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UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN. |
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THE ROLE OF BIBLE CLASS TEACHERS
Bible class teachers are special workers in the Kingdom. Those brothers and sisters that serve as faithful Bible class teachers deserve our thanks, support, and encouragement for their efforts. A special tribute is also due to those faithful saints that in days gone by taught and trained our present teachers. Their efforts of years and decades past is now bearing fruit through the Bible class teachers of the 21st century. The Greek word "didaskolos" ("teacher") is used of Jesus Himself. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was "a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). Any Bible class teacher of any age ought to seriously study the teaching message, methods, and attitude of Jesus. As He is in every other aspect of life, Jesus is certainly the pattern to follow in teaching. God wants all of His children to be teachers in the sense that all Christians should strive to teach others the gospel ("ye ought to be teachers," Hebrews 5:12). On the other hand, Ephesians 4:11 shows that in the first century church there was a special group of saints known as "teachers": "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." The context of the above passage from Ephesians 4, as well as other New Testament references (cf. Acts 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30), indicates that in the early church at least some of the teachers possessed miraculous gifts or powers. While the Holy Spirit in our day no longer gives such miraculous powers, there is still a need for teachers of the word. When we gather in public classes to study the Bible, someone needs to be responsible for teaching and guiding the class. This is where teachers play such a significant role. I want to use this means to exhort, remind, and charge all Bible class teachers to be the best, most effective teachers that they possibly can be. Being better teachers produces better Bible classes, which in turn produce better servants of Christ, resulting ultimately in stronger congregations and more people on the road to heaven. That is what it is all about! Teachers need to remember what they are supposed to do in the classroom – teach! That is the function of a "teacher" – to teach. I know that sounds really simple, but sadly in some instances very little teaching actually takes place in "Bible classes." Bible class teachers must also never forget the subject that they are to teach – the Bible! Bible class teachers have been entrusted with an awesome responsibility. They are expected to lead a group of people, whether young or old, in a study of what God says to us in His word. In many cases workbooks, charts, and other teaching aids are used. These are fine as long as their message is in harmony with God’s word, but the textbook of our studies must always be the Bible. Because of this, those who serve as teachers need to be those who faithfully follow the instructions of Titus 2:1 – "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine." Teachers need to be a godly example, serving as a model for their students to imitate. All Christians are to be "blameless" and let their light "shine" (Philippians 2:15; Matthew 5:16). This is especially so of those who serve as teachers of Bible classes. Many teachers have lost their influence over those whom they are teaching because, like some people of Jesus’ day, "they say, and do not" (Matthew 23:3). This Holy Spirit’s question deserves solemn consideration by every Bible class teacher: "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" (Romans 2:21). Simply put, teachers need to support the right spoken message with the right lifestyle, living soberly, righteously, and godly (Titus 2:12). It surely goes without saying that all teachers ought to be present for all services of the church, including those Bible classes when they themselves are not teaching. A teacher that willfully misses other classes or services is not sending the right message to those whom he/she teaches. What are they to think when they observe his/her conduct? I once heard of a sister that regularly taught a children’s Sunday morning Bible class. The congregation where she was a member had a gospel meeting that lasted several days. She did not attend one night of the meeting (she willfully forsook the assemblies). The Sunday morning following the close of the meeting she was met at the door of her classroom by an elder who told her that the shepherds had decided that she would not be teaching the class anymore. She protested that that was her class and she had to teach it. His response was that she had taught those kids something all week by being absent from the gospel meeting, and such teaching was not the kind needed. How right he was! Yes, her action said a lot. Please consider some suggestions for all that serve as Bible class teachers: * Be enthusiastic in your classes. This helps create an atmosphere where there is a sincere desire to learn on the part of the students. If a teacher seems like he is just going through the motions, is bored, or keeps yawning from a lack of sleep the night before, he should not expect those whom he is teaching to be too excited about listening to what he has to say. * Encourage questions. When they are asked, handle them with courtesy and patience. Always turn to the Bible for the answer: "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). When you don’t know the answer, admit it, then tell the class that you will try to find the answer before your next class. * Challenge your students. In many cases they can do much more than we give them credit for. Give them assignments. It won’t kill them. They may respond by saying that they are very busy with school or work, and perhaps they are. But school and work are secondary to a study of God’s word. * Pray for those whom you teach. Pray for their understanding and spiritual growth through your help. Let them know that you pray for them and really care about them. * Be on time for class. In fact, if you and your students go directly to the classroom without first meeting in the auditorium or elsewhere with others, then be several minutes early and be there waiting on the precious souls that you are to teach. Greet each student with a warm greeting. There may be emergencies that arise from time to time that cause a teacher to be late for a class. This is unavoidable. But teachers who are habitually late for their classes are sending a very strong message (a mighty undesirable one!) to those whom they are teaching If a teacher is late five minutes to class 50 times each year, then in one year’s time he is cheating his students out of 250 minutes (4 hours & 10 minutes) of Bible study. In the course of ten years that would be a total of 2,500 minutes (over 40 hours) missed and lost forever! Our kids and others that we teach deserve better treatment than that! Teachers that get their kids to ball games or school functions on time, but don’t get them and themselves to Bible classes on time, need to take a serious look at the kind of example they are setting (2 Corinthians 13:5). * Be well prepared for every class. Do not let anything interfere with your study and preparation. Even small children can "pick up" on a teacher being unprepared. If the class is worth teaching, then it is worth giving it our best effort (Colossians 3:23), and that means being prepared before we get to class. * Always keep in mind the goal of your work as a teacher. Teaching is not without its problems. It can be frustrating, even downright discouraging at times. When we feel that we are seeing very little progress on the part of our students, we need to remember that Rome was not built in one night, neither does a child learn the will of God and how to walk by faith in a short period of time. Keep plugging along. Just what is the ultimate goal of our Bible classes? Is it simply to impart knowledge? Students increasing in knowledge is necessary, but this is not the final goal. What about showing forth a good example, is that a teacher’s number one goal? In this article we have stressed the importance of teachers being a good example, but being such an example is not the final goal. In our classes are we trying to help those whom we teach to do better? Absolutely, but still, doing better is not the desired end. Every teacher must never forget that the ultimate goal of teaching Bible classes is to help people learn the will of God so that through this they can know to do His will, be saved, and go to heaven. That’s right – in our Bible classes we striving to help people prepare to go to heaven. Let us never lose sight of this. To all Bible class teachers who put forth so much time and effort, and who truly demonstrate in their lives that the Christ is living in them (Galatians 2:20), we offer our sincere thanks for a job well done. You may sometimes feel unappreciated, but remember that "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love" (Hebrews 6:10). -- Roger D. Campbell |
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