Why should the followers of Christ be concerned about teaching others? One reason is that teaching someone else is one of the best ways to learn. Each one of us should be growing in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Peter 3:18.)
Another reason to teach is that Jesus told us to. We cannot claim to follow Him unless we do what He tells us. He said, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)
Who Should Teach?
Jesus’ command to teach applies to every one of His followers. Everyone has something which can help others to make progress in their spiritual life. For example, the Apostle Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. (Colossians 3:16 NIV)
The responsibility to teach falls on women also. Though women are not to hold authority over men in a teaching role in the church (1 Timothy 2:12), they are to teach other women and children. (For example, see Titus 2:3-4.)
The Goal Of Teaching
What is it we are trying to achieve when we teach others and receive teaching from them? In short, it is to help one another become like Christ and prepare one another to serve. This can be established from many places in the New Testament. One of them is Ephesians 4:11-13, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV)
Teaching By Example
On the basis of this passage perhaps you are thinking that since you are not a leader in the church you do not have the responsibility to teach. Further, you do not have the ability to teach. We have already seen that everyone has the responsibility to teach whether he is a leader or not. While it is true that some are more gifted in this area than others, there is one sense in which everyone can teach. It is through example. No matter who we are, we have the ability to model the character and behavior of Christ to others. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV) In another place he writes, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” (Philippians 3:17 NIV)
Formal Instruction
While demonstrating how to live for Christ by our example is essential and invaluable, there is also a place for more formal instruction. Classes are a good way to provide knowledge. However, when we teach in a class setting, we should attempt to do more than just provide answers. It is not our purpose for people to merely memorize facts or to repeat what we have told them. On the contrary, we want people to think for themselves. We want them to learn how to find answers on their own and to apply biblical principles to the problems and situations which come up in everyday life. In this way, they will not be at a loss when confronted by situations for which the Bible does not give specific instructions. They will be able to respond to new situations because they do not depend on rote answers.
How can we teach in such a way that it encourages people to think for themselves and to learn principles which apply to all situations? There are many ways to teach and there are many teaching styles. With experience you will find methods and styles which are effective for you. Generally speaking, however, an effective class will have the following elements in it:
1) Presentation
The teacher provides introductory or background information which enables the students to understand the context of the subject or Bible passage which is being taught.
2) Exploration
The teacher asks questions and leads discussion between the students. The purpose is for them to discover facts and the meaning of what they are studying. A wise teacher will allow the students to struggle to find things out on their own rather than just telling them the correct answers.
3) Application
There is not much use in teaching knowledge if it does not also help people to grow and mature in their relationship to Christ. A teacher should be constantly asking the students how the things they are studying apply to their daily lives. For example, Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (1 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
Another extremely important part of teaching is replication. This refers to enabling others to teach and pass on the same truths and principles they, themselves, have learned. Paul writes, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)
It may not be possible to include elements of replication in every single lesson. However, something you can do is give opportunities to your students to teach. You can assign them topics or portions of Scripture and have them present a lesson to the class. You can have them teach the material they learn from you to a class of their own.
An Actual Example
The following is a portion of the teaching notes from an actual lesson organized on the guidelines given above. In practice you would let the students answer the questions. Also, instead of merely reading the “Lesson” portions of the notes to them, you would ask them what principles we can learn from the incident under discussion. You would also ask them how we can apply these principles to our daily lives.
Covenant Broken and Renewed
(Exodus 32:1-35, Leviticus 10:1-20)
Introduction: The Israelites had entered into a covenant relationship with God. A covenant not only contains promises, it has terms. The covenant must be kept in order for the blessings to come about. The people had committed themselves to do everything that God required of them. But things don’t always go according to our expectations. Sometimes it takes longer than we would like before we reap the benefits we expected. The Israelites got tired of waiting.
I. This Fellow Moses (Exodus 32:1)
What were the causes of the Israelites’ frustration?
1) Moses was a long time coming down from the mountain. A lapse in leadership causes uncertainty. In Moses’ absence, Aaron should have taken charge and given the people reassurance. Apparently he did not and the people were confused about who would lead them in further travels.
2) They had a basic contempt for Moses and his leadership. This is evident from their calling him “this fellow.” They apparently cared more for the things Moses could do for them than they did for him as a person and the role which God had given him.
Lesson: God wants us to have a genuine respect for our spiritual leaders. “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work…” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV) Whenever we develop the attitude of “What’s in it for me?” we are setting ourselves up to fall.
II. These Are Your Gods (Exodus 32:2-6)
In what way did the people’s demand violate the covenant with God?
The very first of the Ten Commandments was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 NIV) The second was, “You shall not make for yourself an idol…”
(Exodus 20:4 NIV) By telling Aaron to make gods for them, they were breaking the most fundamental commands. It was these commands upon which the entire covenant was premised.
What was Aaron’s response to the people’s demand?
1) He temporized. Instead of taking a moral stand and calling the people back to obedience to the covenant, he tried to get off the hook by putting a high price tag on what they wanted. He told the people to provide the gold for the idol.
2) He tried to compromise. When the people called his bluff by giving him their gold earrings, Aaron made the idol, but he also built an altar and said that they were going to hold a festival to the Lord.
Application: There are still lots of people who try to do the same thing. They think that acknowledging God in some fashion gives them a license to live their lives any way they want. Go to church on Sunday and do what you want the rest of the week.
Lesson: Moral compromise never works. God is a jealous God in the sense that He does not tolerate any competition. He wants all or nothing. He will not share our hearts with anything else. Time after time in Scripture people are called upon to make a choice. Will they serve God, or will they not? “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV)
“Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.” (1 Kings 18:21 NIV)
Another Example
Here is another portion of the teaching notes from an actual lesson:
Lessons In Faith
(Joshua 3:1-7:26)
Introduction: God faithfully fulfilled His promises to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land of Canaan. He had done it once before, only to have the people rebel and refuse to go in. Would this be a repeat of the past, or would the people have enough faith to do what God told them?
I. Crossing The Jordan (Joshua 3:9-17)
God promised that the Jordan River would be cut off and the Israelites would be able to cross on dry land. At what point did the water stop flowing?
The Jordan didn’t stop flowing until the priest’s feet touched the water. Imagine the scene. The priests, carrying the most holy and precious object the Israelites have (the Ark of the Covenant) are walking with steady gait toward the river which is at flood stage. Nothing happens. 5 feet away and nothing happens. 2 feet away and still nothing happens. The front-rank priests lift their feet to step over the bank. Nothing happens. It looks like they, and the Ark with them, are going to be swallowed by the river. The priest’s feet touch the water and, suddenly, the water is gone. The priests march to the center of the river on bare ground.
Sometimes it may not seem like God is going to do anything. Sometimes it doesn’t appear like God is going to fulfill His promises. Faith is going ahead and doing what He has asked us to do in spite of appearances.
Lesson: God may wait to do what only He can do until we have done what we can do.
Essential Caution! It is not faith to go ahead and do things in our own strength. Faith is doing what we are capable of doing when God has told us to do it. It is only when we are acting on His say-so that He will give us the ability and capability to complete the otherwise impossible. We need to make ourselves available to do what God wants us to do rather than expecting God to conform to our desires.
II. Renewing The Covenant (Joshua 5:2-9)
What was the significance of circumcision?
Circumcision was a sign of being included in the covenant God made with Abraham (see Genesis 17:10-14). It was carried over into the Law of Moses (see Leviticus 12:3). No one could participate in the Passover celebration unless he had been circumcised (Exodus 12:43-49). Circumcision is also used as a metaphor for removing evil from a person’s heart and choosing to serve God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 10:12-16).
Application: In the New Covenant, it is not parents who physically circumcise their children, but Christ who spiritually circumcises His followers by cutting away the “sinful nature” when they are baptized into Him. “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:11-14 NIV)
Lesson: It is not enough to have Christian parents. It’s not enough to hang out with God’s people. It’s not enough to go to church and be involved in the rituals. Just as each of the Israelites had to individually submit to circumcision after they crossed the Jordan, we have to personally and individually decide to follow Jesus. Just as a person was not in covenant relationship with God until he had been circumcised, no one is in covenant relationship with Christ until he has been baptized.
III. Produce Of The Land (Joshua 5:10-12)
When did the manna stop?
God stopped providing manna right after the Israelites had celebrated their first Passover in Canaan. The day they were able to obtain food from the land, the food from heaven stopped.
Lesson: We need to trust God to provide under all conditions and circumstances. God doesn’t work through miracles alone, but also through the ordinary and normal processes of life. Or, to put it another way, it takes just as much of a miracle for God to provide our needs through the normal process of planting and harvesting as it does for Him to provide manna and quail. The key point is that God has promised to take care of His people. We demonstrate faith when we rely on Him and give Him thanks and glory regardless of how He does it.