A New Season, a New Opportunity: Rethinking Teacher Encouragement and Support

A New Season Brings New Possibilities

As your new church year begins, you're likely checking calendars, finalizing rosters, and updating curriculum plans. As someone who leads adult discipleship and Sunday School ministries, this season may feel like both an ending and a beginning all at once. You're celebrating the faithfulness of those who served this past year while preparing to train new leaders and re-energize the ones already on your team.

Now is of course the perfect time to take a breath and ask yourself: What if you did more than assign literature and schedule a training meeting? What if you saw this moment as an opportunity to bless, equip, and encourage your adult Bible teachers?

Not Just Another Meeting

In many churches, teacher training ends up being a box you check before launching into the new quarter. And let's be honest: it can feel rushed, under-attended, and uninspiring. But what if you re-framed your training as a time of renewal? Instead of focusing solely on logistics, try building the time around these three goals:

1. Affirm their calling: Remind your teachers they're doing kingdom work. Every question they ask and every Scripture they open has eternal value.

2. Reignite their mission: Help them connect their weekly preparation to your church's larger discipleship vision.

3. Offer fresh tools: Equip them with new resources and techniques that can help them make their classes more engaging and transformative.

With this kind of gathering, your teachers will leave energized rather than drained.

What Your Teachers Are Hungry For

Most adult Bible study teachers don't want more paperwork or theory. What they want is practical help, encouraging feedback, and tools that work in the real world. Based on what we've seen and heard from small group leaders over the years, here are some of the top things your teachers are craving:

• Time-saving tools that make lesson planning easier

• Questions that actually start discussions

• Permission to be real, not perfect

• Support for when they feel spiritually dry or discouraged

This fall, you have an opportunity to speak directly into those needs.

Ideas for a New Kind of Training Gathering

If you're ready to breathe new life into your teacher training, here are a few ideas to help you honor both the logistics and the heart of the ministry:

• Start with a short devotion or testimony from one of your veteran teachers about a meaningful classroom moment.

• Break into smaller groups and give each one a sample Bible passage and discussion guide. Let them role-play how they'd lead the session.

• Introduce a few "deep questions about faith" that can foster authentic conversations in class.

• Give teachers time to talk about what's working and what's hard for them right now.

• Offer something tangible, like a copy of a free ebook, sample discussion worksheets, or even a framed encouragement verse they can place in their teaching area.

Let Your Resources Do the Heavy Lifting

One of the hidden blessings of a new church year is the chance to streamline how you support your team. If you give your teachers Bible study resources that are:

• ready-to-use,

• built around spiritual growth small group questions,

• and flexible enough to fit their class's unique style,

then you free them up to focus on their people - not just their prep.

That's why I created StevesBibleQuestions.com. My weekly discussion worksheets are:

• Centered on thoughtful, open-ended questions

• Designed specifically for adults

• Easy to prepare, even with a full schedule

When you equip your teachers with tools like these, you give them a running start and a renewed sense of purpose.

What This Season Can Accomplish

Yes, August and September are busy - but they also carry incredible potential. With just a little intentionality, you can:

• Re-frame your teacher training as a ministry event - not just a meeting

• Refresh your team spiritually as they prepare to lead others

• Reinforce the truth that adult Bible study remains one of your church's most powerful discipleship tools

Let's Start Strong

So as you organize your rosters and finalize your curriculum orders, don't forget: a fresh start isn't just about flipping the calendar. It's a sacred opportunity to love, serve, and equip the people who teach God's Word week after week.

Start strong, and your teachers will too.

And if you're looking for something simple and effective to place in their hands, check out the sample discussion worksheets and free ebook at StevesBibleQuestions.com. They're built to help good teachers become even better - one question at a time.

Steve G.