EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING

INTRODUCTION

Effective communication in Sunday school teaching is very crucial because of the strategic role that Sunday school teaching plays in service. It is one of the channel by which God passes the Biblical teachings across to the heart of His people. Until a message is properly communicated unto the mind of the hearer, the intention or the purpose in the mind of God for sending such message will be jeopardized. A correct teacher, who understood his lesson or teaching correctly and prepared well to pass it across to the students, but lack the effective communication, will become an ordinary noise, where they are waiting for him/her to deliver a good message.

(2 Sam.18:19-32).

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

WHAT IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION?

Effective communication is an act of passing information across to another party in an effective and co-ordinating manner, such that the thought of the mind is expressed by the word of the speaker. (Acts.6:9-10).

Effective communication is an act of passing a message, information, ideas of feelings across to another person in such a manner that adequate or correct understanding is created in the mind of the receiver. However, until a correct understanding close to the idea or thought in the heart of the speaker is aroused in the receiver, communication has not taken place.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

There are two type of communication:

a)     Verbal communication

b)    Non-verbal communication

A.    VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Verbal communication involves the use of words of mouth to pass across a message or an information to another person in an effective way.

B.    NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal communication involves passing a message or an information across by signs or actions. For instance, when a vehicle trafficates, an arrow in the sign-board, Banners, poster, fliers, bill board, or when a man sleep under the message of a preacher, such a person is saying that the preacher is not communicating.

NOISE IN COMMUNICATION

What is noise? Noise is anything that interferes with communication and obstruct or hinders the understanding of the listeners. There are two type of noise:

a)    Mechanical noise

b)    Semantic noise

A.    MECHANICAL NOISE: Mechanical noise involves any interference that comes either from a moving object, a working machinery, moving vehicles, people discussing very close to you, crying of a baby, distracting thoughts, unnecessary shouts during the message and so on.

B.     SEMANTIC NOISE: Semantic noise involves lack of understanding as a result of inappropriate of unfamiliar word used in the discharging of a message. Some people used some unfamiliar words or irrelevant words to impress their audience, but the truth is that, they may end up confusing their audience.

  TWO CRUCIAL PEOPLE IN COMMUNICATION

There are two different people that are very crucial or important in communication. They are as follows:

1.     The Speaker

2.     The Receivers

 THE SPEAKER          

The speaker is the preacher or teacher or communicator who has an idea, thought, feeling, message or teaching he want to pass across to another person. The speaker is faced with the problem of knowing the language which the receiver understands. Language is generally the major means of communication. It is therefore the duty of the speaker to know his/her audience before the commencement of the communication process.

THE RECEIVERS                

The receivers are the persons or students who hear the messages of the speaker. The receiver is said to have received the message when he clearly understands the content of the massage or teaching. It is interesting to know that communication goes on twenty-four hours of the day. As a matter of fact, the world exist on communication. (Gen.1:3-5). Only the dead that do not communicate, communication goes on everywhere.

COMMUNICATION BREAK DOWN

The life in the word of God becomes weakened and lifeless, when the power of communicating the revelation unto the mind of people got loss or broken down. Check: Luke.24:1-11

Effective communication is the life-wire between the word of God and the audience. The purpose of the teaching will be useless and grace wasted when the word is not properly communicated to the mind of the receiver.

Therefore, communication breakdown occurs:

1.     When the ability to engaged in a meaningful dialogue is lost, weakened or damage.

2.     When people shout on each other and refused to listen to each other (Jam.1:9-21)

3.     When the intention of the message or teaching are mis-interpreted.

4.     When people lied against each other and speak evil of one another. (Jam.4:11-12).

5.     When you speak in a way that beyond the peoples’ understanding. (1Cor.3:1-2)

6.     When money took the place of truth among men. (Matt.28:11-15).

STEPS UNTO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Effective communication is very important in passing the message or teaching of Sunday Bible School across to our audience. No matter your age, background, or experience, effective communication is a skill you must possess in order to positively affect the people of God. We see little result, when the word of God is not communicated effectively.

STEP TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

1.     Creating the right environment for communication: There is a time and place for everything. Creating a conducive environment at the right time helps you to communicate effectively to your audience. If you need to tell someone something that is very crucial and they needed to receive it well, please don’t do it in the public.

2.     Remove distractions: it is necessary to remove anything that could cause distractions to your audience. Turn off all electronics that could make any sound during the conversation. Do not allow external distractions to act as crutches that keeps sidetracking your conversation. They will distract both you and your listener and effectively kill the communication. (Acts.21:37-40; 22:1-2)

3.     Organizing your communication:

a)     Organize and clarify ideas in your mind. This should be done  before you attempt to communicate the ideas. If you are so passionate about a topic, you may become garbled if you haven’t already thought of some key points to stick to when communicating.

b)    Be clear: Make it clear what you’re wishing to convey from the outset. Let the people understand what you want them to know, so that you can lead them down without any hindrances.

c)     Stay on topic: Once you start addressing your main points, make sure everything you’re saying adds to the conversation. Do not be afraid to use some pertinent phrases that will stick to your mind correctly to butteress your topic.

d)    Thank your listener(s): After the whole teaching, thank the people for the time taken to listen and respond.

4.     Communicate through gracious word

a)     Set your listener at ease: Let your audience see some gracious word coming from your mouth. This will show to them that you have been thoroughly worked upon by God and that your word will be a blessing to them. (Col.4:6).

b)    Be articulate: It is important for you to speak clearly so that the message comes across in a way that every listener can understand. Your words are remembered because people instantly understand what it is that you are saying. It means uttering your words distinctly; preferring simpler words will help your audience to retain the message. (Acts.26:1-32).

c)     Avoid mumbling: Take special care to enunciate  highlighted points you need to make in order to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.

d)    Be attentive when listening and ensure that your facial experience reflect your interest: Listen attentively and actively. Communication is  a two-way street. Remember that while you are talking, you are not learning. In listening, you will be able to gauge how much of your message is getting through to your listeners and whether or not it is being received correctly.

e)     Be vocally interesting: Do not loose grip on the revelation of the word of God, you are sharing, but a monotone is not pleasing to the ear. Increase your volume and slow down your voice. Whenever you are raising a special point or summing up your teaching.

COMMUNICATION THROUGH BODY LANGUAGE

1)    RECOGNISE PEOPLE: Sure, you don’t necessary know the people in your class or that new person under your teaching, but they are nodding along with you and looking knowingly at you all the same. This means that, they are connecting with you. So reward them with your acknowledgement.

2)    CLARITY OF MEANING CAN BE EXPRESSED THROUGH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE TOO: Use facial expressions consciously. Aim to reflect passion and generate life to the listener by using soft, gentle and gracious word to convey the word of God to their heart. Avoid negative facial expressions, such as frowns or raised eyebrows. Be alert for unexpected behaviour that suggests you’re cross-culturally colliding. If you don’t know the culture of your audience, ask questions about communication challenges before you start to speak with the people in their cultural context. (Acts.21:15-40; 22:1-3).

3)    COMMUNICATE EYE-TO-EYE: Eye contact establishes rappart, it helps to convince people that you’re trustworthy, and displays interest.

·        Remember to take in all your audience. If you are teaching a class, look at every member of the class in the eye. Don’t neglect anyone out of them, because that could be taken as a sign of offense and could make you to lose your massage.

·        When you are teaching, pause and make eye contact with a member for two seconds before members for the class feel personally valued. (Acts.14:8-12)

4)    USE BREATHING AND PAUSES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE: There is power in pausing. Pausing causes an audience to lean in and listen. It helps you to emphasize your points and allow the listener to digest what has been said.

5)    KEEP A CHECK ON OTHER BODY LANGUAGE SIGNALS: Watch for wandering eyes, hands picking at fluff on your clothing and constant snuffing. These small gestures add up and are all guaranteed to dampen the effectiveness of your message.

THINGS TO AVOID IN COMMUNICATION

There are many things we must cleverly avoid in communication, which may hinder the power of the word to penetrate effectively into the mind of the hearer. They are as follows:

1.     UNNECESSARY SHOUTS: Many teachers and preachers of the word today feel that, the power of the message or teaching is in shouting. Shouting does not brings anointing, neither does it give any strength to the message. It rather disrupt the effect of the word.

2.     UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT: Movement could not be totally avoided especially when communicating verbally. But, when it becomes too frequent, it leads to noise.

3.     SETTLING CONFLICTS: Do not come to the pulpit with a specially prepared teaching or message to attack somebody in the congregation or in your Sunday School Class. This  is not a good communication. If you have problem with anybody, the pulpit or class is not the place to settle it.

4.     REPETITION OF WORDS: A good communicator should avoid repeating word, for it leads to confusion and dryness of heart. Words like “Praise the Lord”, “Halelluyah” or “Amen” could be used wisely, but not as a fillers when one is short of words or lacks utterance.

5.     IRRELEVANT OR UNNECESSARY DIGRESSION: sometimes a teacher of the word may have to digress a little bit, from his teaching, but many times, if care is not taken, these digression could lead to complete distraction. (A man who suppose to speak on “Love; but because “Faith” is much more interesting to him than love, ended up is speaking more about “faith”, is not a good teacher of the word).

6.     DISPLAY OF IRRELEVANT KNOWLEDGE: It has been discovered over the years that people love to emphasis their past success or exploits. They will be making references to their past message or teachings that they have preached or teach somewhere or sometimes that is irrelevant to the present teaching. That is not good enough!

7.     INDISCIPLINE IN THE USE OF TIME: Timing is part of communication. Make sure you are as brief as possible, because the tendency of losing interest in the teaching is very high, if you did not keep to time.

8.     DISCUSS PERSONAL PROBLEM: When you are communicating the word of God, (especially the Sunday school) please, avoid talking about your personal problem or any grievances you might have with anybody in the congregation. Please, focus on the topic given to you and address the people’s problem.

WHEN THE WORD BECOMES REVELATION

There is nothing a correct Sunday school teacher or minister of the word communicates effectively that bring a great change in people’s life, apart from the word of God. The word of God is the agent of Change. When the message is not correct, the lives of people will not be correct. The word of God never come to favour any man, not even the kings. Check: 2King.3:6-19, 1Kings.22:6-28. When the water (which is the word) is corrected, then there will be no more barrenness. There are Spiritual barrenness now in the church, because the word of God there is bad. There are records of sickness in the church without healing because the water of the word is not good. Once the water (word) is good, spiritual sickness will disappear. (2Kings.2:19-22).

The word of God is the only means by which a man can be born again. (Becoming a candidate of heaven). Any sinner that encounters the water of the word will be cleanse. The word of God prevents a man from sinning. It is the insulator against sin. (Psm.119:11, John.15:7, 1Pet.1:23, 2Tim.3:1-17, 2Tim.4:1-5)

WHERE IS THE WORD OF GOD?        

The word of God is generally under the lock and key.

Check: Prov.25:2

The word of God is concealed and hidden. We need to search it out. We must make a great effort to unveil it from under the jacket. We can not teach the word effectively when it has not become a revelation in our heart.

Check: Luke.11:5-13

We must create an atmosphere of correct relationship with the Lord.

A= The mid-night friend

B= Small friend

C= Bigger friend

The midnight friend came to his friend by night. The friend he came to meet has nothing to set before him. The small friend went to his own friend, which is the bigger friend.

EXCUSS OF THE BIGGER FRIEND:

·        Trouble me not

·        The door is locked

·        My children are with me in the bed.

·        I cannot rise.

This is the condition of the word of God. No word of God comes without persistence knocking for the door to be open. When you keep knocking, Jesus the bigger friend will give you loaves of bread. (Matt.7:8), Jer.29:13, Psm.40:1, Exod.24:12-18.

TWO KINDS OF BREAD    

There are two kinds of bread, there are common breads and there are hallowed bread.

Check: 1Sam.21:1-6

Common bread is everywhere, but you cannot get an hallowed bread without a sanctified heart. Correct revelation word of God cannot come unto a man who cannot consecrate himself. You must sacrifice something precious to get the word of God. (LK.22:36, Lk.24:45, 1Sam.9:25-27)

STEP TOWARDS MAKING THE WORD TO BECOME A REVELATION

1.     PREPARATION OF THE HEART: (Prov.16:1-2, Jer.4:3-5). No sowing without cultivation of the ground. Everyman awe God the duty to make the heart correct. It is the duty of God to sow into such hearts that have been prepared. The heart is your servant you carry about, the preparation of the heart is the duty of man.

Check: Jer.17:9, Gen.6:5

2.     REMOVAL OF AN IDOL SET UP IN THE HEART: Ezek.14:13-14

The word of God will never became a revelation, when there are idols in our heart. Idols set up in the heart hinders God from given us a fresh revelation. Ho scripture will be open to us afresh, when we allow idols to sit in our heart.

3.     TEAR YOUR HEART: James.1:21, Jer.29:13

We must purge our heart of the following before the word could be planted into our heart:

·        Put away filthiness

·        Put away uncleanness

·        Put away wrong doing

·        Put away wickedness

·        Put away evil.

Check: Joel.2:12-13

4.     MAKE YOUR HEART A GOOD SOIL: Matt.13:3-9, 16-23

No good soil comes automatically, there is always a process. Every congregation where the seed of the word is being sown usually divided into four groups:

A	B	C	D
WAY SIDE 25%	STONY OR RICKY 25%	THORN 25%	GOOD LAND 25%

The seed came from the same source. The qualities are the same, but the problem is the soil.

5.     YOU MUST EAT THE SCROLL: Ezek.2:6-10; 3:1-5

You must see the scroll clearly and eat it. There must be the “eating of the word” before communicating the word. Your heart must be open to eat the scroll, so as to have enough word to teach.

If you don’t eat, there will be nothing to communicate. The spirit of the word of God (Revelation) will not come until a man have eaten the scroll (Rev.10:9-10).

Check: Isa.6:1-8; Ezra.7:10

6.     MATURITY AND INNER STRENGTH: Judges.8:18-21.

You need maturity and inner strength to be able to effectively carries the hammer of God’s word. “It takes a man to do a man’s Job” was the word of Zeba and Zalmuna unto Gideon, when Jethar could not kill them. He has no inner life, courage, skill and experience that will be accumulated to being strong in battle.