It takes a special kind of person to be an effective Sunday school teacher. Sunday school teachers must have a deep love for God and know the Bible well. They must also have a love for children and a passion for spreading seeds of God’s word to those children. Most churches have difficulty recruiting people to become Sunday school teachers, but almost anyone with a desire can learn how to take on this role and be effective.
Have a relationship with Jesus. In order to effectively teach children about God, you must possess a relationship with him. Understand what the Bible says and be fervent in your prayer life and daily walk with God.
Display good character traits. As a Sunday school teacher, you automatically inherit the position of being a role model. The children will often model themselves after you, which means you should live your life in a modest, humble, God-honoring way. You should also be a caring, loving and good listener.
Understand the objectives of the class. There are different objectives based on the age level of the students. For younger students, one primary objective may be to build strong relationships with the students and work with them to strengthen their relationships with their parents. For older students, instill practical advice regarding the pressures of being a teen. The age of the students also dictates how a teacher should handle keeping the class's attention. Teaching teens requires more preparation than teaching younger children.
Prepare your lessons. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin preparing your Sunday school lessons. Some churches have curricula for teachers and others let teachers choose their own lessons. It is important to begin looking at the lesson early in the week. Pray about the lesson and ask God to guide you in teaching it. Be prepared to answer questions and be able to thoroughly explain the subject of the lesson.
Teach creatively. Instead of just reading a Bible story, introduce the story through a skit or play that the students act out. Bring in props or items that relate to the subject and try teaching it in a way that is both interesting and clear.
End the lesson with a call for action. At the end of each lesson, ask the children to do something. For example, ask them to pray for a person, perform an act of kindness or memorize a Bible passage.