How We Teach

Well, it has been a long hiatus.  I sometimes forget that this page exists as all the other demands of world and work clamor for attention.

Today, I've been thinking about what and how we are actually teaching the faith.  So, here's my first dip.  I think we basically teach in three ways.  1) We teach something, 2) We teach how to find something, or 3) We teach how to think about something.

So, take the 10 Commandments for example.

We can either teach the commandments, teach them well, and teach them regularly so that when a kid leaves our church, she really knows the commandments.

Or, we can teach her where to find them.  "This is the Small Catechism.  Martin Luther wrote it; he wrote it for such-and-such a purpose."  "Here is where to find the commandments in Scripture." Etc...

Or, finally (and maybe most common?) we can teach her how to think about the commandments.  "The 4th Commandment is that you shall honor your father and your mother.  How does that commandment change with you over the course of your life?  What do the commandments do for you and how do they matter in your life today?"

What job do we perform most admirably?  Least admirably?  Where should we focus our attention in the future?  I have a communion class coming up tomorrow morning.  Hmm...