1. KNOW THE CALL OF GOD. If He has called you to be a teacher, He will supply what you need so you can glorify Him.
a. Do you like what you do? Not all the time perhaps, but most of the time. Even Jesus got exasperated with the disciples. In Matt. 17:17 He was addressing THEM, not the dad!
b. Have you experienced satisfaction/’success’? (Recognize that that is God speaking.)
c. Has your ‘ministry’ been recognized by others? (Yes, that school district offered YOU the position- AND rehired you!! AND your student(s) send you “flowers.”)
d. Do you sense God’s pleasure when you ‘run’? (Echoes of Eric Liddle.)
2. RECOGNIZE THE “IMAGE OF GOD” IN EACH STUDENT AND TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD TREAT HIM.
a. Respect- as a suitable ‘substitute’ for reverence.
b. Love - “Doing what is best for another no matter what the cost.”
c. Look for ways to motivate- as God does to us. But . . .
d. Be gracious. Invite, do not force. We love under ‘grace’, not ‘law.’ The law IS (sic) a schoolmaster- and grades have a way of laying before us the serious consequences of our actions, but recognize that The Law never ‘saved’ anyone- never turned them into a ‘good student.’ All it can do is lead them to see the consequences, and show them the way to “Christ”- maturity. Grace/God allows those made in His image the freedom to choose- even if that means choosing failure (hell).
3. RECOGNIZE EACH INDIVIDUAL AS A PERSON.
a. As God recognizes us as individuals. Yes, you teach a ‘class’- a collection of people, and they must respond to you. You are not a private tutor.
b. Yet there are some who require ‘tutoring.’ Look for ways to motivate those individual individuals. Some may need such treatment all the time; some may need it only now and then. Some “get with the program” and others need more help to do so. But recognize that each person has the right to choose success or failure, and as much as you are able, ‘help’ them choose success.
4. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
If the class generally is doing well, you’re doing well. Don’t blow the ‘failure’ of a minority out of proportion. Yes, God “is not willing for any to perish...”, but I’m reminded of something attributed to C. S. Lewis: “There are those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done;’ and there are those to whom God says, ‘Alright, have it your way’.” Even God’s ‘children’ (Adam and Eve) turned away from Him despite a sinless, perfect environment, and the depth of relationship He had with them. But He didn’t give up on them.
5. PRAY FOR THE CLASS, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
God knows them better than you ever will. Let Him guide your relationship (key word in response to BOTH blog entries!!), and provide wisdom. Prov. 3:5-6 works for the classroom as well as life. After all, if God has called you to teaching (Point #1) it is HIS responsibility- we are His FELLOWworkers. “GOD” IS (sic) a relationship- a Trinity.
6. Specifically to this blog posting: “God” IS (sic) a reality. DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF HIM. Acknowledge Him as a matter of course. Obviously, you can’t start your class in prayer. PUBLICALLY. But you can privately- even with a “Help me!” (Think of Peter walking on the water!). You can also refer to Him or His works as part of normal conversation. Prov. 3:5-6 again. DO NOT FEAR MAN. No one can make “School” a God-Free zone. Be respectful to those in authority (Rom. 13!), and sensitive to The Situation (Matt. 7:6).
7. In both spiritual and vocational senses: DON’T GROW WEARY IN WELL-DOING (Gal. 6:9, I Cor. 15:57). You’re experiencing “sophomore slump.” Some call it “Death of the Vision.” It is normal.