Many adults light up when discussing their favorite childhood teacher. “She was the most caring person.” “He was so consistent and trustworthy.” Such teachers are remembered long into retirement.

One sign that you’re building this legacy is that you’re developing the kindly gift of tact—knowing what to say and when to say it. Not too much, and not too little. You’re dealing with impressionable, growing minds, after all, balanced on narrow shoulders that weren’t designed to carry the weight of regular negativity.

I Peter 3:10 says, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” I Peter 3:15 adds, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

But sometimes, you come across tough and perhaps negative topics and questions in the classroom. Is it okay to lie if it saves a life? Can my friends go to hell simply because I chose not to witness to them? Should I go to the wedding of my family member in an alternative lifestyle?

These topics may be worth your class time.

But before You Dive In . . .

Know school policy.

Don’t go anywhere your Administration wouldn’t support. While your administrator should be one of your greatest supporters, you’ll not want to pull the rug out from under your feet by discussing topics that aren’t sanctioned.

Ask if you should pass the buck.

Does your school have a counselor, a pastor, or a seasoned Bible teacher on staff? Perhaps this would be a good time to ask your administrator for a guest speaker.

Consider postponing.

Even if you know the answer, you may need to say, “Let’s talk about this tomorrow. It’s a tough topic and one that deserves some thought.”

Be trauma aware.

You will not know every aspect of your students’ lives. Always assume that someone in your classroom is a victim of abuse and behave accordingly. Victims have brains that are wired a bit differently. (For more information, you can research amygdala and hippocampus volume changes after trauma.) You would hate to cause distress to an already-wounded student by forgetting this cohort during class time.

If Your Duckies Are in a Row . . .

Consider letting the parents know.

Building and maintaining trust is an invaluable part of the teacher’s role in serving parents. Letting parents know that a difficult topic is coming up in the curriculum not only gives them a chance to express concerns but also lets them know what to look for should they see their children behaving differently after school.

Do your due diligence.

Your research of the text, including historical and cultural context, using a variety of commentaries and other scholarly work should enable you to share the truth in a relatable and understandable way. Detailing your research and sharing your research results with your students is good modeling of how to handle the Scriptures with care.

Talk to veteran teachers.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a mentor, ask this teacher how to handle this topic. For example, if you’re dealing with a Bible term that raises concerns about age-appropriateness, your mentor likely figured this one out years ago. Keep track of the good advice too, writing it down for future inspiration.

Control the narrative.

Be careful when you open the floor. While talking about faith, discussion time is crucial to exhibiting an owned faith. However, tough topic time may not be as suited to an open floor. For example, you may have an unsaved student, and some people have less maturity than others. You have to control the narrative.

Be mindful of reality.

Certain ethical topics are framed in a very specific and narrow context. It’s so easy for imaginative students to create scenarios in a parallel existence where God and the Bible and reasonable expectations are exempted. Root your terminology and answers in biblical truth and reframe questions within the sense of contextual reality. (Hypothetical no-win questions like “there are ten people and only six spots in the life boat” would be an example of a limiting and unhelpful context that can breed confusion.)

Tie the topic back to the big picture.

God’s plan for the world through Salvation is our focal point in Christianity. Any time you can highlight the role of the law, grace, and redemption in the big picture, you show the beautiful simplicity of God’s plan.

Use the exact words of Scripture.

As Isaiah 55:11 states, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Speaking God’s words after Him plays a vital role in your success.

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Also, lead your class in prayer for the specific topic before you discuss it. Encourage each of them to pray for individual guidance. God cares about how His Word is presented even more than you do—and He wants His children to increase in wisdom and understanding.

All that’s left for you now is to step out in confidence. As I John 5:14-15 states, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” Tackle the tough topic, with as much tact and truth as you can muster, knowing that the Great Teacher has your back.