E128: King Before Kingdom: John Bushman on Making Jesus the Center of Our Teaching

E128: King Before Kingdom: John Bushman on Making Jesus the Center of Our Teaching

Have you ever wondered if teaching the gospel sometimes gets tangled up in checklists instead of what matters most? In this conversation, we reflect on what it means to shed old mindsets and refocus on Jesus Christ at the heart of teaching, faith, and everyday church life. We share stories about our own experiences growing up in the church, recognize where legalism creeps into teaching, and dig into the difference between testimony and true conversion. Special guest Speaker C (John Bushman) joins us to talk about insights from his book, "King Before Kingdom," and how making Christ central changes everything—whether it’s how we teach, parent, or worship. We talk through: * The impact of growing up with a checklist mentality and how it shapes faith * What it means to be converted to Christ, not just the church or gospel principles * How our language and traditions might unintentionally shift focus away from Jesus * Practical ideas for making lessons, prayers, and even sacrament meetings more intentional and Christ-centered * Personal stories of wrestling with trials, teaching youth, and finding relevance and meaning in everyday moments with the Savior Throughout, we keep coming back to one simple but powerful lesson: focusing on Jesus Christ brings clarity, energy, and real change—both in us and in those we teach. ______________ Subscribe for more free YouTube episodes: https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1] Find all episodes: https://teachingrestored.com [https://teachingrestored.com] Ask a question for us to answer on our podcast: https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/ [https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/] Join us on: ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored [https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored] ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored [https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored] ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored] ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored]

127: Avoiding Contention While Sharing Gospel Truths

What do you do when a conversation about faith suddenly turns adversarial? How do you respond when someone throws a "grenade" comment—online or in person—that challenges what you believe, or misrepresents your intentions? In this episode, we talk about teaching and standing for truth without adding to contention, especially in challenging moments. We share real stories from our lives, from social media battles to family discussions, and examine how our natural instinct to defend or prove a point might not always serve our highest purpose. We look at Jesus Christ’s example—how he responded to criticism and false accusations with humility, clarity, and love. Highlights include strategies for maintaining peace and building relationships, practical filters for responding to conflict, and ways to invite the Spirit into even the most heated conversations. Key ideas include: * Recognizing teaching moments in both online and personal interactions * Responding to adversarial comments without escalating conflict * Reframing our goals from winning arguments to building relationships * Timing our responses for the greatest impact and receptivity * Balancing truth and peace, following Christ’s example ______________ Subscribe for more free YouTube episodes: https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1] Find all episodes: https://teachingrestored.com [https://teachingrestored.com] Ask a question for us to answer on our podcast: https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/ [https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/] Join us on: ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored [https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored] ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored [https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored] ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored] ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored]

E126: Overcoming Classroom Friction Points with Chase Rockwood

Why do students glaze over in early-morning seminary? What really creates those points of friction in a classroom—and what can we actually do about it? In this episode, we sit down with Chase Rockwood, a religion professor at BYU-Idaho and longtime high school seminary teacher, to get honest about what today’s youth and young adults are really bringing with them into our gospel classes. Together, we break down the real-life reasons students disengage—spoiler: it’s rarely about the Gospel—and share practical strategies for navigating attendance, energy, social friction, and spiritual questions. We talk about ways to make lessons truly relevant, why music and routine may need a fresh look, and how to balance accountability with genuine love. Highlights include: * Specific methods to discover what students are struggling with—and how to let that shape lesson planning * Creative alternatives to the “same old” class openers, including music choices and engaging first-five-minutes activities * Navigating tough classroom behavior while keeping connection at the center * The critical role of parents and self-advocacy in resolving challenges * Embracing diverse perspectives, even when they challenge the status quo Our conversation is full of real stories, self-reflection, and clear, actionable ideas—all focused on helping teachers create truly meaningful classroom experiences that invite every student, wherever they are, to connect with Christ.

E125: The Three-Step Pattern for Teaching Powerful Gospel Lessons

Ever find yourself wondering how to teach a gospel lesson so it actually sparks real conversation and deeper connection? In this episode, we share a concrete, simple pattern for teaching—one that makes diving into doctrine more engaging for everyone in the room. We break down the process of building lessons around questions, focusing on four types: binary, factual, explanatory, and introspective. Our conversation moves from the practical challenges teachers face (like getting stuck in repetition or forced efficiency) to hands-on examples drawn from Elder Gilbert’s general conference talk “Come Home.” We talk through how to foster genuine connection between class members, how to move past surface answers into vulnerable, heartfelt discussions, and why intentional, empathic listening changes everything when it comes to spiritual learning. Highlights include: * How to structure effective questions that open, deepen, and personalize classroom discussion * Building a culture of empathy, connection, and safe vulnerability * Turning class responses back toward Christ in meaningful ways * Extending natural, personalized invitations that feel authentic, not scripted * Embracing “choose your own adventure” flexibility in adapting to where the Spirit (and the class) wants to go Whether you teach Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, or youth classes, we show how this question-based pattern can make lessons more relevant, impactful, and Christ-centered. ______________ Subscribe for more free YouTube episodes: https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1] Find all episodes: https://teachingrestored.com [https://teachingrestored.com] Ask a question for us to answer on our podcast: https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/ [https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/] Join us on: ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored [https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored] ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored [https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored] ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored] ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored]

124: How do you evaluate your gospel teaching?

What if assessing your teaching was as insightful as the lesson itself? In this episode, we dig into what makes a class genuinely successful—and how we can actually know if we’re doing it well. We talk about what it means to teach the restored Gospel, not just from a script, but as a shared, exploratory experience with those we teach. We break down the essential role of engagement, the impact of authentic (and sometimes uncomfortable) questions, balancing preparation with flexibility, and then how to evaluate your own teaching. Some of the key points we cover: * How lively, unscripted dialogue transforms an ordinary lesson into meaningful learning * The difference between asking for participation and truly cultivating it * Five core question types that unlock deeper conversation (binary, factual, explanatory, introspective, transformative) * Why most faith-based lessons lack introspective questions—and what happens when we add them * The power and potential pitfalls of using data and feedback (even with AI!) to evaluate and improve our teaching ______________ Subscribe for more free YouTube episodes: https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/teachingrestored?sub_confirmation=1] Find all episodes: https://teachingrestored.com [https://teachingrestored.com] Ask a question for us to answer on our podcast: https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/ [https://teachingrestored.com/contact-us/] Join us on: ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored [https://www.instagram.com/teachingrestored] ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored [https://www.facebook.com/teachingrestored] ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.youtube.com/@teachingrestored] ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored [https://www.tiktok.com/@teachingrestored]