Wright Track Ministries

6675 Moondance Drive

Olive Branch, MS 38654

(662) 890-6398

WTVU Teaching Lesson 1

Prayer the teacher's not so Secret Weapon

Lesson Objectives:

1. Demonstrate through Scripture that prayer is an essential element in lesson preparation and in the Christian life. 

2. Introduce the student to the Biblical concept that there are truths are spiritually discerned and cannot be truly taught or understood without the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is an absolutely essential element of lesson preparation. The Bible contains truths that can only be understood by the regenerated mind. These truths were authored by the Holy Spirit and He is there to work with you in the class to drive the truths of the Bible home to your students. Start your planning and strategizing with prayer. It is the Holy Spirit that can bring conviction of sin and convince people of righteousness. He is in the class with you and is the best co-teacher you could possibly have!

• The first example from scripture is that of Jesus. It should be enough to say if Jesus prayed on a regular basis, then so should we.

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." Luke 6:12-13.

• The disciples had a prayer life as they went about teaching the Word of God.

"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4

•  The apostle Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be constantly in prayer. 

" And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" Ephesians 6:17-18.

• Study the following scriptures. Take note of the subject of carnal versus spiritual. The Bible speaks strongly and clearly of the utter other-worldliness of the truth of the Bible. It is through prayer that the Teacher can keep spiritually fit and in touch with the Author of the material. 

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

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1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

You have got to have a real living relationship with Jesus Christ!

Assignment

Write a two or three paragraph essay for the following questions.

1. Read Romans 8:6-16 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Why is it important for a teacher to have a prayer life and what impact would this have on a teacher's preparation of a lesson.

2. Read John 16:7-13. This is what Jesus said that the work of the Holy Spirit in the world would be. How could this have an impact on a Sunday School class? How can a teachers be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit concerning  their classes?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 2:13-14. Why do people in the world have such a hard time understanding the truth of the Gospel when to a mature Christian they seem so easy to understand? 

4. Multiple Choice: A teacher who ignores what Jesus said in John 15:4-5 is:

1.   Fooling himself.

2.   Going to end up a liberal.

3.   Not going to be an effective teacher.

4.   Probably going teach his opinions over the Bible's truths.

5.   Not going to disciple others or win souls.

6.   All the above.