Confession: The number of grandparents who compliment me on my stage presence and teaching style is disturbing.
Confession: I actually enjoy the nerdy process of helping students make sense of the Bible.For as long as I can remember, I’ve had the raw ability to speak into the lives of others in positive ways. Fortunately, I had exceptionally patient teachers and mentors who guided me toward using communication for the Lord and in ministry to a younger generation. Yet somewhere in my transition from rookie to veteran youth worker, I had a growing sense that the greatest teachers of our time are not the speakers who amaze the crowds week after week. I’ve come to understand the most talented teachers are those who step away from the mic to allow others to speak. I’ve learned that some of the best teachers for our students are the ones who already are serving in the ministry.
To be honest, crisis became a catalyst for me to search out new teaching models. As the initial chaos subsided, I stood at an important decision point. Would I give a quick “Thanks for your help,” and take over all the teaching? After all, that’s what I was hired to do, right? Or would I engage the development of a multi-voiced approach to large group teaching that was right in front of me. Seven years later, I am so glad I chose team teaching.
Why Team Teaching?
Team teaching originates from a deeply theological place. It begins with the outrageous generosity of the Holy Spirit to entrust spiritual gifts and abilities to God’s people beyond age, gender, status and swag. In response, ministry leaders are responsible for stewarding and developing our own gifts, as well as the gifts of every student and volunteer in our scope of influence. The problem with the gifts involving communication is that for many ministry settings there is only one podium and one professional. Team teaching rails against that assumption. Is it possible the sweaty seventh grade boy with a fascination for card tricks has something to teach his peers? Without a doubt, yes! How about the volunteer with a passion for ancient Roman architecture and constellations? Maybe so. The senior girl who sees the world through a camera lens? Her, too! We just need the eyes to see these people are just as valuable communicators as we are, and we need the courage to encourage them to use these gifts for maximum kingdom impact.
In addition, we must pass the mic because variety wins (most of the time). Recently, a volunteer leader taught our high schoolers about God’s purpose for struggle in our lives by using the illustration of an African earthworm. Another member of the team organized a live poll for students to text in responses to questions about sex, drinking and self-hate. Just a few weeks later, a student leader stood up to share about God’s heart on swimsuit modesty. These were all powerful moments of teaching that never would have happened if I hadn’t stepped out of the spotlight.
Team teaching reinforces God’s kingdom, not our kingdom. Our idol-making hearts love to align more with Christian teachers and authors than the Messiah of their message. I see this in social media, name-dropping debates and in the mirror. We search the earth for a human voice to speak for us (or how we’d like to see ourselves). There are many—too many—voices that seem to speak for Christ but in reality are amassing a man-centered following. This is happening on large conference stages, as well as in youth rooms. Team teaching short-circuits all this by laying the groundwork for a shared approach that will stand the test of time.
Four Ideas for Teaching with a Team
Today, I have a teaching team of nearly 20 different individuals. As I write that, I am reminded the team-teaching model doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with humility and discernment and is sustained with diligence. On the face of it, team teaching appears to be a random and up-for-grabs approach, but it isn’t. Organizing team teaching always has required me to work smarter. It forces me to plan Scripture passages and themes, line up speakers in advance, and for me to be available to help teachers in their preparation.
In discernment, we need to be careful about who we invite to teach. I use the slow-and-steady approach of building a group of gifted or emerging teachers. I don’t stand up front, asking, “Who wants to teach for the next eight weeks?” I’m also not asking people to be part of an exclusive teaching club. I simply give new opportunities, have greater awareness of what the different strengths are around me, and plan the teaching schedule accordingly.
I have navigated four different formats of team teaching. It’s important to note that all of these lend themselves to large group teaching, but I also have seen youth leaders adapt these formats for small groups, Bible studies and Sunday School.
The Series
In a context of a multi-week series, the primary teacher changes every week. For example, our ministry recently did a series called “Coffee with the Nazarene” and a different student leader taught every week on the advice Christ would give us on various topics that high schoolers face. In this format, the youth leader plans behind the scenes to ensure each teacher knows his or her topic or Scripture and how it fits into the entire series. In addition, the point leader serves as a host to tie the series together from the front, introduce the speaker, and transitions into the next program element. This setup works really well for ministries that have a handful of teachers who can prepare and deliver without a ton of assistance.
The Handoff
Most teachers have to think through preparing an introduction, dissecting a passage of Scripture, providing an application followed by a conclusion. What if you considered adding new voices to each of those different elements: one person focusing on an attention getter; another teaching the Bible; and a third delivering application points? This will require extra communication between the different people involved to be sure the handoff is smooth and that it will make sense to the audience. I don’t think this format is sustainable week to week, but it could be very powerful for a standalone ministry night or special event. The teaching team might consider how prayer, music or videos can help smooth the handoff from one teacher to the next.
The Panel
I utilize a panel-approach to teaching mostly for nights when we focus on finding answers to faith questions. As the point person, I assemble a team of four to five people to answer a handful of questions in front of an audience. Through the years, I have learned a few things about doing this well. Putting together a panel comprised of two older students, one trusted Bible-savvy adult, and one or two practical-application thinkers is very helpful for ensuring this goes well. I also have found it best to collect questions ahead of time and assign them to different people on the panel based on their strengths. This is not to say other people can’t chime in or add to an answer. In this arrangement, my role simply is to facilitate a planned conversation and resist the urge to be the know-it-all youth pastor. However, as facilitator I still have the freedom to give input or redirect if needed. Recently, we had a parent and student event to tackle the cultural phenomenon of sexting. We used a panel consisting of an author, a police officer who has worked in our local schools, and a volunteer who’s passionate about ministering to parents. Several students of all ages, genders and spiritual maturity commented about how the style of presentation was helpful for them in holding their attention, and they enjoyed learning from a variety of people.
The Soundboard
Similar to how a husband benefits from greater perspective from his wife or the advantage of getting insight from a friend, the soundboard approach celebrates the value of additional input and unfiltered response. This approach involves a shorter teaching from the primary teacher with extra time for a preselected group to speak into a topic or Scripture in real time before an audience. It could serve as a great on-ramp to developing students to get comfortable with teaching in the future. The youth leader will have to work hard to bring thoughts to a close or take the opportunity to send students into the week pondering more questions.
What volunteer is waiting for his or her chance to teach the Bible? How will you cultivate the spiritual gifts of the next generation to champion God’s truth and expand the reach of His church? Passing the mic easily is one of the most unnatural, difficult and ridiculous things a ministry leader would do. Yet I also find it to be one of the most remarkable things we do.
Lord, find us faithful in stepping out of the spotlight!
Jeff Tillson is husband to Cori and father of four. He is a Fuller Seminary graduate and serves as lead youth pastor of Grace Fellowship UMC in Katy, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @JeffTillson.
