FOR THE TEACHER
CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
by Stafford North

This series of lessons focuses on the various relationships Christ has with His church and our response to each of these.  These lessons give a chance to exalt Christ in many ways, and also offer an opportunity for helping people get a good picture of the church for which He died.  The lessons are developed around a question and answer format.

There are a few ideas in each lesson for you to present but most of the content is developed around scriptures to read and questions to ask about the passage.  Getting the class involved by answering questions and discussing ideas will help with the learning.  The more the students can discover answers for themselves, the more likely the lesson is to make an impact.  Of course, if you are teaching in a setting that does not allow for this, then you can turn the questions into ideas you will present in more of a lecture mode.

PowerPoint is provided with lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9.  For other lessons, you are given instructions about using a chalk board or marker board.  When PowerPoint is provided, it typically lists scriptures to which students should turn, gives questions you are asking from these verses, and then has some of the answers that may be given.  The  PowerPoint is not intended as a complete summary of the lesson but will help you with a visual as you teach the lesson.  Put the scripture up and ask the class to turn to it. Put up the question asked from the passage, and after some discussion, put up the answers provided.  It will be a good idea to print out the slides given and have those in front of you so you will know when to advance the PowerPoint. Even in those lessons with the PowerPoint, some elements of the lesson will not be represented with words on the screen since much of the lesson is designed for discussion.

Be sure to note the objectives for each class meeting.  These should be a very important guide as you teach the class.  Seek to help each student be able to perform each of the objectives.

Another very important part of every lesson is the time for application. Be sure that you allow time for this part of the lesson. In making applications, call on the class to help, and push them to be as specific as possible.  Again, letting the class discover the applications is an excellent technique. If someone says, for example, “This could apply to my work,” ask the person “In what situation could you use this idea at work?”  After he answers, you might ask, “How would a Christian handle this situation differently than someone who is not a Christian?”  Keep pressing until the application is very clear and people are encouraged actually to put the message into practice.

While you will likely not have a great opportunity for formal evaluation, letting the class make applications is one form of evaluation.  You may also ask someone to summarize what the class has learned today and you can ask questions at the beginning of the next class period which will provide some evaluation and review. Be sure the class knows that you are expecting learning and application to take place.

Below is a summary, week by week, of this 13-lesson series.  Note how the lessons move toward a climax in the lesson about hope. Your overall goal should be that the students can answer questions about the nature and work of the church and that they will recognize the place of Christ and His Church in the overall plan of God.

1. Christ: The Builder of His Church.
   Matthew 16:18—“I will build my church”
   The Eternal Plan of the Church
   
   
2. Christ: The Lord of His Church.
   Acts 2:36—“both Lord and Christ”
   The Beginning of the Church
   
   
3. Christ: The Savior of His Church.
   Ephesians 5:23—“of which he is the Savior”
   The Holiness of the Church
   
   
4. Christ: The Head of His Church.
   Colossians 1:18—“head of the body, the church”
   The Oneness of the Church
   
   
5. Christ: The King of His Church.
   John 18:37—“I am a king”
   The Submission of the Church
   
   
6. Christ: The High Priest of His Church.
   Hebrews 2:17—a merciful and faithful high priest”
   The Worship of the Church
   
   
7. Christ: The Teacher of His Church.
   Matthew 28:20—“teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you”
   The Learning of the Church
   
   
8. Christ: The Gift-Giver for His Church.
   Ephesians 4:11—“he gave some to be . . . .”
   The Work of the Church
   
   
9. Christ: The Chief Shepherd of His Church.
   1 Peter 5:4—“When Christ the Chief Shepherd appears”
   The Organization of the Church
   
   
10. Christ: The Example for His Church.
    1 Peter 2:21—“leaving you an example”
    The Life of the Church
    
    
11. Christ: The Unifier of His Church
    John 17:11—“that they all may be one”
    The Harmony of the Church
    
    
12. Christ: The Judge of His Church
    1 Corinthians 4:4—“It is the Lord who judges”
    The Accountability of the Church
    
    
13. Christ: The Hope of His Church
    Colossians 1:27—Christ in you, the hope of glory”
    The Destiny of the Church