Lesson 1: The Law of the Teacher

Approach

Read the following statements

1. “In search for good teachers, I always look for FAT people – those who are Faithful, Available, and Teachable” (p.20)

2. “…effective teaching comes only through a changed person. The more you change, the more you become an instrument of change in the lives of others. If you want to become a change agent, you also must change” (p.21)

3. “The two factors that will influence you the most in the years ahead are the books you read and the people you’re around” (p.27)

4. “Experience does not necessarily make you better; in fact it tends to make you worse, unless it’s evaluated experience. The good teacher’s greatest threat is satisfaction – the failure to keep asking, ‘How can I improve?’” (p.55)

Analysis

1. What are some thoughts you have regarding the above statements?

2. What would you say are some of the most important ways you’ve grown in your beliefs about and attitudes toward teaching?

3. How do you think a person’s spiritual development is affected by his or her growth – or lack of growth – in each of these four areas: physical, intellectual, social, emotional? Are any of these more important that the others? Why?

4. If people cannot develop spiritually unless they develop in the physical, intellectual, social and emotional dimensions of life, in what ways can we facilitate growth in these crucial areas? Brainstorm on these four dimensions, creating a list of practical ways you can stimulate growth in each of these arenas of life.

Application

The unexamined life is not worth living. Nor does the unexamined life produce meaningful growth. For change to take place, it necessitates being intentional about crucial dimensions of our lives.
Fill in the following charts, listing one to three of your strengths and weaknesses on each of these areas.

PLAN OF ACTION

Write down a plan of action on how to improve in one of these four areas over the next thirty days. Commit to it and have an accountable person(s) to help you progress in working your plans over the next month

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