HOME   WHY CO-TEACH?       Teacher     Training   Discipleship   Encouraging     Lay-Participation   Strengthening     Believers   Quality     Teaching   RESOURCES       Books (and     Other Materials)   Personal     Consultations   Seminars Psalm 2:1-3 1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles." Ephesians 4:12-14 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

STRENGTHENING BELIEVERS Christians need to be strengthened in their walks with God.  Psalm 1 speaks of this need, and of the role that the scriptures play. 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,  2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.  3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers. By recruiting a member (or members) of a Sunday school class or Small group Bible study to assist in the teaching (even if it’s only on occasion) you will have an opportunity to meet with them and train them in how to study the word of God.  You can show them how to look for eight different things in the passage. Things that are True (facts, doctrines) Things that you Do (practical applications) Things that are Fuzzy (unclear items where interpretation is needed) Fixes (how good doctrine / practice can correct wrong thinking / doing) God (as God’s presence does not stand out in many passages) Motives (why people do what they do, be it right or wrong) Links (Cause/Effect – connect the dots between doctrine, practice, motives, consequences, etc...) Discernment (Identify extremes, the other side, alternatives, etc...) This training will help them in their own personal devotions as well as leading family devotions. YOUTH Many teenagers are still in the process of deciding if church (or even God) is important to them.  When they get to college they will encounter professors whose goal (as they see it) is to liberate young minds from the shackles of religion  (See Psalm 2:1-3).  These professors will engage in trickery and deceit to achieve their goals – and only the spiritually mature will be able to withstand their attacks (see Eph. 4:14). But what happens when a teenager is invited to participate in a ministry that is normally reserved for adults – such as being a teaching assistant in a children's Sunday school class?  They will study the word of God along side of the lead teacher.  They will discover the practical value of biblical wisdom.  They will openly speak of God and their relationship with Him as they teach the younger children.   They will own the message.  They will become "prepared for service" which (according to Eph. 4:12-14) is the foundation of spiritual maturity and the rock solid faith that is needed to withstand the attacks of the college professors. Co-teaching is a great way to strengthen anyone in their faith and their understanding of God's word regardless of their physical age.  But the need to reach teens is critical today, for we are seeing young people abandon the church at an alarming rate.