Preparing a Bible lesson is more than gathering notes — it’s a spiritual practice that shapes both the teacher and the students. Faithful Bible teachers know that meaningful teaching begins long before class time, during quiet moments of study, prayer, reflection, and meditation on God’s Word. When a teacher takes time to understand the passage, seek God’s guidance, and thoughtfully organize the lesson, the truth of Scripture comes alive in the classroom.
In this post, we explore the heart behind Bible lesson preparation and the intentional study habits that help teachers grow in wisdom and confidence. Whether you teach children, teens, or adults, developing a consistent rhythm of study strengthens your walk with God and equips you to share His truth with clarity, compassion, and joy.
This post comes from a book called, The Sunday School Teacher, by H. M. Hamill, copyright 1911. These heroes of the faith had so much wisdom to share with us today.
I. About Time
1. Study a little every day.
It’s far better to spend fifteen or twenty minutes each day preparing next Sunday’s lesson than to try to cram it all in at once. Real understanding can’t be forced at the last minute — it needs time to grow.
2. Study when your mind is fresh.
Late in the evening, when you’re tired from the day, is usually the least effective time for Bible study. Choose an earlier time — ideally before your daily work begins — and you’ll benefit more from it both mentally and spiritually.
3. Start right away.
Begin your study on Sunday afternoon while your heart and mind are still engaged with the lesson you just heard or taught. A strong beginning leads to a strong finish. Avoid procrastination — continually waiting for a “better time” is one of the biggest obstacles teachers face.
4. Build a habit of study.
The mind forms habits just like the body does, and it works best with regular, consistent effort. When you commit to studying the Bible at a set time each day, the practice gradually becomes rewarding and strengthening. But it takes determination and patience to stick with the habit.
II. About Study Helps
1. Use a Bible dictionary.
Aside from your Teacher’s Bible, a Bible dictionary is one of your most valuable tools. It explains people, places, themes, and topics in Scripture and helps clarify things that might otherwise be confusing.
2. Use a teacher’s commentary.
Most churches provide a commentary on the current Sunday school lessons, usually in a quarterly or similar publication. These resources analyze the passage and explain its meaning in ways that personal study alone may not always reach. In addition to church materials, many helpful books and periodicals also offer insights into the lessons.
3. Pay attention to marginal references.
The cross-references printed in many Bibles are extremely helpful. Few difficult verses are left unexplained by them. Read these references carefully — they often shed surprising light on passages that once seemed unclear.
4. Use pencil and paper.
Make it a habit to jot down notes as you study. Many good thoughts and questions will come to you that you may forget later unless you write them down. Create a simple outline of the lesson as you go, noting key teaching ideas that stand out.
5. Practice meditation.
Carry the lesson with you throughout the day and reflect on it during spare moments. This quiet, ongoing reflection doesn’t distract from your work — it often sharpens your understanding.
Just as food must be chewed, digested, and absorbed, Bible study follows the same pattern:
• searching the Scriptures is like chewing,
• meditation is like digestion, and
• living out the truth is where it becomes part of your life.
III. About Methods
1. Study an entire book of the Bible.
One of the best approaches to Bible study — especially when preparing a series of lessons — is to study the whole book from which the lessons come. When you understand the book’s purpose, setting, and message, the meaning of each individual lesson becomes clearer.
If possible, read the book straight through. Consider its author, the time and circumstances in which it was written, the people it was written to, its purpose, and how it relates to other parts of Scripture.
2. Study the connections between lessons.
Most lessons are closely connected to the ones before and after them. Read the surrounding passages and follow the flow of thought into the next lesson. This strengthens understanding and memory for both teacher and students.
3. Study the lesson text carefully.
After considering context, focus on the actual wording of the passage — its sentences, phrases, and expressions. Read slowly and thoughtfully, verse by verse. Make sure you clearly understand what the text is saying before you move on.
Many misunderstandings come from failing to grasp the simple meaning of the passage itself. If it is unclear to the teacher, it will certainly be unclear to the students. Rewrite the lesson in your own words if needed, until you fully understand its meaning and intent. Avoid rushing ahead to extract “points.” Careful, accurate study of the text is the teacher’s first responsibility.
4. Create an outline.
Once you’ve understood the passage, organize its main truths into a clear outline. This requires patience and thoughtful reflection. Resist the urge to immediately look at commentaries. Think for yourself first — let your outline grow from your own study before comparing it with others.
5. Study the Golden Text.
The Golden Text (or key verse) chosen for the lesson highlights its central spiritual theme. Let this verse guide your teaching. Keep your main points aligned with it, and you will usually stay on the right track. Effective teachers build everything in the lesson around one clear, strong truth.
6. Use study helps wisely.
Commentaries, books, and church lesson guides are valuable tools. Compare their insights with your own, but don’t discard your conclusions simply because an “expert” says something different. Use their thoughts as guidance and support — not as a replacement for your own careful study.
Between your study and theirs, you will better see what is most helpful for your students. Choose the simple, clear truths that communicate the heart of the lesson. Avoid getting lost in technical debates that go beyond what your class needs or what you can confidently explain.
Follow the guidance of wise scholars — but remain grounded in your own thoughtful preparation and in the real needs of your students.
