Teaching
Summary
Endorsements
Concepts
Teach from the Bible.
Every confident teaching we give must have a Bible verse to back it up because only Scripture is infallible (II Timothy 3:16). No one thinks they are teaching falsity, but if 2 disagree, then one or both of them aren’t teaching from Jesus’ message (I Timothy 6:3-4). For example, the reason why the Catholics and Protestants have hated each other so much with regards to justification is because many Protestants teach Martin Luther and many Catholics teach the Catechism. Instead, both should teach from the one and only true source. Our opinions of Jesus are not the truth: only Jesus Himself, and His Words, are truth (John 14:6).
Teach desire, not information.
The Old Covenant is about studying rules, but the New Covenant is about loving our Savior (Hebrews 8:11-12,13). Many teachers pick up a study guide or read through a chapter in the Bible but aren’t compassionate to the actual needs of their hearers (I John 3:17-18). This methodology is like what the Pharisees did. If someone asks us a question, we can let them know (I Peter 3:15), but our goal is to get people to “delight” in the Word on their own time (Psalms 1:2). If a person doesn’t have a deep faith, it’s not because they don’t know enough about God yet: it’s because they care about the wrong things (Luke 10:40-41,42).
Teach only after evidencing your faith.
You cannot be a teacher just because you are well-studied, for that is a Pharisee (Matthew 23:3). You are allowed to teach only if your good works prove to others that you are worthy to be heard (Mark 16:20), for the kingdom of God consists not of talk but of power (I Corinthians 4:20). This is very important to prevent internal arrogance (I Corinthians 4:19). Our very salvation is dependent on proving our faith (James 2:20,22), and the same goes for our teaching (James 3:1-2). Why should anyone listen to you about saving others when you yourself have made no disciples (Matthew 28:19)? It’s hypocritical and backwards to teach when you haven’t actually done first, for your “teaching” very well could be placing your listeners in hell (Matthew 23:15).
Teach beginners basics and experts advanced topics.
A church needs to ensure beginners are being taught the basics of the Gospel and about godliness in a simple to understand way (I Corinthians 1:17). Similarly, only being taught the same basic Gospel is not righteous (Hebrews 5:13) because he is not practicing the discernment of practical matters (Hebrews 5:14). Churches must stop only talking about faith and hell (Hebrews 6:1-2) and move to topics where the church is practically sinning (Hebrews 3:13).
Aim to have your listeners depend on the Bible, not you.
Many pastors guilt their listeners into coming to their church to listen or they are sinning, but no Christian needs to be taught by anyone except the Holy Spirit (I John 2:27). The ultimate job of a teacher is to guide people to the Word to become like them (Luke 6:40), for the Bible is more true than anything a teacher can say (John 17:17).