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A Biblical Rationale for Teaching
Posted by Rob Ayers in Baptist Life, Bible & Theology, Church & Missions
Christianity may well be facing the greatest challenge in it’s history: a series of powerful and growing seductions that are subtly changing biblical interpretations and undermining the faith of millions of people. Most Christians are scarcely aware of what is happening, and much less do they understand the issues involved. (Dave Hunt, T.A. McMahon, The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 1985), 11.)
Some may be aghast that I am resurrecting Dave Hunt. Nevertheless, many of the things he wrote about in 1985 are wholly appropriate for today, especially as it deals with our challenges today. He clearly recognized the subtle changes that were overwhelming the church in his day which is now just the way many do business today. A constant barrage of psychological, philosophical, seductive attacks has taken the place, in least in our culture, of direct persecution. While the first and second century Christians were martyred for their faith, the enemy has developed a more subtle scheme for the churches of our land: let them rot from within.
Now this is not because the churches are doing “nothing.” On the contrary they do aplenty. If you are an urban church and if you do not have a family life center, then you are not keeping up with the Jones. From my view, the church is doing many things – not just the “right” things. It seems that the church in our land has forgotten it’s spiritual roots, and has totally decided to fend for itself:
“Why is the church weak? Why are individual Christians weak? It is because they have allowed their minds to be conformed to the “spirit of the age.” They have forgotten what God is like. Ask an average Christian to talk about God. After getting past the expected answers, you will find his god is a little god of vacillating sentiments.” (James Montgomery Boice, Foundations of the Christian Faith (Downer’s Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1986), 423).
The priority of the church today should be to turn back to God, receive a fresh anointing from His Word, and teach it to each other and the lost world.
One of these priorities is the teaching ministry of the church. Jesus in the final moments with His disciples, gave them this command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
The key phrase above is of course “make disciples of.” And that is of course done through the church and it’s duty to teach. I will explore briefly this topic under three categories: What should the church teach? Where should the church teach? and How should the church teach?
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ESV
The Shema is marked down in the conscious of most who are of Jewish descent. It epitomizes the teaching tradition that each Jewish family has undertaken in one form or another through the centuries. It contains a definite outline in terms of a teaching ministry. The first part of course contains the answer to the question, “What should the church teach.”
First of all, the LORD is God and He alone is the almighty and holy one. What should the church teach? The knowledge about the One God which is contained in the Word of God, the Bible. Any teaching ministry will not find itself in any work other than that which is biblically based – all the teaching of the church that will mend broken hearts and show the needs of the down and out will start at this very point.
The Bible tells all who read it truth which points to the Truth. It claims nothing less than to be the revealed word of God which points to the Word of God. Generations of people for many centuries have been changed by this simple, eternal message of hope: God loves you, and has a plan and purpose for your life:
“The spiritual transformation that mankind so desperately needs is both impossible for man to effect on his own and exactly why God offers in His grace and love. Biblical Christianity is not a list of moral requirements that one must live up to in order to get to heaven… the secret of abundant life and inexpressible joy is simply by faith to allow Christ to live this supernatural life through Him“ (Hunt, 14,15).
The second half of the Shema speaks to the transmission, or the teaching of the knowledge of God to children and adults through practice and ritual. It, in turn, can also speak to the church how the Christian faith can be transmitted in the same way, or in other words “Where should the church teach.” Through both the family and church fellowship, correct teaching can lead to the development of the individual. This individual, in turn, would then have a contribution to make toward God and His kingdom, the Body of Christ, and the lost world.
The first place to start a teaching ministry is in the local congregation. It is from this collection of intellect, encouraged and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, that one can be equipped to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The church must go about doing the business of strengthening families and individuals in this process of discipleship to fulfill this important priority of the Master.
The history of a lot of Southern Baptist Churches has been abysmal in my opinion in making disciples for Christ. Most SBC churches can be primarily put into two categories: evangelistic centers, or mission centers. The first one has a priority of the invitation each and every Sunday morning with little emphasis on what to do after a decision is made. The second emphasizes missions with maps on the wall and missionary reports from the pulpit. While each of these are good in their own way, did Jesus command us to do these things as His chief intention for the church?
A good pattern for starting a ministry based upon discipleship for the family and church is what is called the three c’s: celebration, congregation, and cell. The “celebration” is the worship service whose express purpose is for the worship and glorification of God. The “congregation” in a small church involves the same people as in the celebration, yet has a separate purpose – the purpose of giving people the sense of “belonging.” In the larger church the Sunday School class best fits this expression of congregational life. The “cell” is that small group which members express such things as expressing joys and sorrows, and where they get help. It was the small group in which Jesus took twelve men and shaped them for the future.
While the church is teaching the family, the family can teach itself. Most of the versus following Deuteronomy 6:6 contain instructions on how to transmit the knowledge of God to individual family members. After families learn from fellow believers in their local congregations and cell groups, they can then transmit this knowledge into their daily lives in their own small group. Family devotions can begin around the supper table instead of rushing to the television set. Parents can start telling Bible stories to their children before bed time. Spouses can get together and have Bible study and mutual accountability times. All of these are examples of how the family can communicate, teach, and forward the process of discipling themselves and their little ones for the glory of God’s Kingdom.
We can gain an insight on “how to teach” by modeling the Master Himself. Jesus taught by lecture. Long afternoons He spent with the crowds using examples and illustrations to make His point. Jesus taught by example. Many times He told His disciples, “follow me;” “take up your cross daily and follow me.” Times when He was alone with His disciples He would explain to His disciples the meaning of the simple illustrations He took from the countryside to explain His teaching: “the sower of the seed” and “the vine and the branches.” Jesus taught experientially. He would show the disciples how it was done, and expect them to do the same. He would send them out in twos, and expect a report. When they told of victories and/or difficulties He would expound on their learning. Jesus taught by relating. He knew the difficulties because He was one of them. He had a relationship with each and every one of His inner circle. It was through this vehicle of relationships that Jesus built the foundation that would integrate His teaching style to all ages. He was loving and affectionate with children. He was intellectual with the Jewish leaders. He was a friend to His followers. Whatever the need or the developmental stage of the individual, Jesus was there. This is how the church should teach – not by going to teaching seminars and hearing the latest craze. But by merely mimicking the Master Teacher.
The church must follow the priorities set by the Founder who made her: make disciples by teaching them the Word of God. Through this I believe that Christians and the church will truly own a biblical rationale for teaching ministry.
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Rob,
I always took the admonition to teach your children fairly seriously. That came from what I saw as clear teaching that I, as the husband and father, was responsible for the spiritual activities in my home.
One of the most humbling, and rewarding, events in my life was the Ordination Council that met to contemplate the election of my older son as deacon in our church. Several times, in response to questions the council posed, he said “As Dad always used to tell us….”.
How we handle what you outline WILL come home to roost one day, so to speak. Count on it.
This is top shelf! My heart pulses for this in our church. There has been such a lax toward God’s word and its application in life. I truly pray that churches across our land would promote more of discipleship in the word in every aspect of the church.
One area I have seen a careless approach to discipleship is in Business Meetings. They seem to have the least attendance. This is where the word-meets-the-heart and most church leaders simply bypass the opportunity to promote attendance and use this time to disciple the church in faith toward God. I, personally, need to walk by faith in every aspect of life. As the leader of my home, I must direct my family in matters of faith, as we not only have daily devotions, but, in business dealings in the home, as well. Our church leaders must shepherd the church, first, in the word and, then, in its application. We are a church family and need this area of discipleship to example our lives around within each of our homes.
Brother Rob,
You have echoed what the Hebrew writer made very clear…..
Hebrew 5:13-14 “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
Our current age is negligent and careless in its passion for rightly dividing the Word of God…..and we are certainly reaping the shriveled fruit of the lack of labor. It is critical that we know God’s Word, and it does as these other men have spoken, begin and remain at the most intimate of family levels….husband and wife, son and daughter.
We must have our senses trained to discern,…or good and evil will appear to be brothers and sisters.
Blessings,
Chris
This is a bit of a sidestep, but thinking about how Biblical teaching relates to the Business meetings of our churches, I find it amazing that the least spiritual of our church gatherings is the Business meeting. Some business meetings start off with a prayer and maybe a devotion then slide backwards into backbiting and become void of the love, peace, patience, etc. that should be most evident. At best they reflect only apathy. Others extend for hours including Bible studies and worship music that goes beyond what most members have time for. Perhaps the disparity between what is taught and what is exhibited in these meetings is yet another piece of straw on this camel’s back.
Whatever flows into our hearing must work out in our lives inside and outside of the church. We would be better stewarts of God’s word if we monitored what we disciple into our church members. Check the business meetings and the offering plate sometime. Our conduct and our attitued toward God are found in these places of activity within our churches. We may sing well and have a structured business meeting but if our hearts have not been circumcised we have failed to glorify the God who can change wiskey into groceries and a broken hearted wife into a radiant Christian.
Good reminder, Rob. Thanks
Thank you all for your fine comments. All of you of given some fine contributions. I wish I could say that me and mine were following these details perfectly. The “spirit of the age” is so strong in our people that many of these things are goals and aspirations. I try to model it but sometimes even I am not perfect. But praise God, He is, and He is my redeemer!
Rob