I had a great experience last night as I taught Bible Study at church. I love teaching and leading people in God’s Word, but also in empowering them.  What I appreciate and thank God for is the fact that people seem to feel comfortable enough with me and they realize that they are free to interact, participate, and ask questions. That is my teaching style and this is what I set out to do whenever I teach, and with whatever I teach.

The class I was teaching is the Pastor’s Bible Study, and he’d asked me to teach last night. In fact, I taught last week, the week before, and a number of times. He calls upon me when he’s not able to be there. I’m honored that he asks and I don’t take the responsibility lightly. The experience last night was quite fulfilling, as God showed me that I was being effective. That truly matters to me. My prayer is always that God would be glorified and that His light shines through me.

The class was very enthusiastic last night. And anyone who teaches or speaks to a group will tell you that they feed from the audience.  That is why, even in sports, the home field advantage is just that – an advantage for the team.  When their crowd is enthusiastic and pulling for them, they ideally feed off of that energy and do well.  We were a team last night.  The greatest thing that came out of that for me is that God revealed some needs of our members.  Now I don’t know if He is leading me to do what I can to meet those needs, but He has opened my eyes to what should be done.

Several of the attendees ultimately shared that they feel unsure, inadequate, embarrassed, afraid, and other negative emotions about themselves when it comes to their faith walk.  They asked questions that I honestly feel they would not have asked if Pastor were teaching. Now I am not putting myself on a pedestal or shooting Pastor down. Quite the contrary. I’m making the point that they felt non-intimidated by me.  I could relate.  I was personable.  Truth be told, we  do sometimes feel intimidated by our Pastors. Not necessarily in a bad way. It’s like you don’t want to share what you feel is dark and not pretty with someone in that authority position.  We often want to show and share only the best about ourselves.  It’s not easy to be transparent and vulnerable with even our Pastors.  Not all of the time.  Not in a general setting.  Not when it’s not an emergency.  Not when we are not begging for prayer or assistance.

It’s almost like a child-parent relationship.  There are just some things you will not and do not tell your Mama or Daddy.  You know they love you.  You know you can tell them anything (at least that’s what we as parents want from our children), but you don’t. Probably because you may feel that they won’t understand, they’ll be disappointed, or they’ll be judgmental.  It doesn’t mean that you don’t love them, it’s just more comfortable to talk to someone else who also cares about you, but makes it easier for you to be completely open with them.

That’s what I represented for the participants last night.  I was able to minister to them and encourage them from a place of being where they are.  I wasn’t preaching AT them, I was talking TO them.  What they also see and get from me is my own transparency and vulnerabilities.  I can relate to them and encourage them because God has allowed me to have an understanding heart.

One of the ladies presented an example and situation that she experiences.  She considers it a lack of understanding and grasping the Word. Yet, she never expressed this before. She said that most of the time she doesn’t understand what is being preached on Sunday morning.  And she doesn’t feel that she knows enough to even discuss with her children.  Yet, she’s been sitting in silence about this.  She said that she feels embarrassed and stupid.  In hearing her cry last night, I believe that she spoke for MANY people in our churches today.  Everyone is not on the same level in the Word and too often preachers speak over us.

I allowed her to share her feelings. Then I believe I automatically went into a coaching mode because I worked with her and asked her what do she think can be done about the matter?  She had the answer. In fact, she was already doing what needs to be done.  But she was insecure about it.  I assured her that as long as she avail herself to the teaching, she would learn.  I encouraged her to speak up and ask questions.  Don’t feel intimidated.  When Pastor teaches, he also welcome questions.  I told her to ASK!  Not to feel ashamed for not knowing something.  If you don’t know, you don’t know, there is no shame in that.

But people do feel ashamed.  This is what God kept speaking to me.  And then I kept feeling that we need to be more approachable and available to the congregation.  I feel the urge to suggest having small groups in order to provide a safe haven for people as we deal with life situations with Biblical and spiritual solutions.

People aren’t getting it, yet they do want to know how to live, do, and be better.   I thank God for allowing me to be a part of the process in helping and touching lives.  It is my prayer that He enable me to do and be even more for others as they take this journey.  Lord knows, it’s in my heart.

Carla Y. Nix