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Teach by the Spirit
Always be ready to respond to spiritual promptings about the needs of learners
Illustrate
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, had fallen at Jesus’s feet, begging Him to help his dying daughter. Jesus and His disciples were pressing their way through the crowded streets toward Jairus’s house when suddenly Jesus stopped. “Who touched me?” He asked. It seemed like an odd question—in the press of people, who wasn’t touching Him? But the Savior perceived that in that multitude, someone had approached Him with a specific need and with the faith to receive the healing He offered. There would still be time to visit Jairus’s daughter. But first He said to the woman who had touched His clothes, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (see Luke 8:41–48).
As a teacher, you might sometimes find yourself in a rush to cover something you had prepared to teach. While that may be important, be sure that in your haste you don’t unintentionally hurry past an urgent need of someone you’re teaching. In addition to the spiritual guidance you sought as you prepared to teach, seek also the Spirit’s guidance while you are teaching. Try to be aware of the needs, the questions, and the interests of learners. The Holy Ghost can help you discern how a learner is receiving or understanding something you have taught. He may prompt you, at times, to alter your plans. For example, you might be impressed to spend more time than you had intended on a topic or to leave some discussions for later in favor of something that is more important to learners now.
See in the following Scripture passage how Alma changed his teaching by following the Spirit to meet people's needs:
1 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.
2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the apoor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—
3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as adross; therefore they were bpoor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.
4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill aOnidah, there came a great bmultitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were cpoor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.
5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, awhat shall these my brethren do, for they are bdespised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have ccast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have dno place to worship our God; and behold, ewhat shall we do?
6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their aafflictions had truly bhumbled them, and that they were in a cpreparation to hear the word.
7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
8 I behold that ye are alowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.
9 Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.
(Alma 32:1-9)
Invitation to act
Consider the following questions:
Do those you teach know that you are more interested in their learning than in completing a lesson?
How can you better communicate your interest?
What can you do to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit as you teach?
To practice your skills on this subject, you can do the following exercises:
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