The curricula that is on the market presently, be it for small group or large group, seems to be all inclusive.  There are printed materials, videos, object lesson ideas, game ideas, hands on ideas, group ideas and so much more.  It seems that there may be nothing to do but to purchase and teach!

However, there are several things that you cannot put in a box or download to a computer when it comes to effective teaching.  First, there is no company that can know your kids.  Only you as the teacher or leader can know the hearts of your children, their learning levels, and possibly their home life and family situations.  That is something that you as the teacher can use to help set the tone for your classroom and teach more effectively. 

Secondly, you cannot package the power of prayer.  Every week, I spend time in prayer for the children that will be under my ministry and those of the teachers in preschool, kinder-first, and elementary.   The subject matter of those prayers includes the child, their homes and their desire to be at church.  I also pray that every child will come with an open heart and ready to receive the Word of God.   I pray for the presentation of the Word of God to these children and the effectiveness of a lesson well taught.  Every component of the lesson and activities should point to the righteous Father, Jesus our Savior and the divine works of the Holy Spirit.  Children may not be able to understand all there is about a covering of preparatory prayer but it makes a huge difference in the outcome of the lesson or service.

And thirdly, maybe most importantly, we cannot buy or purchase, the power of the Holy Spirit.  What does the Holy Spirit want to do in our classroom?  What will the blessings of ushering the Holy Spirit into our lesson and preparation mean to the children that attend our class?  Each week, I ask my teachers to be present in their classrooms at least 15 minutes ahead of time to anoint each chair and to invite the Holy Spirit’s presence into the room.   The Holy Spirit can do things that you and I cannot and if given a chance, the Holy Spirit will bring the peace and joy into a room to help provide the best learning experience for children.  It is the Holy Spirit’s job to help both children and adults know God through the scripture.  The Holy Spirit can reveal much more than you and I, even though we put much effort into making our classes great.   1 Corinthians 2: 12-13 says, “ What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught to us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”   

The greatest outcome of a lesson well taught and Spirit led is that it will be lived out in the lives of our children. If our lessons are planned for the specific children in our classrooms, coated with prayer throughout the week, and anointed by the Holy Spirit, there will be continuance of the Word.  In other words, the spoken Word will be shared by our young listeners.  The Bible says  “the Word of God will not return void.”  You know you have done a good job in teaching, when your words are repeated to other children by those that were in your classroom. 

Preparation in prayer and through the Holy Spirit is key. Be that teacher who makes a difference and sets a sure foundation of understanding God’s Word that will be used for a lifetime!