WE SHOULD BE TEACHING OTHERS INSTEAD WE NEED TO BE TAUGHT

Proclamation:

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  Hebrews 5:12-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by an unknown human author under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This chapter begins with the author describing Jesus, The Christ, as the ultimate high priest and compares Him to Melchizedek, whose name literally means “king of righteousness or justice.”  Melchizedek was a Canaanite king who reigned in Salem, and who kept up religion and worship of the true God, and was honored by Abraham for doing so. (Hebrew 7:1-2)  Here the author states to the Hebrews that he was addressing, who had a number of advantages over other people including being descendants of Abraham, being exposed to the law of Moses and the writings of The Old Testament, having heard the ministry of Christ directly or from His apostles, having received the gift of The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and having had thirty years past in which they should have grown, instead of being teachers they were in need of being taught the basics principals themselves.  Instead of being ready for meat, the advanced course, they were in need of milk, the basic beginning lessons. 

Application:

There are many adult Christians who can say that they were “brought up in the church” or that they have “been in church almost all of their life.”  This text proves that just being around The Word of God for a long period of time does not mean that a person has grown in knowledge and understanding of if.  Considering the number of years that we have exposed to the teaching of The Bible, we should be Bible scholars now and teaching others.  Unfortunately, too many Christians have heard many sermons preached but have not internalized what they heard.  Also, too many believers only open their Bibles on Sunday while they are in church.  If we want to grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Holy Word and to rightly apply it to our lives, then we need to study it on a regular basis. (2 Timothy 2:15)

TEACHERS WILL BE JUDGED MORE STRICTLY

Proclamation:

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."  James 3:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by James, the half-brother of Jesus.  James warned the people of God that teaching and preaching should be taken very seriously and not entered into lightly.  He told them that they will be held to and judged by a higher standard.  False teachers and those who intentionally lead others astray will be judged more strictly.

Application:
While this passage of scripture clearly applies to pastors and preachers, it also applies to teachers in general, especially religious teachers.  If you are in a position to provide instruction to others, be very careful regarding what you say.  This is especially true if you teach, lead, guide, or direct children.  This would also include parents and those who raise children.  Leading the youth and young adults astray has very serious consequences. (Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42; and Luke 17:1-2)  Remember that children learn what they see and what they hear, so we should be careful regarding what we do and say in front of children.  We can “teach” without saying a word to them.  We would not want a child to stumble into sin by following our example.  In fact, as believers, we do not want to put stumbling blocks in the way of anyone that would cause them to fall into sin. (Romans 14:13 and 1 Corinthians 8:9)  “Teachers” themselves, and not just the material that they teach, can be examples to those who observe them.  We should make sure that those that we “teach” can see Christ in us.  When judgement day comes, teachers will be held to a higher standard and will be judged more strictly.  So, be careful regarding what you teach.

WE SHOULD TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD

Proclamation:

"Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Prophet Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After presenting them with the Ten Commandments, Moses told the people that they were to love The Lord completely.  They were to teach The Word of God and the commandments to their children.  They were to live them, talk of them all the time, and display them in their homes and on their persons.

Application:

As parents we are to teach The Word of God to our children.  If the children and the grand children don't know it, then it is our fault, the fault of the parents and the grandparents. (Deuteronomy 6:1-2)  If the parents don't know it, then it is our fault for not teaching them.  If we tell them but they refuse to listen, or refuse to believe, then we have done our part.  The Word of God should be so ingrained within us that it should show in our daily lives, in our conversations, in our behavior, in our homes, and in our attire.  We should make sure that each day we tell someone about The Lord.  We should make sure that no child sees or hears us, behaving or speaking, in a non Christ-like manner.  We do not want to cause a child to stumble into sin or be led astray. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2)  We do not have to be Bible scholars in order to teach our children The Word of God.  That which we know we should share.  It would also be helpful if they saw us reading The Bible.  Children learn what they hear and what they see.  Let’s make sure that we are Christ-like role models for our children and grandchildren.  Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

WE WILL BE BLESSED IF WE DO AS CHRIST DID

Proclamation:

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:15-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

According to The Holy Spirit inspired word recorded by the Apostle John, the disciple who referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.  Jesus said these words to His disciples after He had washed the feet of each of the disciples. (John 13:3-10)  Jesus was not giving them a “mini” bath, He was just knocking the dust off of their feet.  The point that He made was that the man who has been shown and taught the right way, and then does right and follows the right way, will be blessed.  Jesus had shown them that not only was He a teacher but He was a servant and they were also to be servants.  They should be willing to wash each other’s feet.

Application:                        

When we know that which is right, we should do that which is right.  As the saying goes, "when we know better, we should do better."  We are encouraged to not just be hearers of The Word of God, but also to be doers of The Word. (James 1:22)  The Lord God will show His wrath to those who hear The Word of God, and then do not obey it. (2 Thessalonians 1:8)  Christ lived His human life on earth as an example to us.  He was the perfect example of Christian behavior.  While we cannot be perfect, we need to follow His example.  We should not think too highly of our selves. (Romans 12:3)  If Jesus was willing to do lowly tasks for the benefit of His disciples, then we should not think that we are too whatever to do menial things to benefit others.  If we live a Christ-like life, and do that which we know is the right thing to do in order to help others, then we will be blessed.

The Children Are Watching Us

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)  

The wise King Solomon told the people that they should teach their children, and bring them up in the ways of God, then when they get old and mature, they will not turn away from it.  In so many words he said that a good Christian foundation begins at home.

As believers we are being watched.  We are being watched by God (Job 34:21), watched by people, both by believers and non-believers, and we are also being watched by the children.  Children hear what they are told, even when that act like they don't hear a word that is being said.  They also learn by what they see at home and where ever.  The Bible says that we should teach and train children in the ways of The Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and 11:19)  Our children should hear us talking about God, and they should see us reading The Word of God.  We are to be an example of good Christian behavior for them to learn from. (1 Timothy 4:12)  However, when our words and our behavior are inconsistent, children may learn the wrong things.  Our actions can speak louder than our words.  Woe be it unto us if we lead a child astray. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2)  Let us pray that our actions will not lead anyone to fall into sin, especially a child.  Let us be a living example of Christ-like behavior which the children and others can learn from. (Philippians 1:27 and Romans 12 :1)

Blessed For Doing As Jesus Did

 "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you ... Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  John 13:15-17 (NIV)

The Apostle John quoted these words of Jesus, The Christ, as he spoke to His disciples just before His final passover meal.  Jesus said follow My examples, do as I have done.  Then He said now that they know these things, they will be blessed if they do them.

While He lived on earth as a human being, Jesus gave us a living example of how we should behave.  Not only did He preach and teach, but He lived a life which was consistent with His words.  Jesus lived a life of loving compassionate humility providing service to those who were in need.  He preached repentance (Matthew 4:17), taught by example and parable, and He helped others.  He charged us to follow His example and serve one another.  He also said when we know that which is right, then we ought to do the right thing.  Knowing The Word of God is not enough, we must also be doers of His Word.  We will not be blessed for knowing what is right, we will be blessed for doing what is right.  Knowledge of that which good and right that is not put into practice is fruitless and sinful. (Luke 12:47 and James 4:17)

From Him Who Sent Me

"Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not My own.  It comes from Him who sent Me."  John 7:16  (NIV)

The Apostle John, who addressed the gospel to all believers so that they would know that Jesus is God, here records the words of Christ when He was teaching in the temple during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles.  Jesus was answering a question by one of the non-believing Jews who wanted to know how Jesus knew so much about the scriptures without going to school and receiving formal training.  His answer was that what He taught came from God, The Father, who sent Him.

Jesus said that the man who speaks his own thoughts "... does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth..." (John 7:18)  He was not putting forth His own thoughts, ideas, and opinions to call attention to Himself.  Whatever He said and taught came from our Heavenly Father.  Jesus did not come to earth to seek glory and honor for Himself, He came give glory and honor to God, The Father.  The lesson that we can learn from the example which Jesus demonstrated is that we are not to seek to gain honor for ourselves.  We are to speak, act, and live in such a way as to give glory and honor to God.  We can deliver the message that God told us to spread throughout the world by the way we live. (Matthew 28:20)  We can "teach" by example by letting the world see us living a good Christian life, exhibiting good Christian behavior, and hearing us engaged in good Christian conversation.  We may be the only "Bible" that some people "read" or hear.  Remember, "It's not about us, it's all about Jesus." (Unknown)