There are all ages from HS graduates to professionals in their 50's. I am covering at a very basic level a systematic theology (curriculum, I initially came up with when working on my Masters in Christian Education, but never got beyond notes and outlines for a "future book").
In any case, as some may know, one of the things heavy on my heart is for youth and young adults to actually learn to know what they have faith in, and not just because they grew up with it, or because "pastor taught" such and such. I always make sure that they know that I am available via email or phone if they have questions or need help with the work and homework.
So my Sunday School Classes have a theme that comes out now and again that essentially says that they will probably not remember all that is being taught, but if I can teach them to know they why's and wherefore's, that God will help them with the rest, and that the syllabus that I made for them, can be used as a resource to help with further study (whether they agree with my conclusions or not!) I am not about the "memorization" of scripture or doctrinal stands or even arguments for the existence of God, as example.
The impression is for them to know that they "learned" about it at some level, and that the Holy Spirit will bring it to their remembrance when the time is needed.
Okay, today while attending the graduation reception for one of our youth (not in my class yet), one of my students was also their (pastor's daughter). she saw me sitting there and told me not to go anywhere she wanted to tell me something.
She went to get her plate of food, and when she came back, I could see her face shining. It was good news.
Her first comment was that she "almost called me twice last week". I asked if she had questions with her homework (due tomorrow). Nope, that wasn't it.
She said that she had been having conversations and emails back and forth with one of her friends about Christianity, and what "we believe". She said that in those conversations at a couple points, she knew that I taught her something about a topic, and nearly called me for help.
but she then realized that she didn't really need help, because she knows why she believes a certain way, but just needed to look it up for herself to be able to explain why she knows what she knows!
I am not sure how this is coming across, but it was a grand blessing for me to know that she was able to convey what it is that she knows in a way to someone else that they understood it; even though she thought that she didn't know at first.
That in and of itself is a blessing for a teacher. but more importantly the bigger blessing for me, and that she probably didn't even think about was that this person, previous to my classes, was one that wouldn't even broach the subject of religion very much at all with her friends (they knew she was Christian, but never "shared" much else - and now is having friendly "debates" with her friends in defending what she believes in a way that the people she is sharing with isn't threatened, or feeling the need to be defensive themselves!
this is AWESOME to me. she not only knows, but she applied it in her life and has become a more discipled creation, showing wisdom and courage.
Maybe this is one of those "you had to be there" things, but it was an awesome blessing to me for her to tell me that she "almost called me" (and didn't!).
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