RevWrites - March 22

Learning. Something we do from our birth. We start school at a very early age. Some of us spend twenty years or even more at school. Learning is at the heart of our lives. So teaching is at the heart too.

Teaching and learning is at the heart of our Christian life too. After the people of Israel had been rescued from Egypt, after they had received the Ten Commandments, just before they crossed into the Promised Land, God said to them:

Deut. 4:9   Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

In Deuteronomy 11 is the famous passage about parents teaching their children the word of God:

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

When Jesus arrived he was called “Teacher.” He taught his disciples and the crowds.

Jesus’ apostles taught people the things of God. They, in turn, appointed others to teach the people of God the word of God.

Today, we still have teachers in our church. At NAC and WHAC we are blessed with many teachers who teach others the things of God. Preachers teach. This is central to our corporate life.

But others teach too. Group leaders teach. JGs leaders teach. BoB leaders teach. ClubReg leaders teach. Senior high leaders teach. Scripture teachers teach. And there’s more! (No steak knives though.)

I think that many people who have been Christians for more than 5 years should be teaching others. Yet we need more teachers. We need more teachers in many areas of ministry. This is always a need. Why?

Three reasons. First, many Christians don’t see themselves as teachers like this. Some don’t think they know enough. That is rarely the case as most of our members are well taught. Anyway, like all teachers you can learn more stuff.

Secondly, some don’t see themselves as competent to teach. Again, you can learn. One of the best ways to learn is to sit alongside someone who’s doing it. Become an apprentice. E.g. sit in on a school Scripture class for a year and have lunch with the teacher afterwards and talk about why they do what they do.

Thirdly, some don’t see themselves as mature enough in the faith or “godly” enough to teach others. This is important. The Bible warns against ungodly teachers. But this is where fellowship comes to the fore. Our friends will tell us if we ask them about our appropriateness to teach.

This week, if you’re not already teaching others, think and pray about how you might be involved in teaching the Bible to others. I will write more about this next week.

Neil