Day 10 - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
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Day 10 - James 3:1
SCRIPTURE:
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
LESSON:
I have had several interesting experiences with teachers. One of my professors in college, a Ms. Bonnie Bokelman had been my first grade teacher years earlier! She was an amazing teacher! My English teacher in high school, Mrs. Wright, is almost single handedly the reason I made it through school. Her faithful and persistent teaching helped me learn how to write all the papers that I did in college. Mr. Delamarter, my high school history teacher, inspired in me a love for history and civics. Dr. Allen Brown, who taught my last masters course, is an amazing scholar and teacher. I truly have had some amazing teachers. But I have had a few not so great teachers as well!
One of my professors would hand us the notes for the class and then read them monotone. It was basically directly from the textbook. Truly a terrible teacher! Another teacher required us to read commentary after commentary with fifty percent of the grade hinging on our reading. No test on the reading. We just had to say that we had read it. Not a great way to learn! I speed read about three thousand pages of theology with a zero percent comprehension rate that semester.
The point that I am trying to make is that not everyone is cut out to teach. Why? Because not everyone is good at it! They are the ones who transfer knowledge. They are the ones who inspire and motivate to learn or steer people in the wrong direction. What they say and how they say it can really make a difference. In the realm of the church and theology this can be extremely dangerous! Let me encourage you to always check your pastor’s theology and teaching against the Word of God. Make sure you are being taught correctly! And know that if you get a good pastor, that person will surely take the transfer of knowledge seriously. Especially as it pertains to the knowledge of God. And they should take it seriously! According to James, a teacher has a stricter judgement on what they say. I do my best to be accurate as I teach and engaging as I preach. I want people to have a hunger for more of God when I finish my message each Sunday.
But I also want to make sure you know that you are also a teacher. At least in the context of your family, or your job, or your friends and acquaintances. You may not be preaching on Sunday but your words about Jesus must line up with your life. You have to give people the correct transfer of information! I have no doubt that the world would be a better place if more Christians took Bible study, discipleship and Theology seriously.
If someone asked you what you believe about Jesus, the Bible, the Trinity, the Resurrection or any other doctrine of the church, would you be able to answer them in an articulate way? Have you spent time studying the answers to the biggest questions of life? Do you ever think about God’s Word in a reflective way? Do you ponder the truths of the Bible and ask questions that lead to deeper understanding?
I am only asking you in order to challenge you! Imagine what might happen if you were a great teacher! One who was able to transfer information to your family, co-workers, friends in such a way that they were inspired to learn more about God. What would happen if your words and your life matched up in such a way that people learned about Jesus through you?
The best teachers are good students. They have a lifelong habit of learning. The real takeaway is that you need to keep growing and learning! Dig a little deeper into theology, church history, and your Bible. Take notes on Sunday and reflect on the message throughout the week. Show up mid-week and join a Bible study. Read the Bible in a year. Do something! And then start sharing that knowledge with someone else.
I have had several interesting experiences with teachers. One of my professors in college, a Ms. Bonnie Bokelman had been my first grade teacher years earlier! She was an amazing teacher! My English teacher in high school, Mrs. Wright, is almost single handedly the reason I made it through school. Her faithful and persistent teaching helped me learn how to write all the papers that I did in college. Mr. Delamarter, my high school history teacher, inspired in me a love for history and civics. Dr. Allen Brown, who taught my last masters course, is an amazing scholar and teacher. I truly have had some amazing teachers. But I have had a few not so great teachers as well!
One of my professors would hand us the notes for the class and then read them monotone. It was basically directly from the textbook. Truly a terrible teacher! Another teacher required us to read commentary after commentary with fifty percent of the grade hinging on our reading. No test on the reading. We just had to say that we had read it. Not a great way to learn! I speed read about three thousand pages of theology with a zero percent comprehension rate that semester.
The point that I am trying to make is that not everyone is cut out to teach. Why? Because not everyone is good at it! They are the ones who transfer knowledge. They are the ones who inspire and motivate to learn or steer people in the wrong direction. What they say and how they say it can really make a difference. In the realm of the church and theology this can be extremely dangerous! Let me encourage you to always check your pastor’s theology and teaching against the Word of God. Make sure you are being taught correctly! And know that if you get a good pastor, that person will surely take the transfer of knowledge seriously. Especially as it pertains to the knowledge of God. And they should take it seriously! According to James, a teacher has a stricter judgement on what they say. I do my best to be accurate as I teach and engaging as I preach. I want people to have a hunger for more of God when I finish my message each Sunday.
But I also want to make sure you know that you are also a teacher. At least in the context of your family, or your job, or your friends and acquaintances. You may not be preaching on Sunday but your words about Jesus must line up with your life. You have to give people the correct transfer of information! I have no doubt that the world would be a better place if more Christians took Bible study, discipleship and Theology seriously.
If someone asked you what you believe about Jesus, the Bible, the Trinity, the Resurrection or any other doctrine of the church, would you be able to answer them in an articulate way? Have you spent time studying the answers to the biggest questions of life? Do you ever think about God’s Word in a reflective way? Do you ponder the truths of the Bible and ask questions that lead to deeper understanding?
I am only asking you in order to challenge you! Imagine what might happen if you were a great teacher! One who was able to transfer information to your family, co-workers, friends in such a way that they were inspired to learn more about God. What would happen if your words and your life matched up in such a way that people learned about Jesus through you?
The best teachers are good students. They have a lifelong habit of learning. The real takeaway is that you need to keep growing and learning! Dig a little deeper into theology, church history, and your Bible. Take notes on Sunday and reflect on the message throughout the week. Show up mid-week and join a Bible study. Read the Bible in a year. Do something! And then start sharing that knowledge with someone else.
PRAYER:
Father, please help us know you better. Help us understand your Word. Give us a hunger for knowledge. Give us a clearer picture of who you are. And then help us to transfer that to others and let it bear fruit! Amen!
Father, please help us know you better. Help us understand your Word. Give us a hunger for knowledge. Give us a clearer picture of who you are. And then help us to transfer that to others and let it bear fruit! Amen!
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