3 Ways to Help Your Learners Grow

The challenge of teaching is to lead learners (students, children, mentees, etc) to grow.

Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

If you are a teacher of any kind–or even a parent–you already know you need to follow Jesus’ model in order to survive the momentous task before you. But how can you help your learners grow like Jesus did? How can you help them increase in wisdom, stature (which I consider to be strength and health for adults), and favor with God and man?

Here are 3 ways you can help your learner grow in wisdom, strength, and favor with God and man:

1. By being an example and growing yourself.

Help your learners grow by demonstrating that you are still learning.

• Be humble and read everything you can.
• Attend conferences and workshops.
• Get a mentor who excels in an area you want to develop.

You can be an example by pressing toward excellence in learning!

2. Encourage your learners to live well-rounded and balanced lives.

A balanced, well-rounded life includes proper attention to health, marriage, family, spiritual discipline, time management, and money management.

If you see an area in one of your learners that needs growth, prayerfully consider how you can help them. Be careful how you proceed, though. The goal is to motivate and inspire your learner, not to criticize him or tear him down. Your feedback and encouragement should make him see the see the possibilities of what he can do through Christ. For example:

• If you see someone struggling to manage money, offer to teach them how to write out a written budget.
• If you see a wife struggling in her marriage, take her to lunch and be a listening ear. If you develop a relationship, you might be able to share some ideas about how to handle some of her difficulties.
• If your child is struggling with obesity, start to cook healthy meals and go for walks together. Build a love for nutrition and fitness in her–without criticizing her body size.

3. Help your learner grow spiritually and relationally by teaching them God’s Word in bite-size pieces.

Teach practically, too. Knowledge without application is useless.

• If your child is struggling with making friends, study the verses in Proverbs together about how to be a friend.
• If your student is struggling with fear, teach about how God’s perfect love casts out fear.

Teach the Word in a way that is actionable. It will bear fruit if you do.

What are some other ways you can help your learners grow in wisdom, strength, and in favor with God and man? I’d love to hear your ideas; please leave a comment below!