers, grow as leaders, and find a place of ministry/service? Am I leading the lost in my class to consider Jesus?
7. Am I leading my class to grow and preparing them to birth a new class? Am I training an apprentice teacher to prepare for that time?
8. Have I ensured that the class does a great job of greeting members and guests; caring for the needs of atte nders; and making sure that new and long-term members are fully assimilated?
9. Do I participate regularly in training opportunities seeking each time to strengthen my effectiveness through making needed changes and adjustments?
10. Do you support your church, pastor, staff, and church leaders with your words, involvement, and stewardship?

God deserves your best efforts. Your example and leadership are important. Like I said in the previous entry, pray. Prepare well. Don’t fear evaluation; seek it. Plan to be revolutionary!