I've had many talks with my brother-in-law about preparing lessons. We both have been puzzled about the seeming contradiction that comes when "Saturday Night Specials" (where we remember it's our turn to teach the lesson on Sunday) turn out better than lessons for which we have prepared diligently all week. We both agree that the intent is not to teach us to procrastinate the day of our lesson prep. Perhaps it has something to do with being more reliant on the Spirit both during the preparation and during the delivery of the lesson.
Well, a few weeks ago I had some extra time to put into my lesson and decided I'd really throw everything I had into it. I pulled apart the scriptures so I'd have a better understanding of what was going on. It was a tremendous learning experience as I gained new insights and had questions come to my mind that encouraged me to study further. I had enough material gathered that I could do a whole lesson out of the first 10-15 verses in the material. It was a very familiar passage to everyone, so I figured it would be a good idea to walk the class through the process I had taken to study.
It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. From the first one or two verses we covered, I could tell things were falling apart. I couldn't understand why it wasn't coming together as well as it had while I was studying and by the end of the lesson I'm sure I lost most of the class. It was a very disheartening experience spending all week getting everything ready only to have it crash and burn.
Then today's lesson went very well with lots of class participation and things just seemed to flow, and I have to admit that it was another Saturday Night Special. So, it would seem to reinforce the procrastination angle but that's not what I think I'm supposed to take away from the experience.
I think I'm beginning to learn the subtle difference between insights for my own enrichment and insights to help the lesson. I'm also learning to follow the lesson manual more than I have been. My train wrecks have usually happened on lessons where I have had my own agenda.
So hopefully I can apply what I've learned without having to be reminded again...
Well, a few weeks ago I had some extra time to put into my lesson and decided I'd really throw everything I had into it. I pulled apart the scriptures so I'd have a better understanding of what was going on. It was a tremendous learning experience as I gained new insights and had questions come to my mind that encouraged me to study further. I had enough material gathered that I could do a whole lesson out of the first 10-15 verses in the material. It was a very familiar passage to everyone, so I figured it would be a good idea to walk the class through the process I had taken to study.
It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. From the first one or two verses we covered, I could tell things were falling apart. I couldn't understand why it wasn't coming together as well as it had while I was studying and by the end of the lesson I'm sure I lost most of the class. It was a very disheartening experience spending all week getting everything ready only to have it crash and burn.
Then today's lesson went very well with lots of class participation and things just seemed to flow, and I have to admit that it was another Saturday Night Special. So, it would seem to reinforce the procrastination angle but that's not what I think I'm supposed to take away from the experience.
I think I'm beginning to learn the subtle difference between insights for my own enrichment and insights to help the lesson. I'm also learning to follow the lesson manual more than I have been. My train wrecks have usually happened on lessons where I have had my own agenda.
So hopefully I can apply what I've learned without having to be reminded again...
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