Teaching Preschoolers

Today was an interesting day for me.

For the first time EVER I taught the Bible classes for our preschool.

I have been privileged to teach and speak in front of hundreds of people. I’ve spoken in chapels and for youth events. I love to preach when given the opportunity and relish the chance to share with others what God has put on my heart. None of this mattered today.

I have never felt so inadequate or intimidated in all my life!

I tried to play it cool all morning but I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed. When that first class of fifteen or so 4yr olds came into the classroom my palms began to sweat. I knew i was in over my head.

There they were looking at me- staring deep into my soul- waiting for me to teach. Could they smell fear? Could they suspect that I was afraid?

Then we sang “Jesus Loves Me”. Then we sang “This Little Light of Mine”. Then we marched in “The Lord’s Army”. “Ok, this is good.” I thought.

We talked about Jesus (a good place to start) and about the Bible. We sang some more. We talked about “Good Decisions” vs ‘Bad Decisions” and we finished with a prayer.

Next thing I knew I had been through 5 or 6 classes and my day was over.

Teaching today I couldn’t help but think about teaching my own son. As I think about spiritual development and what it means to teach the next generation about faith in Jesus I always come back to Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

I had to redefine my expectations as a Bible teacher today. I was out of my element. I’m not sure how to teach little ones like I teach teens. I don’t know how to target their developmental needs.

But I was successful today in teaching.

I spent time with these children impressing a love for God and an understanding of Jesus on their hearts. I prayed over them and sang songs with them. Together we talked about loving God with their whole beings. We did this while some of them sat on the floor. While some were laying down. While others were walking along the side of the classroom. Kidding… sort of.

Today was a good day.