Lesson 11—Making Disciples—Simplicity
LESSON 11
Principle: “Use speech that is easily understood.”—
(1 Corinthians 14.9: In the same way, unless you with the tongue use speech that is easily understood, how will anyone know what is being said? You will, in fact, be speaking into the air.)
What Jesus Did
1. Watch the VIDEO, Or Read Then consider the following questions:
(Matthew 6.25-27: “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?)
a. How did Jesus illustrate Jehovah’s care for us?
b. Although Jesus knew many facts about birds, on what simple detail did he focus? Why was that an effective approach?
What Do We Learn From Jesus?
2. When we teach in a simple way, people will remember what we taught them and we will touch their hearts.
Imitate Jesus
3. Do not talk too much. Rather than relating all that you know about a subject, focus on the material in the study publication. After you ask a question, wait patiently for your student to answer. If he does not know the answer or expresses a viewpoint that conflicts with Bible teachings, use additional questions to help him reason on the matter. Once your student understands the main point, move on.
4. Help your student connect new teachings with what he already knows. For example, before beginning a lesson about the resurrection, you might briefly review what the student has already learned about the condition of the dead.
5. Use illustrations carefully. Before using an illustration, ask yourself:
a. ‘Is the illustration simple?’
b. ‘Will my student easily understand it?’
c. ‘Will it help my student to remember the main point—not just the illustration?’
MAKING DISCIPLES
SEE ALSO
(Matthew 11.25: At that time Jesus said in response: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children.)
(John 16.12: “I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now.)
(1 Corinthians 2.1: So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with extravagant speech or wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to you.)