Sunday School Blog

Teacher Interview: Darryl Wilson

Today we have the privilege of an interview with Darryl Wilson, Sunday School Director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  Darryl accepted Christ at the age of 15 and was called to ministry at 20.  He received a B.A. from Belmont University in Nashville in 1982, a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985, and Doctor of Education from same in 2003.  Mr. Wilson has served as Minister of Youth and Education in a church in Kentucky and one in South Carolina from 1983-1988, Minister of Education and Administration in three churches in Kentucky from 1988-1997, and in his present position as Director, Sunday School Department, for the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 1997.  Married to Yvonne since 1984, they have two sons, Jonathan (20) and Jordan (18).  Darryl has also been the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary blog since April 2006.

What roles have you held in Sunday School leadership?

Youth teacher, children's teacher, adult teacher, substitute in all ages, adult department director, Sunday School director, Minister of Education, and now Sunday School missionary working with 2,400 churches and their pastors, directors, and teachers.

What's are your favorite things about Sunday School?

I enjoy watching classes reach out, lead a new person to become involved, see the new person accept Jesus, watch him/her grow as a believer, watch him/her begin to serve, and then see the person serve in a position of leadership.  I also love helping new classes start and grow.  Sunday is such a great place for people to (1) develop relationships, (2) learn about God and how to live out His Word, and (3) learn to reach out and minister in the class, church, and community.

If you've taught, do you have a particular process for preparing a lesson?

I tend to pray and read only the scripture passage (no commentary yet) three times on Sunday afternoon. That gives God lots of opportunities to illustrate the truth of the assigned passage several times during the week. Then on Monday I will read the passage and its context a little more fully and perhaps in another translation (still no commentary). Then on Tuesday, I try to discover the truth God was teaching the original hearers and the one He wants me to apply to my life. I also try to focus on a specific truth in the passage most needed by the class and some of the background issues before moving to the commentary. From Wednesday-Friday I try to understand the passage more fully by studying the teacher book and another commentary or two, especially if I have questions. I try to begin putting together major points and questions. Then on Friday-Saturday, I try to choose methods that may communicate the truth in the best possible way to the class. Now, don't let that daily process intimidate you. I probably spend no more than 15-30 minutes most days, and a little more on Fridays and/or Saturdays.

What's a good way to begin a class?

Instead of having class business, announcements, and prayer, why not save that for the end? Then when the first people arrive give them something to think about or do. I often have small written or sharing assignments in their chairs or on the board. If you want them talking later in the class, you need to get them talking early. So a good icebreaker is helpful, but it should all be connected to the lesson. If you start this way, fewer people will arrive late!

What's a good way to handle an uncommunicative class?

My father-in-law, Larry, began teaching a senior adult men's class that would not talk. He would ask a question and end up having to answer it. He asked me what to do. I recommended he prepare normally and when he asked his first question, just not answer it for them. When he tried it, he said it seemed like forever but was probably no more than 15-20 seconds. Then one answered and another. After that, he only had the problem of reigning in the discussion. You see, Americans don't like silence. It is important to ask good questions which ask for more than yes/no or one-word answers.

How do you go about filling class roles? (service opportunities)

There are lots of ways. Asking for volunteers is probably the least effective. Pray. Observe class members. Personally point out what they do well and ask them to help. Another way is to divide the class into three teams (like reaching, teaching, and caring/fellowship) and ask everyone to choose one. Prayer and helping the class as a whole to understand why a class role is needed in advance of filling it can also lead the right persons to volunteer.

Do you have any great tips for Sunday School leaders?

Stay FAT: faithful, available, and teachable. (1) Faithful. Don't quit too soon. Spiritual and numerical growth of classes take time. Stick with it. See goals through to the end. Stay committed to God. Spend time with Him daily! (2) Available. Spend time with members and prospects before and after class and between classes. Listen. Pray for them. Get to know each of them and their needs. Relationships and trust take time. Your ability to teach depends on your knowledge of the sheep God has entrusted to you! (3) Teachable. Spend time with God. Spend time in the Word. Read. Study. Meditate. Apply. Obey. Read about the Bible, about your age group, about teaching and learning, and about life. Pay attention to what's happening around you. Be a learner. When you stop learning, you stop teaching! (Check out my blog for over 500 posts about life-changing Sunday School and small group work.)

What do you feel has contributed the most to your spiritual growth?

Like many, I have grown the most during three periods of time: (1) difficulty, (2) intentional seeking, and (3) accountability. When crises have come in life, it is natural to turn to a God who cares and can help. These times have often led to greater dependency on Him and understanding of His ways and His Word. But I have also grown when I have been most intentional about seeking Him. For instance, I find journaling to be an intentional way of spending time with Him and listening carefully to what He has to say to me. I write down the date, scripture reference, and then my thoughts questions and prayers. I have often asked four questions: What did God say? What does He want me to do? What is my response? and What did I do? A journal helps me to check up on the fourth question later! This is accountability. But another time of accountability in my spiritual growth has happened when I have been with small groups of men praying and studying together.

Reading any good books?

I have just started Parr's book, Key Strategies for Healthy Sunday Schools, which is available from the Georgia Baptist Convention (I am writing a three-part series about it now on my blog). The authors have many practical suggestions for growing a healthy Sunday School.  The Great Omission by Dallas Willard will make you reassess how you think we are doing in accomplishing the Great Commission. The Six Core Values of Sunday School by Allan Taylor is also a must-read.

Teacher Interview: Dave Mitchell

Dave Mitchell teaches the "Tribe" 20's Bible Study at Champion Forest Baptist Church.  He is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with B.A. in English and a minor in Theatre (both skill sets being quite useful on Sunday mornings).  Though he currently works in medical research, he's never relinquished his dream of being a novelist, and plans on one day being able to write full-time and not starve.

What types of classes have you taught? 

I've been teaching the Single 20's class for about 3 years.  Usually it's a mix of lecture-style and discussion-based teaching, with groups ranging from 5-30.  I've taught topical studies, apologetics studies, and most often expository studies of different books of the Bible.

What do you consider to be a unique challenge of the class that you teach? 

Folks in their 20's are often afraid to put down roots or commit to a group,  because they're unsure if they'll even be in the same area or job in 6 months or a year.  So the challenge is to create an environment where it's easier to make connections and feel like you're part of the family.

Do you have a particular process for preparing a lesson? 

It depends on whether I'm using a curriculum or not.  If I'm writing my own lesson, I will usually read over the text several times over the course of a few days, to get a sense of content and themes.  Then I'll use a number of resources like commentaries to get other perspectives and historical background.  Finally, I'll commit an outline to paper and fill in the appropriate anecdotes and references.  I'm often a last-minute-dash type of person, so it takes a special effort for me to plan in advance. 

When I'm using curriculum, I'll spend a few days reading the text, then I'll read the curriculum and make my own outline based off that. I have a hard time teaching directly from someone else's outline; it feels stale and distant.  If I can rewrite the material in my own words, making the connections and references myself, it usually works better.  This process takes just as long as coming up with my own teaching material, because I have to absorb and reformat the provided outline.

How do you like to begin a class?

We've lately started class with about 20 minutes of fellowship/visiting time.  Gives people a chance to wake up, catch up with friends, and get to know visitors.  This is part of the "feeling at home" focus we are seeking.

What's a good way to handle an uncommunicative class?

Often classes don't communicate because they're either bored or they're scared of giving the wrong answer.  I try to use humor to break the ice a little bit, and coax a response out of a particularly stiff group.  I also try to provide questions for small group discussion that don't have obvious or pat answers, because once you say "the right answer," it shuts down discussion.

How do you go about filling class roles? (service opportunities) 

It's not easy.  You don't often have people who volunteer for class roles.  Often it's just learning through experience who is dependable, who is willing to serve, and then trying to match them to a position that uses their gifts.  This is also a learning process, so being flexible is vital.  Sometimes you'll need to switch people to a different role to find the best fit.

What's your favorite thing about teaching?

Being able to share what I'm learning in my own life with others.  And feeling like I'm doing what I'm made to do.  To tell you the truth, the one hour each week where I feel completely at peace with myself is when I'm teaching--which tells me, for now, that's God's place for me in the church.

Do you have any great tips for other teachers? 

Here's what I'm learning:

1) Never ever forget that it's God who saves people, God who changes people, God who works in their lives to produce fruit.  You are a messenger.  Just share the message and get out of the way.

2) If you aren't living out what you're teaching, no one will listen.  And if you aren't honest about your failings, no one will take you seriously.

3) Magnify Jesus in all things. 

4) Encourage as much as you admonish.  Sometimes it's really easy to get really heavy-handed when teaching (especially when you get as emotional as I do), but try to balance it out by reaffirming to them that you care about them and are here for them.

5) Take it seriously. Paul outlines several serious admonitions for teachers for a reason.  That whole "millstone around the neck and thrown into the sea" bit that Jesus mentioned? That applies to us.  So make sure that whenever you stand to speak, you do so humbly, submitted to God in gratitude and obedience, and being careful that the words you speak are for the building up and not the tearing down. 

What do you feel has contributed the most to your spiritual growth?

I am blessed with parents who are devoted Christians, who were committed to raising me in a Christian environment.  That was a great foundation.  What I've also found is that I grow the most spiritually when I'm responsible for teaching.  Usually, the lesson I'm to present is the lesson I need.  Right now, covering James, it feels like I'm taking the spiritual "hit" first, before teaching the material to the class.  Every time I've prepared for teaching, it's been the message I've needed to hear most.

Reading any good books? 

I'm almost done with a book called Why We're Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. The post-modern "Emergent" movement in the Western church is growing rapidly, but DeYoung and Kluck demonstrate through the writings of Emergent's leading voices that good theology is getting lost in the process.  A provocative and well-researched book that I'm going to recommend to my class. 

(On the non-spiritual front, I also recently finished The Case for Democracy by Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident and political prisoner who makes a moral case for promoting free democratic societies worldwide. If you are interested in political theory or current events, it's definitely worth your time.)

Teacher Interview: Morris Horner

In an effort to learn from other teachers, I interviewed Morris Horner, my former ministry leader.  I served under Morris in his role as the Single Adult Pastor at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.  He is currently the Associate Pastor of Missions at Champion Forest Baptist.  Morris attended seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He served in churches in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Pensacola, Florida, before joining the staff at Champion Forest Baptist.

1. What types of classes have you taught?

I have taught age group, life stages, topical, technical, and support/recovery classes.

2. Do you have a particular process for preparing a lesson?

My process for preparing to teach depends on what type of lesson I am teaching. If I am teaching a topical study, I will read all the material I’m covering before I do anything. As I read, I pray over the material and keep my audience in mind as I read. After I have read the material, I make a list of questions that I think might come into the minds of my class as we discuss it. Then, I try to make sure I have the answers to those questions.

If teaching a verse-by-verse study, I read the passage over and over to become very familiar with the passage. Then I start with asking who, what, when, where, why, and how. I would conclude this type of preparing by developing a series of questions on how this applies to the lives of my class members.

3. How do you like to begin a class?

I like to begin a class by asking a get-acquainted question. For example, “Share your name and the favorite junk food.” If I can make the question relate to the lesson I do.

I do this so that I know at the end of class everyone has made at least one contribution to the class.

4. What's a good way to handle an uncommunicative class?

I love to teach an interactive lesson. So, I ask lots of questions. I have been blessed with the gift of being able to turn my interactive lesson into a lecture when the need arises.

However, that doesn’t mean I give up if the class is uncommunicative. I go back the next week with another interactive lesson.

I believe asking questions is the best way to deal with uncommunicative classes. This is another reason why I like to begin each class by asking a question of every class member…gets the people accustomed to talking in front of the group.

5. How do you go about filling class roles? (service opportunities)

I typically go about filling class roles by asking specific people to carry out a task. I like to match up tasks with things that I see happening in the individual’s life.

I tend to steer away from announcements to big groups about class roles. When this approach is taken you have to diplomatically deal with everyone who has an interest in the role.

6. Do you have any great tips for other teachers?

• Know your audience.
• Let your people know you care. A seminary professor once said, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” I believe in our culture, we have to earn the right to be heard.

7. What do you feel has contributed the most to your spiritual growth?

Some of the primary contributors to my spiritual growth have been:

• Godly people who have invested time in my life.
• A praying grandmother.
• The challenges of life.
• The responsibility of others’ spiritual growth.

8. Reading any good books?

The things I am selecting to read have changed somewhat over the last few months. I just completed Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ, by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen, a few days ago. INCREDIBLE READ.

I’m currently reading Voices Behind the Veil: The World of Islam Through the Eyes of Women, edited by Ergun Mehmet Caner, and The Externally Focused Church, by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson.