Starter
1. As a school kid, what was your biggest academic success? How did it make you feel?
2. What is your earliest memory of failure at school? How did it feel and how did you deal with it?
Going Deeper
It’s inevitable that we look for achievement in teaching. On our uni courses we want to achieve the grade we came for. In training we want to achieve a decent lesson observation and get our weekly targets ticked off. For the kids we teach, it’s about their progress, grades and passing the tests.
3. How much should achieving matter in Education?
4. What are the good and bad sides to having targets to achieve?
Ask someone to read this passage out loud:
‘But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith…
I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 3:7-9, 14
5. How do Paul’s words help us think about our past achievements?
While Paul reminds us that it’s all about Jesus, the Bible teaches that doing good work is still good. Ask someone to read this next verse.
‘Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.’ Proverbs 31:31
6. Come up with a sentence together (no longer than 10 words!) that sums up what God says about earthly achievements.
Reflect
7. Where in life or teaching are you feling the pressure to achieve or succeed? What might God be saying to you about this today?
Spend time praying together, especially for those under pressure to perform at the moment. Praise God for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Take it Further
"It means we can work and rest harder because our success is safe in Christ." Paul McFadden
Read the full article at: When All of Teaching Feels Like Pass or Fail