Page 30 - Teaching Principles and Methods Student Textbook short

Study Section 6: Jesus’ Methods in Teaching

6.1 Connect

A good teacher has something to say (content) and then must deliver what he has to say
to the students in a way they will receive it. Jesus was a master at delivery. He selected
various methods depending on each situation and delivered his messages with power
that shocked or confounded his audience. He could deliver Words from God that would
penetrate the soul. Why not learn from Him. He was the world’s all-time best teacher, so
we can copy what He did to obtain similar results. Today we are going to look at ways Jesus delivered
His messages to hungry people in need of hearing Him.

6.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to demonstrate that Jesus employed the use of lecture with
larger groups.

2. The student should be able to validate that Jesus used questions and answers more than
any other method to bring His messages to bear on the hearts of his listeners.

3. The student should be able to describe how illustrations and storytelling can be a strong asset to a
teacher.

6.3 Jesus’ Methods in Teaching

Jesus employed three major methods in his teaching style. Let’s look at them and see why
they were his primary methods utilized.

Lecture

Three major discourses that Jesus presented to various groups of people are recorded in the Gospels:
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) and the Upper Room
Discourse to his disciples (John 13-17). In all three discourses, Jesus stood up before the group and
verbally shared with them information that they needed to know. As the teacher, he talked and the
group listened.

This is the principle method used by most teachers in giving information to their
class today. It is called the lecture method. It is fast, efficient, and an excellent
way to present information, but is only effective if the learners are able to
assimilate the information at the rate and level it is coming to them. Later in
this study, we will look at the pros and cons of various methods of
presentations, including the lecture method. But it is good to know that the
master teacher used this method effectively.

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