HOW TEACHERS MUST TEACH

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Over the course of time, all Christians should develop the     
      ability to teach. Heb. 5:12
      1. All teachers have a fearful responsibility. James 3:1
         a. Thus, before one embarks upon the fearful task of
            teaching the word of God, he should carefully consider
            his awesome responsibility.
   B. Christ Himself was the only perfect teacher.
      1. He never taught something that was false.
      2. He never left anything unsaid that needed to be said.
      3. He never misjudged His listeners.
      4. He never said or did anything to hinder another's salvation.
   C. Therefore from Him and the word He left us, let us learn how to
      be better teachers.
      1. We suggest some ways "How Teachers Must Teach." (See
         chart below)

I. FAITHFULLY.
   A. Jesus Christ spoke only the words given Him from the Father.
      John 12:49-50
   B. Paul did not seek to please men in his teaching. Gal. 1:10-12
   C. The teacher must teach only the word of God. 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet.
      4:11; Jonah 3:2 
      1. There is a real temptation to be well-received and to       
         impress people. Luke 6:26
      2. There is the temptation to slack off in diligence, study,   
         and effort.
      3. Also, there is the temptation to compromise on various
         issues to please various individuals.
         a. To compromise the truth is to sell out to the enemy, and
            when we do, we become his minister. 2 Cor. 11:13-15
   D. The faithful teacher must avoid hobbies, speculations, and
      pointless eloquence, and empty questions. 2 Tim. 2:23; Titus   
      3:9
   E. There is little praise for the faithful teacher, but God       
      Himself will be pleased.

II. FULLY. Acts 20:20,27
   A. One must preach everything that is needful.
      1. I know of a young preacher, who supposedly was a faithful
         preacher, who had opportunity to preach at a liberal church,
         but not once did he mention anything regarding the issues.
      2. He had opportunity to proclaim the truth to people who
         needed it, but he shunned his responsibility.
   B. Also, one must be careful lest he overlook important Bible
      themes.
      1. It is easy to stress one Bible principle while overlooking
         others.
      2. Verse by verse studies of various books are always good
         because it causes one to cover every verse.
      3. Curriculums that move too fast can skip over much needed
         material.
      4. In order to grow, all Christians need solid food. This      
         requires in-depth study on the part of all, especially      
         teachers.
      5. A good teacher will teach on things that are needful for    
         all, not on topics that are of interest only to him.

III. FORCEFULLY.
   A. There is "power" (great moving force) in the word of God. Heb.
      4:12; Jer. 23:29
      1. All teachers should teach with boldness. Acts 4:13,29;
         18:27-28; Prov. 28:1
         a. We should never allow ridicule and criticism to
            discourage us.
      2. Through the power of the word, we should seek a change in
         belief, status, and life in those we teach.
      3. It has been shown that there are many atheists who are
         members of denominational churches.
         a. How can this be? In those churches nothing is preached
            that would upset them, or cause them to change.
   B. N.T. teaching cuts to the heart. Acts 2:37; 5:33; 7:54
      1. Our preaching and teaching needs to blast people out of     
         their complacency.
      2. The word "power" in Rom. 1:16 is from the Greek word
         "dunamis" from which we get our words "dynamo,"
         "dynamic," and "dynamite."
         a. Like dynamite, the gospel is God's power to blast men
            out of their complacency and indifference, and move
            them toward eternal salvation.

IV. FERVENTLY.
   A. Our teaching should not be as "dry" as though one were reading
      from a catalog.
      1. We need to avoid extremes - not too emotional (as in many
         holiness churches) and not too dry, as can easily be the    
         case with us.
   B. One should not seek to put on a grand show as he teaches or
      preaches.
      1. Those who have "itching ears" can "heap up" teachers who
         please them. 2 Tim. 4:3-4
   C. Our teaching must be "fervent." Rom. 12:11; Acts 18:25
      1. "Fervent" means "to be hot, to boil." (Vine)
         a. We need to recognize the urgency involved.
      2. Paul taught "with tears." Acts 20:31; Phil. 3:18
      3. Like Jeremiah, when the word is like a "burning fire" within
         us, our teaching will not be stale, dry, or dull. Jer. 20:9

V. FEARLESSLY. 2 Tim. 1:7; Titus 2:15
   A. King Saul sinned because, as he said, "I feared the people and
      obeyed their voice." 1 Sam. 15:24
      1. Several years ago, a preacher was told by other preachers
         that if he would teach on the issues in the church where he
         was preaching, the roof would cave in.
      2. The preacher affirmed that it would not happen, but the
         people would readily receive his teaching. He did preach on
         the issues, and the other preachers asked him, "How did the
         people react?" He said, "The roof caved in."
   B. God made Ezekiel's forehead like flint. Ezek. 3:7-9
      1. One should be very hard-headed when it comes to preaching
         only the truth.
   C. Like Isaiah, we should "cry aloud" against sin and error. Isa. 
      58:1
      1. Someone has said, "Reviving the Church is like remodeling
         your house: it takes longer than you hoped, costs more than
         you planned, and makes a bigger mess than you ever thought
         possible."

VI. FEARFULLY.
   A. We must give answers with meekness and fear. 1 Pet. 3:15
   B. Because of the judgment and terror of the Lord, we seek to
      persuade people. 2 Cor. 5:10-11
      1. We need to persuade them to flee from the wrath to come.
      2. Ezekiel had to give warning so that he could be free from   
         the blood of others. Ezek. 33:7-9
      3. Let us faithfully discharge our duty in giving warning.
      4. Even though people may not appreciate what we are trying
         to do, let us continue to hold forth the word of life.
      5. Let us be firm, bold, and courageous, but at the same time,
         let us be kind, gentle, and patient in trying to lead others
         to Christ. 2 Tim. 2:24-26

Concl.
   A. Teaching is a wonderful privilege; we need to do our best. 1   
      Tim. 4:16
   B. We need to pray for all of our teachers. Eph. 6:19-20
   C. Paul said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Cor.
      9:16) And, "As much as in me is, I am ready to preach the      
      gospel to you who are at Rome also." (Rom. 1:15)
      1. Let us have the same mind and spirit as he had.

Chart:
How Teachers Must Teach

Faithfully
                       
Fully
                        
Forcefully
                        
Fervently
                        
Fearlessly
                        
Fearfully