Some of the best Bible study you will ever do is the study you do as you prepare to teach a Bible class. If you’ve been a Christian for more than a few years and you’ve never taught a Bible class, try it. You’ll see what I mean.

For one thing, when you agree to teach a class, this immediately creates a sense of accountability. Knowing that others are counting on you means that you have a responsibility to study, study diligently, and do your very best to understand the text accurately. Your first time teaching, this accountability may be stressful. But it will almost certainly motivate you to better study.

This preparation will involve spending a lot of time in the text, reading it repeatedly, studying its context, and consulting various resources, such as commentaries or study guides.

Teaching requires that you analyze the text carefully. Not only must you know what the text says, but it is up to you to be able to explain it to others. Not only must you be able to explain it, but you’ll also want to give some thought as to how it might apply to those in your class. This process will sharpen your analytical skills and enhance your understanding of the Bible.

Teaching a class forces you to think carefully about how to communicate what you have learned. The act of thinking about what you will say will help solidify your understanding, and often reveals gaps in your own knowledge. When you can’t figure out how to explain something effectively, this will drive you back into deeper study.

Most people feel nervous before teaching a class. This too can be a great asset. The more nervous you are, the more time you will spend looking over your notes again and again, while rehearsing to yourself what you will say, and how you will say it. This repetition will reinforce your study even more.

Finally, once the day has come for you to present your class, there’s a possibility that other students in the class will ask you questions. This can be a terrifying thought for first time Bible class teachers. But don’t sweat it. If you’ve spent time preparing for class, and a question is raised that you don’t know the answer to, there is nothing wrong with humbling confessing “I don’t know, but I’ll be happy to study that some more.” Even the best Bible teachers don’t know all the answers to all the questions. But once again, by putting yourself in a position where others will ask you questions, this will force you to further clarify your thoughts and articulate them clearly. The process of engaging with questions can also help you to consider perspectives you haven’t considered before.

By the time it’s all said and done, I think you will agree. There is no Bible study quite like the study you will do while preparing to teach a class.

It’s not easy. Yes, it can be scary. But it’s worth it. If you’ve never had the opportunity to teach a class, let one of your elders or deacons know that you would like the opportunity. It will be some of the best Bible study you will ever do.