Sunday School podcasts

[rcthompson88]

I have definitely felt that way, particularly with the Follow Him podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway. I often get the sense that the circles those two hosts run within, particularly among many at BYU, have this kind of "group think" around the Gospel and different factoids/tidbits about the scriptures and the church. I don't how best to explain it, but I feels as though sometimes their insights and connections and stories are more components of a collective church culture as opposed to truths taught by the Spirit.

[Carborendum]

On 8/9/2023 at 11:25 AM, Vort said:

Re: Small group discussions:

I personally have rarely found them effective. In principle, they sound great, but in practice, I have found them unsatisfying. I think it works better either to have small classes or to have instruction tailored to large classes. Breaking into small groups seems like having your cake and eating it, too, and in my experience it works just about as well.

I have had a sneaking suspicion that this is the go-to method when the instructor has not properly prepared a lesson.

[Just_A_Guy]

On 8/11/2023 at 9:48 AM, Carborendum said:

I have had a sneaking suspicion that this is the go-to method when the instructor has not properly prepared a lesson.

They can be done well, but it’s actually *more* work to do it right.  Because (in my experience) you have to appoint group leaders several days in advance, and spend some time with them to make sure they’ve read the lesson themselves and understand what it is that you (as teacher) are hoping to accomplish.  Some topics (brainstorming, hypothetical scenarios, problem-solving) lend themselves well to small-group discussion; others (“share your most intimate spiritual experience in this small group, so that the ‘group leader’ can recount a watered-down version of it to the entire classroom a few minutes later”) really don’t.  

Edited August 14, 2023 by Just_A_Guy

[askandanswer]

My experience with small group discussions, both at church and at work is that participants spend the first minute or two trying to work out what they are supposed to be discussing. Then a fairly short amount of time discussing the intended topic. Next, a quick discussion about who will be the group's spokesperson. And finally, a munch longer discussion on whatever else comes to mind. 

[JohnsonJones]

On 8/6/2023 at 6:10 PM, zil2 said:

Thankfully, I don't think I've heard this in my Sunday School class - if I have, it's been rare.  Personally, I wish the people doing those podcasts / YT channels / etc. would stop.  The point of CFM is for people to learn from the Holy Ghost.  If they have a podcast to turn to, they're not turning to the Holy Ghost.  People think that some stranger's brilliant insight is more impressive than the Holy Ghost telling them [whatever simple thing], but they're wrong.  Even feeling the Holy Ghost testify of the truthfulness of something presented in a podcast is not as important as learning to hear the Holy Ghost during your personal, private or family scripture study.  The podcast may be easier or more interesting, it may feel like you learned something, but it's not as important as learning to learn from the Holy Ghost. /rant

 I didn't even know there were these podcasts.  That sounds fascinating.  Perhaps using them as a way to enhance your own scripture study could be useful.  I am intrigued by this now.  I don't do podcasts though.  IF they have some sort of youtube channel that could be interesting. 

[zil2]

5 minutes ago, JohnsonJones said:

 I didn't even know there were these podcasts.  That sounds fascinating.  Perhaps using them as a way to enhance your own scripture study could be useful.  I am intrigued by this now.  I don't do podcasts though.  IF they have some sort of youtube channel that could be interesting. 

All the ones I know are YouTube.  Please don't let YouTube + laziness / convenience replace the Holy Ghost and personal revelation!

[JohnsonJones]

Just now, zil2 said:

All the ones I know are YouTube.  Please don't let YouTube + laziness / convenience replace the Holy Ghost and personal revelation!

Oh, I won't.  I just find it could be interesting to see others insights to the same material as I am reading.  It probably also makes better material to read than news stories during the upcoming student hours I'll have (Where almost no students come to see me  until either mid-terms or the end of the semester occurs).

[tomasgreenro]

On 8/7/2023 at 7:48 PM, Traveler said:

Perhaps I am the odd one out in this thread discussion.  What I dislike the most in a Church lesson (Gospel Doctrine, Priesthood, Relief Society or 5th Sunday of the month discussion) is when a “teacher” cuts off class contributions with a comment that we must move along to cover the material.

Some of the best class discussion I have been involved in have occurred when the “teacher”, for whatever reason, did not show up resulting in an unprepared discussion.  Another good example of a great teacher – I believe is like my wife, who prepares material from the lesson, scripture quotes, general authority quotes, videos provided by the Church and Tabernacle choir recording but is unable to get to even 20% of what she has prepared.

I believe that all a teacher ought to present for a lesson can be summed up in one question – “What touched you during your family and personal study of this lesson”.   When this part of the discussion has completed, or near completion, anything else the teacher adds to the lesson is filler and hardly consequential – certainly not to be considered something to be complained about by (perhaps unprepared) class members.   What individuals include in their personal study and is witnessed to by the Holy Ghost – ought to be included in discussions.  But unfortunately, many come to church unprepared to contribute – which I believe is okay and an opportunity for them to receive witnesses which the spirit will give understanding to them.

For those looking to improve their study habits, whether for church lessons or for academic purposes, resources like https://edubirdie.com/coursework-writing will help with term paper writing and can be incredibly helpful. This will help to reduce the workload and have more time for studying.

Sorry, I am a little less compassionate towards those that come with nothing prepared – that go home complaining about what those that made effort to prepare something, provided.

 

The Traveler

I agree that unplanned discussions can be the most meaningful. They allow for deeper, Spirit-led engagement and personal insights. Thanks for the answer!

Edited August 22, 2024 by tomasgreenro

[Traveler]

5 hours ago, tomasgreenro said:

I agree that unplanned discussions can be the most meaningful. They allow for deeper, Spirit-led engagement and personal insights.

I am of the mind that dealing with what concerns the ward members requires a different kind of preparation as well as thinking in preparing and encouraging discussion.  It requires that those leading the discussion become more focused on others.  This is very difficult for me because I am of the sort that I will not connect with others until they communicate and say something.  Often, I am not prepared for various inputs and must rely on the assistance of others in attendance.

Thanks for your input.

 

The Traveler

[HaggisShuu]

I struggle with Sunday school lessons in my ward. The discussion always feels forced (at least when I try to participate). The Elders tend to sit in silence. 
 

Probably a sin, but I tend to hide in the clerks office during lesson time, some of the best discussions I've had are the quiet one-to-one chats you have in the corridor, or when the lesson is completely derailed by an unrelated topic. 
 

At least if everyone watched these podcasts we might have something to talk about! So in that respect they can't seem all that bad. 

Edited August 28, 2024 by HaggisShuu