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Learn Missionary Teaching Skills

Learn Missionary Teaching Skills

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missionaries teaching

Purpose

We can all share the gospel whether we have a missionary calling or not. Learn missionary teaching skills to help you invite others to come unto Christ.

Description

Before the activity, meet as a group and review “How Can I Improve My Teaching Skills?” (chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2004), 175–94). Choose several teaching skills to learn, such as “Use the scriptures” or “Ask questions.” Or the group could select several Preach My Gospel video segments.

For the activity, invite full-time missionaries or returned missionaries to demonstrate the selected teaching skills, with group members acting as investigators. If you selected Preach My Gospel video segments, watch the segments together.

Afterward, divide the group into companionships and ask each one to prepare a mini-lesson using a topic from “The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (the first lesson in chapter 3of Preach My Gospel, 31–46; for example, “Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation” or “The Gospel Blesses Families”). Encourage participants to listen to the Spirit as they prepare their mini-lessons.

Next, assign two companionships to practice together. One companionship teaches while the other acts as investigators. Invite the “investigators” to think of a nonmember or less-active friend and act as that person. Encourage them to be as real as they can by participating and asking questions. When finished, the first companionship acts as investigators while the second companionship teaches.

More Ideas

  • In your own words—Invite each participant to choose a favorite story from the scriptures that illustrates a gospel principle. Have each participant share the story with the group in their own words.

  • Answer questions—Read “The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (the first lesson in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel, 31–46). Have each participant suggest a question that an investigator might have about the lesson. Write these questions on the board and then answer them as a group.

  • Make it simple and focused—Pass out pens and pieces of paper. Challenge each participant to explain the plan of salvation or the message of the Restoration in five sentences or less. Next, ask them to do it in three sentences. Then two. Then one. Have them share their one-sentence explanations. Explain that effective teaching is always simple and clear.

  • Share a message—Arrange to go with the full-time missionaries or with your ward or branch missionaries to visit an investigator or less-active member. Ask if you can teach part of the lesson or give a spiritual thought. You may want to practice with the missionaries beforehand.

Discussion

Encourage participants to talk about what they are learning. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity. You could ask questions like the following:

  • Why do you think it is important to learn missionary teaching skills?

  • What experiences have you had teaching others about the gospel?

  • What thoughts or impressions do you have about learning missionary teaching skills?

  • How can you apply what you are learning in your life?

Related Resources

Sabbath Day Lessons

Other

  • Preach My Gospel