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Student Rachel, Please let me know when you receive the book to send you the assignment!
Teacher:
Dr. Salomón A. Ballestero.
drballestero@stucedu.org
ED101 – MASTERING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Mastering Christian Education.
Dear student, Welcome to the Bachelor of Christian Education program! This class was prepared to serve as a guide to Christian Education, within Module ED101 EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF THE CHURCH. Mastering Christian Education, is a very important issue within education in the Christian church; For the pastor, minister, or counselor, whose education and experience as an educator is not quite enough. Its purpose is dual: (1) to examine the basic elements of the art of teaching; and, (2) define the place this activity has in Christian ministry!
Any questions you have, you can write to my email: drballestero@stucedu.org
“The future of our churches does not depend on the number of converts but on the spiritual maturity achieved by each converted.”
Introduction
Oh Lord! Your Logos is my logic,
Your Testament is my argument,
Your Word is my guarantee.
- H. Spurgeon
The words of the “prince of the preachers” are adequate to introduce the reader to the spirit that prevailed in the authors for the preparation of the Manual of the Christian Educator. Knowing how fundamental it is for a church to have Christian educators properly trained, whether academically or spiritually, who know how to drive with love and patience the souls of their students to Christ, knowing that not everyone will convert, but that gives everyone the same opportunity.
We really share what Martha Saint de Berberian says in her book “How to Teach Effectively” that: “The future of our churches does not depend on the number of converts but in the spiritual maturity that each convert achieves”.
This is a reality that should not be overlooked, Christian Education does not aim to have many students who know the biblical stories, if not, spiritually mature students in Christ. Educating Christianly is synonymous with educating biblically, is educating based on the purity and the truth of the word of God, which has the power to transform a life, it is education, therefore, the acquisition of the art of using knowledge, although acquiring it is not enough, we must also have the ability to know, how, when and where to use it.
Therefore, a Christian educator, as a teacher of the word of God, must learn to express it and teach it with excellence, as an artist expresses the art that emerges from within. Art, in a broad sense, is the willingness or ability to do something and consequently, a set of rules or precepts to achieve the same end.
: Art, philosophically speaking, is the maximum and excellent expression of what is desired to transmit to another, is the artistic expression opposed to nature and science, therefore, a Christian Minister, and the educator is, is a spiritual artist of the gospel, who is to express biblical truths, and educating is a ministry of God, therefore, it is a spiritual art. The Christian musician Joseph Laporta says of art and artist that
“The artist is a messenger of art, but, many times, thought and the will go in different ways, and the result is a dichotomy that it offers undesirable results, which, between the idea (the thought) and the being (the
will in action) there is a short, but difficult, section that is resolved by the perfect internalization of the idea ”
That is why we emphasize that the Christian educator is, as a messenger of the gospel, a counselor and influential guidance, positively or negatively, voluntarily or involuntarily, in training the spirituality of its students, and is spiritually responsible for their lives before the Lord and the church. Hence the importance of excellent spiritual and academic preparation to achieve a positive influence on the lives that God gives to prepare them spiritually. Christian education can be defined as the didactic-spiritual formation of being human, instructed by the word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, in order that, from the earliest possible age, you can know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior.
Chapter 1: The Importance of the Biblical Educator
“When the Gospel is not preached in its purity, the people are robbed from God the strength he needs in his journey through life ”
- H. Spurgeon
This thought of Spurgeon clearly expresses the importance of the preacher of the gospel, and the educator, in the preaching or teaching of the Word, must be nothing more and nothing less than a true communicator and messenger of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here lies the importance of teaching, how it is taught and to whom it is taught. The Bible places great emphasis on education and educators, both in the AT and in the NT, as can be seen in the reading of Deuteronomy 6:7-9, 2 Chronicles 15:3, 17:9, Acts 18:11, 19:9-10, 20:20, 2nd Timothy 2:2, and many other passages that support it.
The Bible confronts teachers, genuine and false, and the influence they have on their students in 2 Peter 2:1-2, Romans 2:20, John 3:2, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11. This is why we emphasize how important is the influence that an educator exerts, or can exert, on his students and the importance that he be a believer genuinely converted to Christ, built and built upon the word of God.
If he is not genuinely converted, he runs the risk of becoming another religious of the many that Christianity has had since its origins, who will only be teaching doctrine of men under the law and not the sound doctrine of Grace through Jesus Christ. (Romans 16:24 and 2 Corinthians 9: 8).
Those who yearn to be a true Christian educator of the truth should consider these issues as a starting point for their truthful and legitimate Christian educator ministry, considering that what is important must give way to what is very important, that the best must give way to the excellent, that the dispensable must give way to the essential.
- The Important: It is the mutual respect, from student to teacher, from teacher to student
- The Very Important: It is the spiritual authority of the teacher over his students
- The Best: It is the educator’s academic preparation to transmit a teaching
- The Excellent: It is the spiritual formation of the educator to convey a truth
- The Expendable: A fun, entertaining class that leaves us with biblical-spiritual teaching
- The Essential: The presence of Jesus as a Teacher in all classes
How was an Educator in Biblical times:
“… the Lord said to Paul: Do not fear. But talk, and don’t shut up, because I’m with you … And
(Paul) stopped one year and six months, teaching them the word of God” Acts 18: 9-11
“For in vain they honor me, teaching as doctrines, commandments of men” Matthew 15: 9
An educator in biblical times was nothing but a messenger of the word of God that had the responsibility to teach it just as God gave it to him.
Before as now they were false educators, as they were found true, in matter to convey the message of God, and to both the Lord says:
“For truly I say to you that until heaven and earth pass, neither a jack nor a tilde will pass of the law, until everything has been fulfilled; so that anyone who breaks one of these very small commandments, and thus teach men, very small will be called in the kingdom of the Heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of Heavens” Matthew 5:18-19.
How today’s Educator should be
“Teaching them to keep all the things that I have commanded you …” Matthew 28:20.
“That he meekly correct those who oppose, in case God may grant them to regret to know the truth”
2 Timothy 2:25
The educator of today must be like yesterdays and tomorrows, he must become like his Master, since the true formatter and modeler of a life is Christ, and he is the same yesterday, today and forever and ever.
Chapter 2: The Model Educator
“The disciple is not superior to his teacher, but everyone who is perfected; he will be like his teacher” Luke 6:40.
This world has never known anything comparable to the teachings of the Divine Master. He is, in the matter of teaching the Scriptures, the peerless Educator. Does the aspiring Bible teacher want to get better at the art of teaching the scriptures? Let’s learn from him and imitate him, because anyone who is like his Master will be perfect. The Master of teachers, in terms of teaching, has left his example so that whoever wants to be an educator like him must follow in his footsteps.
The Divine Educator spoke clearly and simply to those who were of the common people:
“And a great multitude of the people would listen gladly” Mark 12:37.
He also taught parables so that not everyone understood, but those he wanted. “That is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand … But Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear ”Matthew 13: 13,16.
He is the Truth, therefore, the essence and the best Pedagogue of the Truth, which sometimes He taught by parables and others with simple illustrations, but he never used a light language to provoke a light, or smiling, disposition of the interlocutor, he used a solemn mode, worthy, without leaving, therefore, that his words deprive him of his goodness, love and mercy. The Model Educator taught with authority, which the Father gave him, in contrast to the Scribes and Pharisees, who neglecting the truth of God taught doctrines and commandments of men; Matthew 7:29 and 15:3, 9.
Christ based his teachings entirely on Scripture, so that his listeners could not help but feel the divine power and authority of his teachings (Extracted and summarized by: Mentor Editorial Note – Vol. 1, No. 4, 1947). Jesus, as a Model Educator and Teacher of teachers instructed with the Scriptures, giving an example of them with His life
Frequently Jesus used expressions, referring to the written Word, such as:
“It is written …”, “You heard what was said of me …” Luke 24: 25,26,44,46
With this he evidenced the great knowledge he had of the Scriptures and the zeal he placed to be fulfilled as it was written. The expression that shakes me the most is what he said before giving his spirit to the Father: “It is finished”
What a tremendous word, he gave his spirit in the arms of his Father, but not before He expressed to him that He has done all the work entrusted by Him. This should be the desire of every educator and Christian, that when the time comes to surrender the spirit to the Father, may we say like Jesus:
“It is finished … and, to those you gave me, I kept them, and none of them were lost, but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled” John 19:30 and 17:12
To today’s educators, the Bible exhorts them to be like the Model Educator and speak according to the word of God and minister according to the power that God gives.
“If anyone speaks, let him speak according to the word of God; if any minister, minister according to the power that God gives, so that in all God may be glorified by Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the empire for ever and ever. . Amen” 1 Peter 4:11
Chapter 3: Character of the Christian Educator
“But be your talk: Yes, yes; No, no; because what is more of this, of bad proceeds”
Matthew 5:37
Educating is the art of transmitting knowledge in order to develop or improve the faculties and physical, mental, spiritual and social abilities of a person, be it a child, adolescent or adult, to achieve their perfect formation. From which follows the importance of educating, especially Christianly, and the important role played by an educator. It is also proper to define the nature of the character that must accompany the Christian educator, since it is a set of traits and circumstances of each one and indicate the nature and essence in the way of thinking and acting and by which he is distinguished from others. . A Christian educator must have an impeccable spiritual character, be very similar to his Master, to be a good communicator of the virtues of the one who called him out of darkness into his admirable light. 1 Peter 2:9
Natural Characteristics of the Character
- You must be complete in your doing and thinking, in one word, that your yes is yes; and his no, no
- You must live a Christian life in obedience and subjection to the word and the ministries
- Must be knowledgeable of the Bible and teaching methods
- Must have a positive and enthusiastic attitude, since character influences teaching
- He must be social, frank, enthusiastic in what he does, transmitter of knowledge
- Must be an example of morality, austerity, professional ethics
- Must possess a personality with authority without authoritarianism
- Must have love for students without falling into sentimentality
- Must have adequate preparation for what to do
- You must be responsible and committed in everything and everything you undertake
- You must be firm in your convictions and faithful to your Christian principles
- Must be creative and original, able to adapt the lessons to students and the Bible
Spiritual Characteristics of the Character
- Must be a Christian believer, baptized by water and the Spirit
- Must have a personal relationship with the Father in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit
- Must have a firm and mature spiritual-ethical-moral formation
- It must be of a single spirit, it cannot be ambivalent
- He must be humble and meek at heart, not seeking his own good but that of others
- He must reflect in his life the virtues of the one who called him in his admirable light
Spiritual Formation of the Character of the Educator
The spiritual formation of the character of the educator is manifested in his life and his actions, he cannot deceive anyone, let alone God, if he is not solidly formed in Scripture. It is not a one-day road, but that of a consecrated life, this is achieved:
- Spending time being in communion with the Lord – Matthew 11: 28-30 – John 6:35, 37
- Always being humble before him – Romans 12: 1-2 – James 4: 6-10
- Believing and trusting that the Lord will always help you in this task – Philippians 4:13
- Making time to read and know the Word – Luke 4:16 – Nehemiah 8: 8
- Loving his students in the Lord – 2 Corinthians 5:14 – 1 John 4: 16-19
- Leading in your students spiritually – Matthew 5:15 – Philippians 4: 9-12
- Renewing everything in the power of God – Psalm 51:10, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:10
If the educator, who usually teaches theory in class, before the student, which is a passive receiver, has a rich and solid spiritual life, along with the theory will transmit life. A good educator must know how to orientate, guide, reflect, and worry about a greater pursuit of wisdom and awakening creativity in the student. Above all these things, a Christian educator should always remember that, in matters of Christian education, he is also a student like the others, and that together with his students he must place himself at the feet of the only Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and be able to learn everything from Him.
“Presenting yourself in everything as an example of good works, in the teaching showing integrity, seriousness, healthy and irreproachable word” Titus 2: 7-8
“May God bless us and help us in this holy and great ministry of teaching Scriptures and in the formation of spiritual lives for the Glory of His Holy Name”
Chapter 4: The Subject of Teaching
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I judged as a child, but when I was already a man, I left what was of child” 1 Corinthians 13:11
The student, or educating, is the subject of teaching in the educator’s action, and the latter must to be aware that a person is in front of him, who as such is composed of spirit, soul and body, and must work individually in each of them, without neglecting the group, with dedication, dedication and perseverance, so that each one learns to keep his spirit, soul and body, irreprehensible for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1st Thessalonians 5:23. In order to apply this, the educator must know and differentiate the three characteristics primordial of the human being: temperament, character and personality.
The temperament is congenital, innate, and manifests spontaneously. The character is the temperament worked by the socio-environmental action, it is acquired. Personality is formed on the basis of innate temperament and worked character, it is what will identify a subject from another is what makes it unique and unrepeatable. That is why it was considered important to make this reservation, because it will help the educator to understand students more and better and, in many cases, can help them in training of his Christian personality.
It should be noted that, although the temperament is brought genetically and inherited
many genetic characteristics of parents, some good and others not so much, there is no
excuse for a Christian not to work to improve them, knowing that everything he does, to
God’s glory does it.
It is not positive that the teacher allows the student to blame the parents for the inherited temperament because God gives each one the opportunity to modify it through of character formation and the acquisition of a charming and precious personality. Salvador Iserte, in his book “How to acquire a lovely personality” says that this he manages to be humble and sublime, and to be humble and sublime you have to live all the time with the Sublime and Humble par excellence, because the Sublime only dwells with the humble and broken in spirit and heart. Isaiah 57:15.
The educator is the motivating guide for the student; it is a fallible human being, so no.
It is not the source of all knowledge; this source will only be found in the Lord and in His Word.
The main job of the educator is to captivate the student’s attention and motivate the desire to learn, in such a way, to let oneself be led by the Holy Spirit towards the Truth. It will be taken into account that there is no effective learning if there is no interest in what is learned. On this basis, it is clear that it is important for a teacher to know his students in their different biological stages, in order to adapt the classes effectively. Knowing the development of the human being, in all their ages, is important for adaptation
correct of a class, this can be divided into five main stages:
Childhood: Includes from birth to approximately 12 years
Its most outstanding features are:
Physical: It is a period of rapid growth, psychomotor learning, teething, etc.
Social: It is the age at which the child gradually passes from the family circle to the social circle. Family interests especially manifest, claim and need a lot of love at this stage from their parents and teachers.
Individuals: It is the period in which the child begins to take over the main culture instruments: reasoning and language. Motor skills and emotions predominate. Your world is still a game, so teaching through the game is usually very effective.
Adolescence: Includes from 12 to 18 years approximately
Its main features are:
Physical: It is a period of rapid growth with many biophysical-psychic changes, difficult adaptation, is a stage of normal abnormality; appearance and definition of sexuality.
Social: It is the age at which the child leaves his world, home-school, and enters a new social circle, begins to make contact with reality and things gradually cease to be a game, although in part this depends on the family circle that contains it. They are of dispersed personality and rather social interests.
Individuals: It is the period in which they take possession of the received culture and perfect the values acquired by making them yours. Church statistics mark as the age of greatest desertion, 85%, of Bible schools and the church, so it is recommended that in these classes become the best and most suitable teachers, academically and spiritually.
Youth: Includes between 18 and 25 years approximately
Its most important characteristics are:
Physical: Slow physical growth, with some physiognomy changes.
Social: It is the age at which man has fully entered the social circle.
Individuals: The young man takes over the superior culture. Personality is defined. Acquire the
importance of friendship, and the teacher must show friend, without cronyism, to achieve his
attention and be heard as a counselor and guide at this stage.
Adulthood: From 25 to 65 years old approximately
The most relevant general characteristics are:
Physical: Parking period in physical growth. At different stages there are important hormonal changes, which often act directly on the personality. Interested in forming solid relationships, friends, and couples, is interested in the research, including the Bible, is a good stage to affirm biblical concepts and give growth to the lessons received.
Social: It is the period in which man lives totally in the social circle. Has been defined. Totally his personality.
Individuals: Use the acquired culture and contribute to its formation. Begin to develop their skills and define their professional orientation.
Elderly: Begins from approximately 66 years and is characterized social and individually for having the same grades that distinguish adulthood, although, in the last years of prolonged aging denotes a period of physical decline, but not spiritual They revalue family, church, health, good relationships with peers, family, friends and neighbors, etc. They need ministering of biblical teachings at their level and personal interests, and desire solid and deeply spiritual food.
So that an educator can identify well with each age, when preparing a class according to her, it will be vital to attach the knowledge of the environment to the characteristics of each age sociocultural, family and economic in which the life of their students develops, then, it will not be the same teach a child that comes from a Christian family than a child from a non-Christian family, or of a complete and functional family that of an incomplete and dysfunctional, etc.
Immense diversity of situations, family, social, economic, coexists for which they go through children, as well as young people, adults and the elderly. To mention some of these for information purposes: beating parents and / or alcoholics. Divorced or concubinage parents. New couples of parents presenting stepparents to children. Sexual abuse of all kinds, family and social. Drug – AIDS – Prostitution –
Unemployment – altered moral and social values, etc.
The list can continue indefinitely, which makes it necessary for the teacher to know how to use the powerful weapon of prayer with fervor and in the Spirit. Never act alone, but know how to seek pastoral, professional, bibliographic help, etc., in addition to seeking the Lord, because each case is unique and personal and as such should be treated. The important thing when you discover any of these situations, never try to solve them alone, do not forget that we are a body in Christ and He will guide the steps to follow. But one of the most important is the Prayer.
Chapter 5: How to Reach Children and Adults
“And teaching every man in all wisdom, in order to present perfect in Christ Jesus to every man”
Col. 1:28
The expression “to every man” of this passage is generic to the human race, so it includes both children and adults, men and women. The main objective of a Bible school teacher should be to lead his students, children, youth or adults, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and present them to the Savior in a personal way, suitable for their ages. The teacher must arbitrate the means so that they are helped to know Him, that they learn to come to Him by faith and with love in all circumstances, and may believe for the salvation of the soul, joining with Him for a lifetime.
The Christian worker, and the teacher is, needs supernatural and divine help, for he can only do his work through the Holy Spirit and he will be helpless if he does not accompany his service with a holy life, a pious walk and much prayer, for which, it will be necessary to meet Jesus Christ with a progressive intimacy; knowing his will expressed in his words. The apostle John well expresses this progressive knowledge: “What it was from the beginning, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have contemplated, and felt our hands concerning the Word of life … and we have seen it, and we testify, and we announce to you …”1 John 1: 1-2
This is the most effective method a teacher can count on to be able to expose their excellence and teachings to others, have a progressive knowledge of the Lord, seeking as long as his life matches his words and always testifies of him. Christian teaching is a ministry given by Christ, full of all grace, power and truth, and teachers must be “good odors of Christ.” As educators they must strive for the best and highest for students.
Indications that should be taken into account when teaching or Evangelize
- You should not force yourself to make a profession of faith:
You must have a lot of spiritual insight about the point of conversion of a person and take into account the age, “should not be forced”, it is known from the fact of true conversions in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and that is actually possible. There are hundreds of testimonies of the security of salvation obtained at an early age and belated. It would be impossible to deny or discredit these testimonies, since they come from missionaries, Christian evangelists and workers of trust and well recognized, however, it is not prudent “force” the unsaved to say, or do, what they possibly still understand imperfectly, or even more, they express it imperfectly. We will have to show them a lot of sympathy and encouragement, with a sincere purpose, but may the manifestations of life be spontaneous and authentic and personal to each new convert.
- The need to lay a good moral foundation:
This is an outstanding feature in the ministry of Our Lord, as shown in the Sermon on the Mount There is a certain kind of instruction that seems to discredit the teaching of morality, through which the unsaved come to think that “being good, honest and charitable “has no value.” This, surely, is a mistake, as we can see by certain scriptures (Acts 10:35; Romans 2.6-11). God pleases every good thing and is correct. The same is “Good.” It is true that “being good” and “doing good deeds” is not enough to save the soul, but we also know that in the material there are good things and excellent things that are of utmost need.
Eating and drinking and dressing decently cannot save the soul, but they are necessary things. So obedience to parents, righteousness, honesty, being attentive and affectionate, etc., cannot save the soul from sin and judgment, but he who in his zeal against “salvation by works” influences children to think lightly about these things, they do cruel and lasting harm, in the same way as by teaching that “the kingdom of God is not food or drink “it is suggested that such things have no use or are” bad “; this would be lead people to starvation. That each teacher has a strong moral base in all their teaching, while presenting the essential truths of the gospel.
- To this end, the unsaved should be advised:
Let them learn the Ten Commandments, the beatitudes, prayer, 1 Corinthians 13, and a good part of the book of Proverbs. They must be diligently constrained to learn from memory the order of the books of the Bible, and the Scriptures that the teacher believes useful and convenient. You have to teach them that conversion is “the beginning” and not the end or the goal. It is to enter through the door, with the perspective of walking on the road, is to be born to live, is to come to the light leaving the darkness and then “walking in the light” is to receive Christ to walk in Him.
- Avoid consecutive and continuous appeals for conversion:
Because that way they lose their value, because the ear gets used to them. Sometimes the Spirit of God will lead us to urge, but it is generally better to teach the Word and allow time for it to germinate in the heart and fruit. It is often very effective, if not always, for the teacher’s personal life testimony about his students, this one usually lasts over time and influences their lives. Something for which the evangelical churches are currently suffering, is the profession of premature faith that leads to false security.
The fruit is picked before having time to ripen. There are people who believe “to be converted “and some are sure, but notoriously they walk around the world in various ways and pleasures. True faith is a current and continuous principle, it is not an act of the past, something that happened to us one day and never lived again. Faith begins as a grain of mustard, but it does not look like a mustard seed, but it reaches the largest size of vegetables. Matthew 13: 31-32
- An extensive and varied teaching of truth must be done:
Many, when preaching the gospel, limit themselves to expressions like this: “You are a sinner,
God loves you, Christ has died for you and if you believe you will be saved.” These are precious truths, but repeating them in excess, in one form or another, is not an adequate and desirable presentation of the Gospel of God. This way of preaching will not satisfy the needs and will not pave the way to many difficult listeners. The Bible is full of examples that allow you to use a great variety of examples to reach the unsaved without paraphrased muffins.
The educator must become an effective minister of the New Covenant, for which he must be better equipped than anyone if you are really going to preach Christ crucified in all its fullness, with wisdom and power of God. The glories of Christ are endless. You have to minister abundantly the bread of life to the hungry souls. We must expose in the Spirit, with an adequate and accurate exposition of the Scriptures, their glorious fullness so that the needy sinners are powerfully attracted to Him.
“And how will they believe the One from whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)
The meaning of the word “gospel” includes all good news that comes from the Kingdom of the Heavens, and there must be a declaration of all the advice of God in order to be done in the listeners a good formation of the Christian character. We not only want to have “Christians” in churches, but we need robust, strong, mature, confirmed Christians and well instructed. Our goal must be to present the Father to every perfect man in the Way that is Jesus Christ. (Adapted and compiled by G. Goodman) And to conclude this issue I will say that they must be very persevering. “Let’s not get tired, then, of doing good, that we will reap in his time, if we had not passed out.” Galatians 6: 9
Children need to Convert
Reaching a child for Christ is one of the greatest and most arduous tasks of a biblical teacher, for this they should make him recognize that he is lost without Christ, like any adult sinner who did not accept Christ, died spiritually and separated from God. The child needs to be saved and grow with the security of his salvation because that is the will of God, that none of your little ones get lost. The education of a child in the Ancient and Middle Ages was based on recording in the minds of the educating the precepts, regardless of his own personality, the educator was more important than the student.
In the 18th century, the Swiss philosopher J.J.Rousseau, presented a thesis contrary to this theory, the child has everything inside, he just has to develop it, and in this theory, the student is more important than the educator.
These two opposing views, they called “The problem of Education”, which aroused great controversy in its time. The Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile, tried to solve this problem, proposing a interaction between both educator and learners, he claimed that the problem was solved in how much the teacher says the first word that reaches the soul of the student, and both communicate, and if really the educator and learners have communicated in the same act of spirit, then you can say that they have communicated, and this is teaching.
Etymologically education comes from two Latin voices: ex-: out and sweet-: carry, to drive, that is, to “bring out, bring to light, demonstrate, in action, the properties or powers contained, in germ, in a subject”. Education is orientated and guidance, and to be effective it must be bidirectional, that is, in two directions, from the teacher-sender to the student-receiver and vice versa. The Christian educator has a great task that must be carried out with great responsibility knowing that it influences the spiritual life of its students.
Adults need to Convert
Adults are as much, or more needy than children, since they are more aware of their spiritual needs and limitations, they may not realize what they need Christ until a preacher, or teacher, introduces him to his old life, to be born again, of water and spirit, like Nicodemus. John 3: 1-15. For the rest, the same suggestions as for the conversion of a child are valid, since a converted adult is a newborn child, and as such you have to feed him with milk spiritually unadulterated.
Chapter 6: Teaching Methods
“The Holy Spirit will teach you at the same time what you should say” Luke 12:12
“It is written in the prophets: And they will all be taught by God. So, everyone who heard the father, and learned from him, comes to me.” John 6:45
Jesus, as Teacher of teachers, learned everything from the Father and was recognized by friends and enemies, by the disciples, the scribes and the Pharisees. He also used pedagogical methods, although at that time the terms we use today to classify them. His methods were: The laws of teaching, the questions and answers, the exposition, the narration and parables, discussion and confrontation with the truth.
He trained the disciples to become teachers, transmitting the teachings learned from others.
His disciples became teachers of the gospel, fulfilling the order of the Lord. The Bible clearly states about the importance of teaching and educators. Matthew 28: 19-20: Preaching and teaching is a commandment.
Ephesians 4:11: Mention specific functions for those who integrate the delimited body with specific responsibilities of the church, and includes the teacher. 2nd Timothy 2: 2: Exhorts others to prepare for teaching.
A good biblical educator should know, in addition to teaching: Evangelize and edify the spiritual life of their students, seeking their transformation according to Romans 8:29 and Ephesians 4:12. Present them perfect in Christ to the Father by the Holy Spirit according to Colossians 1: 28-29 and help them change the bad things they bring, however good they may become from an early age.
The preacher L.D. Moody, in an opportunity where his wife, who always asked
if someone had converted with his sermon, he said:
Three and a half souls were given to Christ, and the wife asked: Three adults and a child?
Do not! Moody answered, three children and an adult.
This anecdote shows the importance of preaching and teaching, both to children as adults, knowing that the younger he finds Christ, the more life he will have to consecrate him. You cannot, nor should, use the same methods with some as with others, for which, It is important to learn different methods, and to know which one to adapt to the level and ages of the students that each educator has.
There is no teaching method or technique better than another, for learning to be effective, it is advisable to use several techniques and methods, trying to adapt them to the ages and intellectual levels of the students and the purpose of the class.
The educator must always keep in mind that no two students are alike, so he must try a personalized approach with delicacy and constant will, with skill, intuition, tact and spiritual discernment, treating each one in the most convenient way and adequate to achieve the purpose of the chosen lesson.
Luisa de Walker, a Christian educator, says that using the human senses opens doors through which knowledge reaches the mind and spirit of the student with more ease, favoring a better perception of learning. This theory is based on the method that appeals to the senses to achieve better learning, most educators agree here, whether spiritually or academically.
Teaching through Hearing: 10% of what is heard is remembered
Teaching through the ear is the base method for almost all other methods between listeners. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of hearing are: speech, expository, narration, stories, questions and answers.
Teaching through the See: 50% of what is seen is remembered
Attractive options must be presented to the student, so that the class and the learning process is achieved.
This method is very important to use among sighted people for the retention rate that it has, and more effective is if it is used with audiovisuals. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of seeing are: Prints, paintings, illustrations, didactics, films, slides, films or transparencies.
Teaching through the Smell: 65% of what you smell is remembered.
Smell affects, or can affect, a lot in teaching and learning. Smell unconsciously predisposes to accept or reject the desired teaching impart, so it is very important the cleanliness, light and air of the classroom, and the personal cleanliness of teachers and students.
The Scriptures emphasize much about cleanliness, both in the OT and in the NT, he urges a pleasant aroma before God. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of smell are: Flowers, perfumes, food decomposed, and every smelly element that illustrates the class.
Teaching through Talking: 80% of what is said is remembered
Speech, for those who are gifted with it, is a very useful tool when it comes to teaching and of learning. It allows you to explain what you are trying to teach and allows you to ask what you want to learn. It is appropriate to use speaking in dialogue and not in monologues. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of speech are: The questions and answers, phonic and tonal emphases, modulation and play with words.
Teaching through Touch: There are no memory statistics with touching, the touch allows one to recognize the elements that are the occasion of study, are the eyes of the non-seer, which indicates its importance, because we can also “see” through touching. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of touch are: The use of elements that allow recognizing and differentiating, cold and heat, hard and soft, smooth and rough, etc.
This method has a lot to do with the “do”, since we use our hands to do things, draw, paint, even with your fingers, this is effective for modeling, etc.
Teaching through Doing: 90% of what is done is remembered
It is necessary to know how to teach through doing, exercising in students the abilities of: concentration, will, responsibility and decision. The most frequent techniques appealing to the sense of doing are: Games, group tasks, singing, acting, mimicking, etc.
Above all this an educator must learn to teach with “common sense” a sense almost forgotten, that if used spiritually it can give surprising results. On the presentation of the chosen theme, on the methods that the educator will use, they depend, in large part, on the good or bad results that the educator will get. The correct use of one, or several, of these techniques, will allow the educator to go discovering which are the right or wrong concepts of the didactic used.
Teaching Principles:
- There are no boring topics, there are boring methods and educators, it will depend on the educator to make the class interesting and effective for the students
- Use varied techniques and methodologies, all are valid if you know how to accommodate the levels and ages of students
- The educator is the main motivator of the class and central axis of it, over him the achievements and failures of the teaching methods you use will fall, you should know that what is proposes to teach must have a direct connection with life and reality
- You must frequently use the didactic principle of learning based on experience, starting from the known leading him to the unknown, so that the student does not feel disconnected from the reality that lives daily, but adds knowledge
- There is no good learning without good activity or exercise by the learner
Didactics is the set of rules and procedures that guide learning, it is the part of the teaching that deals with how to teach so that you learn more and better. The methods and techniques that the educator uses to teach his classes are the way and the tools to reach the proposed end or unwanted failure.
Classification of Teaching Methods
Deductive or Synthesis: It is when the subject to be studied goes from the general to the particular, use deduction and reasoning. Principles and definitions of which are presented guide the student to deduce the purpose of the class, going from cause to effect. The apostle Paul used this method, see Galatians 6: 7
Inductive or Analysis: It is when the subject to be studied is presented through individual cases until discovering the principle that governs it. Unlike the previous one, this one goes from the particular to the general, and the effect to the cause that produces it. The Lord Jesus used this method, see Luke 6: 43-45
Intuitive or Unconscious: It is when a class takes place with things in sight treated or their immediate substitutes, appealing to the unconscious memory of the student. The intuitive elements that are frequently used are: Direct contact with what is studied or it is tried to teach, experiences and practices with didactic material, visits, excursions, audiovisuals, etc. It is ideal that all classes are conducted through direct experiences.
Socratic: So called for being used by the philosopher Socrates, born 469 years BC. Is the method of dialogue through concise, precise and understandable questions, and answers from the student, must be used and skillfully guided by the educator to take the student to reasoning towards the end proposed by the subject beforehand. The Lord Jesus used this method, see Matthew 22: 41-46 and John 3: 1-12
Comparative: It is when the data presented allow comparisons that lead to a conclusion It allows the student to take analogies between the biblical stories and their relationship with the current life. This method goes from the particular to the particular.
Audiovisual: It is a method that you are very familiar with today, as your name indicates it, use the word and eyes to teach. The Lord Jesus used this method, showing his disciples material objects to then draw from them a teaching, see Matthew 6: 28-32
Of Illustration or Parables: This system is adapted to be used with all methods mentioned above, it is important to use here the guide from the known to the unknown, from the concrete to the abstract, from the concrete to the spiritual. The Lord Jesus used it constantly, see Luke 10-18
Expository: It is the one that is exposed verbally, without the participation of the students. This method is not advisable in education, because it produces a lack of interest in students and does not cause the effect desired by the teacher, which is the teaching learning.
Verbalistic: It is the combination of oral and written language as a means of realizing class. This method fits very well with the exhibition technique and makes it more accessible.
Logical: It is when data and facts are presented in order of antecedent and consequent. It is a structured method that goes from the most complete to the most specific, from the origins to the current, and is normally used among young people and adults.
Psychological: It is when the elements presented do not follow a logical order, but an order closer to the interests to be achieved, taking into account the needs and student experiences. It responds to the evolutionary age of the student and goes from the concrete to the abstract. To go from the psychological to the logical, is to follow the natural, continuous and progressive, so that there are hiatuses between real life and the subject of teaching, starting with the knowledge that the student has must try to reach an experience systematized and better defined for him.
Passive: It is when students receive passive knowledge through dictations, bookmarked lessons, memorized texts without comprehension, questions and answers without intervention or confrontation of the subject.
Active: It is when the student participates in the development of the class. This method becomes a resource of activation or incentive of the educator towards the student, so that it acts physically, mentally and spiritually, and achieves authentic learning.
Chapter 7: Preparing a Bible Lesson
“And they admired their doctrine (teaching), because his word was with authority” Luke 4:32
Jesus taught with authority, and that divine authority he possessed gave him power and dominion about what he preached. The general teaching of today’s teachers is often without authority, or natural,
neither spiritual, nor without conviction of what is taught, so it becomes ineffective. Therefore, while preparing a Bible lesson is important, it should not lose spirit and the biblical essence, which is what gives life to the teaching. It is important that the teacher is prepared academically and spiritually, since the best of lessons, without the authority that the Lord gives to teach it, will fail in the spiritual impact that it is intended to give the student. The authority of the Lord comes to one when, in addition to knowing well the desired subject to teach, he has learned to live it.
The Importance of preparing a Bible lesson
- To achieve the objectives by transmitting a biblical truth
- To convey confidence and security in the dictation of the Class
- To help order and discipline of a well prepared class
- To eliminate difficulties in the face of unexpected questions
- To obtain and maintain student interest
What the educator should do before preparing a lesson
- Read and study the Bible and auxiliary books as sources of knowledge
- If in doubt, always consult with your peers or pastors, never improvise.
- Prepare the lesson in advance by dedicating time and prayer
- Pray for the lesson you will give and for the students so that the Spirit guides both
Suggested steps for preparing a Bible lesson
Class Title: (must be cut and attractive, Ex.: A lost sheep)
Basic Biblical Text: (should be short and easy to memorize for students. Ex.: Matthew 18:11)
Ages of the students: (it is very important to adapt the classes to the ages)
Socio-cultural level of students: (It is important to identify the level of students at preparing a class is not the same preparing it for children born and raised in the church, as for street children, or children of some indigenous tribe)
- Purpose or Objective of the Class: It is what the teacher intends to achieve that the student
learn through the lesson
- Introduction to the Theme: It is the presentation, the why and the why, of the topic of
the lesson, it serves to capture the attention and introduce the student to the subject
- Selected theme: It is the main part of the lesson, which should be adjusted to the ages and
student levels
- 4. The Enlightenment to the Topic: Use visual aids …
- Theme Development: It is the teaching process to achieve the objective.
- Application of the Theme: It is the art of relating the chosen theme to the life of the
student, is the spiritual part of the lesson, and if there is no teaching applicable to the
everyday life, the lesson loses its value
- Conclusion of the Class: It is the closing of the class and the teaching that
intends to leave learned in the mind and spirit of the students, and relates
directly for the purpose of the lesson.
Goals that a Christian Educator must have
- That the student learn the lesson and receive in the spirit the teaching
- That the student’s life be transformed as a result of the teachings
- That the student learn to keep the teachings in his mind and heart
- That the spiritual needs of the student find answers in their teachings
- That the student becomes an insatiable researcher of the Word of God
- That the student always seeks to deepen the truth and its relationship with his life
- That the student becomes a teacher
Reaching these goals seems like a utopia, but never believe that they can be achieved by personal expertise, although knowledge has a lot to do, do not forget that we sow and growth is given by God.
If the educator is humble and takes the obligation to pray for this growth, reaching it will cease to be a utopia.
Some more suggestions
It is very important to choose the biblical portion, after choosing the topic you want teach, because not every biblical story adapts to any age, or to any subject, you have to try to select biblical portions that contain an understandable and accessible message to the ages and levels of the students and clarify the issue without being confused. It will help the teacher a lot to form a reference library with a language dictionary and biblical, concordances, biographies and Christian stories and complementary study books and Bible auxiliaries, student records and topics that were given.
All learning is based on prior knowledge, so the best teachings are those that take the student from the known to the unknown, so that, from something known, be led by the teacher to what you want to teach.
A good teacher should know his students sufficiently to use this principle of teaching: from the unknown to the known.
The duration of a lesson should be subject to the interest and attention of the students, therefore, it is advisable to adjust the duration to the ages, levels and attention of the students. If the subject has not concluded in one class, it is advisable to give it in two, before saturating or bore the student, because the essence of the teaching that is intended to be lost will be lost.
If a student asks something they do not know how to answer, do not invent, be humble and sincere, tell them you will investigate for the next class and don’t forget to take note and comply. Invite the student, and to the rest of the class, to do the same if they are of the right age to do so, it can be a very enriching experience for everyone. Always keep in mind the importance of intercessory prayer, in the secret chamber and in front of the students.
The Analysis of the Bible Lesson
After having independently and systematically read the biblical portion to explain in the class, it is advisable to perform a self-analysis of it, because it will help you greatly in the understanding and presentation of household items. Generally a series of well-founded and correctly answered questions.
They can be helpful for that purpose. So you could say:
1st– Regarding the writing of the passage: Who writes and to whom? If you write to certain people: Who are they and where else are they mentioned? Where do they live? Who are your neighbors according to the Bible?
2nd–With respect to the time of the passage: In general to any person who can relate with respect to place, time; then you might ask, when did they lead to effect these actions, or did they pronounce these words? Is this writing after or before any other? Can any relation of hours, days, seasons, parties be found in it?
celebrations with today?
3rd– With respect to the history of the passage: When verifying the two previous sections it will be necessary now to know well; What does the writing of such people, places or times say? Which one is your testimony to the Lord? What is the beginning and end of this Scripture? Have you influenced the words mentioned there to any other person or writer?
4th– Regarding the interpretation of the passage: It is sometimes difficult for biblical students, with present concepts, to interpret such old facts or customs, the directives government have evolved, as well as relationships between individuals; they are born then small difficulties of interpretation that can be considered under these two Questions: What are they? How are they interpreted in the light of the Holy Scriptures?
5th– Regarding the teaching of the passage: There is still a final analysis for this portion and that by the way is the fundamental one: What is the teaching of these verses? What does this Scripture mean? If the Christian life could be governed by it, what are the rules contained therein?
Once the whole set has been well analyzed, the instructor must fix these truths in his heart, to deal with them later from the point of view of the children. This will require a vivid conception of their condition and needs; Thinking previously of each student in the class, their character, their dangers, their home. Only with one deep understanding of this background, the instructor will feel guided to ask the last question: How will I prepare a lesson that reaches the heart of this child? May the Lord help you to this end so that you fulfill this responsible mission well. (Adapted from a note for pastor’s teachers and teacher Raúl Caballero Yaccou – father)
Chapter 8: The Bible is God’s Word
“Open my eyes and I will look at the wonders of your law” Psalm 119:18
“Oh, how much I love your law” Psalm 119:97
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105
“The sum of your word is true” Psalm 119:160
This point attempts to guide the Christian educator to acquire personal evidence that the Bible
It is the Word of God, written and inspired by God, using the research method and confrontation, from a humble spiritual gaze, with prayer and supplication in the spirit, as says Psalm 119:18.
“For the Word of God is alive and effective” (Hebrews 4:12)
If the teacher does not learn from his own spiritual experiences this biblical truth, he will hardly be able to transmit the truth of Christ to his students. The Bible contains all the Word of God written and enclosed in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. It is the Word of the Father:
“The words you gave me have given them. Sanctify them in your truth, your word is true” John 17: 8,17
It is the Word of the Son; “And Jesus said … if you remain in my word …” John 8:31
It is the Word of the Holy Spirit
“And take. the sword of the Spirit that is the word of God ”Ephesians 6:17
“The holy men of God spoke being inspired of the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21
“The secret things belong to Jehovah, our God, but those revealed are for us and for
our children forever, that we may fulfill all the words of this law ” Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to our God, and will eternally belong to him, only those that he wants to reveal are for us and for our children. For a teacher, students are spiritual children that God entrusts to him, to give him “new life ”to one of these lives that God has entrusted to them, is to rescue it from darkness to light admirably, is the “new birth.” Therefore, the teacher has the obligation to seek each day to seek God to reach greater revelation of the Scriptures, this will be of great spiritual growth, and you will get greater authority of the Spirit, being able to impart his teachings with great certainty of faith and confidence in the power of the written word, which undoubtedly what you will be teaching is, simply, the Word of God pure and without human or natural addition.
The Character of the Evidence
“What it was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what that we have contemplated, and felt our hands regarding the verb of life … These things we write so that your joy may be fulfilled” 1 John 1: 1-4
The teacher must acquire personal evidence that the Bible is the word of God through:
Historical evidence: For the testimony of the prophecy that we have seen fulfilled and we are certain that those that have not yet been fulfilled will be fulfilled.
The internal evidence: It is the divine effect or fruit that the word of the Bible produces in the lives of those who receive their message with full faith, humility and subjection.
The experimental evidence: It is the evidence provided by the divine characters that are proper
of the content of the Bible, and over time science and technology has proven it.
“The grass dries and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever”
1 Peter 1: 24-25
This is the truth that few seek, seek the imperishable from the perishable, checking how the grass dries, or a flower falls and how the work that God in the Son for the Holy Spirit performed in my life is identical to that made in any of the characters biblical who set out to hear the voice of God, and see the lives of those who have not accepted this biblical truth perish spiritually like dried grass or fallen flower, just like
any of the biblical characters who did not want to hear the word of God. The teacher has to know that he has in his hands, in each student, a personal life, which as such he has good and bad things incorporated into his personality. A life without Christ has a bleak personality that can be transformed, with Christ, into a lovely personality.
“Therefore, we all are transformed from glory to glory, in the same image, as by the Spirit of the Lord”
2 Corinthians 3:18
This is also a great task that the teacher has, transforming an unpleasant life into the presence of God in a pleasant life, fragrant smell, in the presence of God. We all bring the “I” at birth in our human nature, and we know that we are all born without Christ. Therefore we are slaves of our “I” and cannot be ourselves.
The life of Christ is acquired in a moment of our life, it is incorporated into our being and in our “I” transforming the “I” into the “self”, being free from slavery to “I sinner” that we brought at birth, becoming ourselves receiving the virtues of Christ and making them characteristic of our new nature, dying to our “I” every day, on the cross of which He gave us eternal life. In order to guarantee the integrity of the message of salvation, the Holy Spirit induced the apostles to write down the NT Books that announce their word, their plan and their work.
Chapter 9: Ethics and Moral of the Christian Educator
“Therefore, O beloved, diligently seek to be found by He without spot and irreprehensible, in peace”
2 Peter 3:14
Ethics and morals, although they are synonymous with the Spanish language, have an application different in people. While ethics is about the origin and essence of the moral, in relation to moral conscience and free will and its derivations of a practical nature, saying much about the behavior of a human being, moral, speaks of the internal actions of human behavior in the order of their goodness or malice, which subordinates all desires to a harmonious and rational adaptation of supreme good based on the love of God and the love of neighbor.
Willam Barclay, defines ethics as “the science of human behavior” and Roberto Azzati the defined as “The part of philosophy that deals with the morals and obligations of men” Ethics and morals in the Kingdom of God are indivisibly linked, analyzing the passages from Romans 14:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:20, we see that they have ethical-normative guidelines, which set the believer behavior.
The Kingdom of God has a legal structure that commits God to himself and to the men in their relationship with him and between them, and this is what the passages of Luke 9:62 tell us about,10: 9, 12: 31-32, 17:21, Colossians 1:13, 2 Peter 1: 3-11, among many others.
For ethics in the preaching of the gospel, and in the teachings of the teacher, we find good examples in the passages of Matthew 4:23, 9:35, observing that Jesus did not mutilate his message making it hyper-spiritual, not only limited to healing, or miracles or demon release.
All these passages reveal a priority in the presentation of the gospel:
1st– The teaching of sound doctrine
2nd– The preaching of the gospel of the kingdom in the power of God
3rd– The service to the community
An educator, who acts with Christian ethics and morals, must be as Paul tells his faithful collaborator Titus 1: 7-8. An educator must apply Christian ethics and morals, first in his life, then in his home, so that others recognize their integrity, and must know how to discern between an authentic action ethical-moral-Christian and good social behavior that is far from containing principles Christians. We believe that much remains to be discussed on this subject, but this screenshot will serve to reveal to the educator of the imperative need for Christian educators to live according to ethics and morals as the Bible teaches it, especially in these times when everything seems to be lawful, but as Paul says, although everything is lawful to me, not everything suits me.
A practical way to recognize if we are acting with Christian ethics and morals is to check if the apostle Paul says in our lives: “… but let everything be done decently and in order ”1 Corinthians 14:40.
It could be said that by decency it is moral and by order it is ethical. Always remembering that everything must be done for the Glory of God and the good of others in Christian love, thus ensuring that all our conduct is accepted before our Lord and Sovereign King.
“Behold on the mountains the feet of the one who brings good news, of the one who announces peace” Nahum 1:15
ANNEXED
Questionnaire for applicants to Bible School Teachers
(This questionnaire is intended to unify doctrine and answers, so that if a student
change teacher do not receive different answer)
01) Why do you want to be a Bible teacher?
02) What does it mean for you to be a biblical teacher?
03) What is the first condition a biblical teacher must have?
04) What goals do you have as a teacher?
05) Are you willing to continually prepare to enrich your ministry?
06) Who is Jesus Christ?
07) What is sin?
08) When does it come in and why?
09) Did God create sinners?
10) God created the eternal man.?
11) Explain in a few words what the Salvation Plan consists of
12) What about the wicked?
13) What is hell?
14) For what, or who, was it created?
15) Who and why do they go there?
16) When Christ was on earth Was he God or was he man?
17) Is Salvation lost?
18) What about the good works?
19) Why did God allow man to fall into sin?
20) What is the Doctrine of Predestination?
21) Does man have free will?
22) What is baptism?
23) Why should we be baptized?
24) Should children be baptized?
25) Does baptism take away sin?
26) What is baptism and fullness in the Holy Spirit?
27) What are the ministries and who grants them?
28) What are spiritual gifts?
29) What is the sacrament?
30) Who can take it?
31) Can children participate in it? Why?
32) How many kinds of believers does the Bible mention?
33) What is the church according to Matthew 16: 13-19?
34) Why do you have to congregate in a denomination?
35) How does our organization move with respect to church government?
36) What is restraint?
37) Who should be subjected to?
38) Is tithing an obligation? Why?
39) In addition to tithing, do we have to offer?
40) What is the Missionary Work?
41) Who are missionaries?
42) What do you interpret for the Doctrine of the Trinity?
43) Is there a difference between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Which one?
44) If you are asked how you know that the Bible is inspired by God, what do you answer?
45) What do you answer about the Apocryphal Books?
46) How do you interpret the Second Coming of Christ?
Reference Bibliography:
Thompson Reference Bible – Reina-Valera Version 19670 – Edit. Life – 1991
Martha Saint de Berberian “How to Teach with Efficiency” – Edit. CLIE – 1988
Irene W. Do Pardo de Mas “Introduction to Christian Education” Edit. CLIE – 1987
Armando Di Pardo “Treaty of Biblical Introduction” – Edit. CLIE – 1977
Federico Bettex “The Bible: Word of God” – Edit. CLIE – 1985
Jopep Laporta “The Art Dilemma” – Edit. CLIE – 1991
Roberto Azzati “Pastoral Ethics” Edit. Del Rey – 1992
Salvador Iserte “How to Acquire a Charming Personality” – Edit. CLIE – 1988
Several Authors “Mentor” – Vol. 1, nº 4 – Edit. Paths of the Believer – 1947
Universal Encyclopedic Dictionary – V Volumes – Edit. CREDESA – 1965