Does your Bible classroom have the dreaded
"Classroom Cobwebs?" What is that, you ask? By definition,
cobwebs are spider webs, which are usually old and covered with dust. Finding
that there are at least two types of Classroom Cobwebs, neither one is beneficial
to students, Bible teachers, or the cause of Christ. Words of encouragement are
offered here for you to consider.
The first type of Classroom Cobweb is the physical cobweb that one finds in a room that has seen little use for some time. There are many reasons why the cobwebs are present, but perhaps the most common reason is that there are no children or students to teach. One might understand the dilemma of this problem; yet, the Bible teacher should always continue to strive to have their Bible classroom in order “just in case” of the traveling visitor, occasional grandchild, or curious neighbor.
It only takes a few minutes to make sure that
there are no cobwebs, dust, or ‘critters’ in the seldom used Bible classroom.
Take time to clean a bit, make sure the room is inviting and is equipped with
the necessities of a good Bible lesson. There is no reason why a lesson cannot
be ready at a minute’s notice if there is preparation and a Bible teacher who
has a mind to work!
The second type of Classroom Cobweb is one that
is not physical, but completely mental. At times a Bible teacher is overwhelmed
with daily tasks, much like Martha in Luke 10:38-42, and finds little time to prepare
for the week’s Bible lesson. The teacher may find that it is much easier and convenient
to show a video and provide a coloring page for the students. A word of
caution: easy and convenient does not always provide an excellent Bible
teaching program.
Nothing takes the place of the Bible teacher
knowing, understanding, and communicating what they have studied from the Bible
directly to the students. Promoting class participation in the form of
questions, reciting Bible verses, preparing a good visual aid, or providing a
hands-on, take-home activity will do nothing but make strong Bible students who
know their Bible.
So, take a good, objective view of your Bible
classroom. Look around! Do you see a dusty old cobweb in the corner? Are you
prepared for an unexpected Bible student? Are there Bibles on a clean table?
Are there dirt-free chairs tucked in under the table? Are there pencils and
paper available? Is the Bible teacher ready at a moment’s notice to teach a
young one?
Yes, cobwebs are telling and they tell just how
much the Bible teacher has prepared for the next lesson! “Where there is no
vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18). Let’s clean out those Classroom
Cobwebs!