One way to show respect for the Bible is to prepare well when teaching it. Study the lesson, but especially study the primary biblical passages. Identify the big idea of each passage and the points that support it. Pray about and reflect on the implications of the study until you are impressed with what is important and what is often missed. Identify what in the passage makes any difference in our daily lives. Use the Spirit of Prophecy and reputable commentaries. Don’t plan to talk about your favorite topics and neglect the Scripture!

When teaching Sabbath School, plan a short introduction that gives background to the lesson. If studying a book of the Bible, share the context of the primary passage. If studying a topic, present this week’s lesson in light of the overall quarter. Sharing context is important for guests or new believers and for those who don’t study their lessons. An excellent practice is to capture people’s attention at the beginning by creating curiosity. One common method of gaining people’s interest is to pose a difficult question that the lesson will explore. Another method is to share a story or illustration that demonstrates the importance of the topic.

Ask class attendees to read the key passage or texts. This practice is a great way to get their Bibles open and to encourage them to peruse the text themselves. Verbally guide the class to where they can find the text if some attendees seem unfamiliar with their Bibles. Ask each person to read one or two verses and to tap the person next to them if they don’t want to read.

Opinion questions can have their place, but the heart of the study needs questions about the text. Don’t ask overly broad, vague questions; ask about the meaning of the text, about the application of the text to our day. You can use questions from the study guide, and you can rephrase questions or add your own. Remember that the Bible is your textbook, not the Sabbath School lesson. The lesson is only an aid in helping you understand your textbook.

Not every question is about the Bible, but whenever possible, always answer from Scripture. When you ask about a passage and someone gives an off-the-top-of-their-head answer, you can redirect by asking, “What does the text say?” For example, a Sabbath School attendee reads, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). The teacher asks, “So, who does the Bible say will enter heaven?” A class participant responds, “Those who believe in Jesus.” A teacher might say, “Yes, that’s true. What does our text say specifically?”

After allowing time for brief discussion, provide insight from the Bible—or, if you think the class answered it suitably, simply summarize or reinforce what was shared. Do not contribute to people’s doubts by raising questions you have no answers for. Additionally, when people ask questions, there is no need to pretend that you have all the answers or that you are an expert in everything. It is perfectly acceptable to say you would need time to study a certain issue more deeply before attempting to answer. That is often the wisest choice, and it makes you seem more approachable to your class members.

Teachers should never be rude or condescending. As a general rule, you should not point out wrong answers or comments. Rather, affirm people’s willingness to speak and clarify the truth when you are sharing your own biblical takeaways. How you respond to challenging people or situations in your class will determine the level of respect you receive from the rest of the class. Be humble, kind, and sympathetic, and people will be drawn to your class. Always seek to follow the example of Jesus in the way you relate to people. “The beauty of His countenance, the loveliness of His character, above all, the love expressed in look and tone, drew to Him all who were not hardened in unbelief. Had it not been for the sweet, sympathetic spirit that shone out in every look and word, He would not have attracted the large congregations that He did” (White, The Desire of Ages, 254).

We don’t need Sabbath School preachers, and we don’t need mere Sabbath School facilitators. We need Sabbath School teachers—people who give opportunity for expression but who also share the most relevant biblical insights. Effective teachers have definite goals about what they want to communicate, and they kindly prevent one or two people from taking over the class discussion. They are prepared to jump in when the students do not adequately explain important concepts. Jesus never gave the example of being an aimless teacher who was unsure about what He wanted to communicate. On the contrary, He taught with authority, drawing from the Bible rather than human opinion or theory, and thus stirred hearts. “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). When Jesus taught, “the Scriptures came to men as a new revelation” because of His thoughtful, deep, and relevant biblical takeaways (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages [California: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898], 253).

Never end the study without personally appealing to people’s hearts. Every week, you should invite people to follow Jesus fully. You can usually call for their commitment by asking a direct question; for example, you might ask, “How many of you want to learn to trust God, even in the most difficult situations?” Let them know that this is a commitment you desire to make as well and invite them to make that decision with you. At times, you might ask an open-ended question—for example, “After studying this lesson, what kinds of decisions or commitments do you want to make?” You may be surprised at the wonderful answers people give.

When teachers give information from the Bible but never make an appeal to take action, they are leaving half their job undone. Paul urged Timothy to both teach and appeal to people: “Teach and exhort these things” (1 Tim. 6:2). To exhort means to urge, to plead, to implore, or to appeal. Every Sabbath School teacher is an ambassador for Christ who cannot be indifferent to how people respond. To the believers in Corinth, Paul described how Christ pleads through His ambassadors: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). The appeals you make are not on your own behalf or for your own benefit. Christ desires to plead through you.