by Tammie Friberg
You might say that everyone is a teacher in some
regard as others watch what we do and what we say, how we handle
difficult situations, how we spend our time and money, as well as what
we truly value. The Apostle Paul takes note of this kind of teaching
when he wrote his friend Timothy saying, "You have followed my teaching,
conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the
persecutions and sufferings that came to me..." (2 Tim. 3:10-11, HCSB).
Note that Paul not only taught by his words, but by how he conducted his
life even in the midst of suffering and persecution.
Below I have
included some of my favorite Scriptures about teaching in the Bible.
I find these intriguing. See if you can guess who is speaking or who it
is about, and the setting of the following
Scriptures. Answers follow this section below.
1. "Let my teaching fall like rain and my word
settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender
plants. For I will proclaim the LORD's name, Declare the greatness
of our God! The Rock--His work is perfect; all His ways are
entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous
and true."
(Deut. 32:2-4 HCSB). What beautiful words, and spoken by a true teacher.
Can you guess who said it? This person was about to die and was trying
to leave the teachings of the LORD in the hands of the people. But, the
people had been rebelling and even with this person's leadership, it was
hard to see if they would continue listening to God's ways when he was
no longer with them. It was Moses who
said these words to the people of Israel the same day the LORD told him
to go to Mt. Nebo where he would die. Moses' carried a burden for
the people of God. He said these words because he wanted them to
remember the things God had taught them, to nourish themselves on them,
and to teach their children these things so that their devotion would
remain with the Lord. He experienced the burden of teachers...to
establish the people theologically and obediently so that they would be
strong enough to withstand temptations through the discipline of daily
spiritual nourishment.
2. The Scriptures say of him, "...The gracious hand of his God was upon
him, because _______ had determined in his heart to study the law of the
LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel."
(Ezra 7:9-10--HCSB) This passage of Scripture is describing Ezra.
It was Ezra who led
the people of God back to the Promise Land after exile (sometimes
called, the Second Exodus). He had the same teaching heart as
Moses in the first Exodus. God's gracious had was with him! Great
leaders were those who stood before their people and taught them God's
ways.
3. I love this one, "...Look! the men you put in jail are standing
in the temple complex and teaching the people."
(Acts 5:25-HCSB). This took place when Peter and the
apostles had been put in jail and an angel had released, instructing
them to go teach in the temple again. After being arrested again
for teaching in the temple, they said to the Sanhedrin, "We must obey
God rather than man."
4. Many Scriptures contain phrases such as, "__________ went about
teaching in
their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom..."; "
__________ went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom." "Every day in the
temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and
proclaiming the good news..." ; etc.
(Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35;Acts 5:42- HCSB). These are a few of the
Scriptures describing a traveling type of teaching ministry. Note
that Jesus and the early apostles were dedicated to this traveling type
of teaching ministry.
5. "...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...
(Matt. 28:20- HCSB). The last phrase of the Great Commission. It
is the one most commonly left out in the practice of modern day
missions. Our job is not finished with witnessing, it includes teaching
as well.
6. "These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the
commands of men."
(Mark 7:6-7; Isaiah 29:13--HCSB). Jesus and Isaiah both quoted
these words of God. We must never forget that the tendency to replace
God's teachings and mandates with men's is true through the days of the
Bible. We are not exempt from the same mistake today.
7. "And what you have heard from me in the
presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to
teach others also."
(2 Tim. 2:2--HCSB). Paul encouraged Timothy with these
words. Teaching is a stewardship. This passage has become one of
the central purpose statements in discipleship ministries such as the
Navigators.
8. "He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and
asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and
was teaching the crowds from the boat."
(Luke 5:3-4-HCSB--the great fish catch, the call of the first
disciples). God brought teaching opportunities to Jesus. God will
bring opportunities to us to teach in unlikely places also.
9. "He went through one town and village after another, teaching
and making His way to Jerusalem."
(Luke 13:22-HCSB). It is interesting Jesus was teaching everywhere
He went and also pressing toward his own death.
10. "They must teach my people the difference between the holy and
the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the
unclean."
(Ezekiel 44:23--HCSB). This is the Lord's charge to the priests.
Is it not part of the job of teachers also to teach discernment?
11. "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good
conscience, and a sincere faith."
(1 Tim. 1:5--HCSB--Paul, in a discussion against false teachers
and false doctrine).
12. "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?..Again
I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you"
(Gal. 4:16, 19--HCSB). Paul was speaking to the Galatians, whom
he had reproved greatly. The "theory" that people should always, "feel
good" after we have taught them is indicative that our culture has a
problem with honesty and pride.
13. "Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather."
(Matt. 24:28--HCSB) Jesus was teaching on the
popularity of false prophets, i.e. the carcasses. Some people believe
the greatest teachers are those with large crowds. But this may not be
true.
14. "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we
have preached the message of the Lord, and see how they're doing."
(Acts 15:35-36-HCSB). This was right
before Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement and split ways. Paul
and Barnabas establishing a ministry going from one place to another
strengthening the churches and checking on them from time to time.
15. "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers
for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They
will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths."
(2 Tim. 4:3-4--HCSB) Paul describes well the
crowd mentality to choose teachers or pastors that do not challenge the
status quo. Note his exhortation following in verses 5-6a, "But as for you, keep
a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an
evangelists, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as
a drink offering..." We must remain true to what the Lord has taught
us in His Word and fulfill our teaching ministry, even though we might
ourselves consider our work to be poured out on the ground to no avail.
Yet to God it is our offering!
16. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation.
You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is
inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an
infant. But solid food is for the mature--for those whose senses
have been trained to distinguish between good and evil."
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