A Biblical Understanding of Teaching/Preaching according to Pauline Literature
Teaching is one of the most important elements that a Christian can utilize in the reaching the degenerated world and discipling the regenerate. Teaching can take many forms, from a formal classroom means of delivery, to home studies and then even behind the pulpit, which has become the clergies primary method of instruction.
I. MOTIVATION of Biblical Pastoral Teaching – The Great Commission:
A. Command to make disciples of all nations
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ last message to His disciples and indeed to all Christians was to give them their obligation and duty to accomplish. In the Great Commission, Christ issued an edict to all Christians to “make disciples.” In making disciples, it doesn’t just mean sharing the Gospel message and leaving it at that, but sharing the Gospel and then training/teaching that disciple (which literally means follower) in the way that he should take. True discipleship therefore, involves an intensive exercise of Biblical teaching.
B. Command to make disciples by means of teaching
Matthew 28: 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. To make followers of Himself, Jesus was admonishing His disciples to accomplish this task by means of teaching. The Greek word poreuqe,ntej is a participle of means. We are to make disciples of all nations, by means of teaching them.
C. The power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. The power of the Gospel is one of the motivations for teaching and preaching. It is through this that Paul is proclaiming his dedication to the message of salvation and declaring that it is for “the Jew first and also for Greek.”
D. The body of Christ has many members, with unique abilities
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? The church is made up of many different skilled people. They are all skilled in different things. This passage advocates the Christian using his area of strength for the glory of God. Everyone does not have he gift of teaching, but everyone does have a specific area of excellence that they can use to strengthen the church.
E. A true servant of God must teach others 2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. One of the primary responsibilities of the pastor is to teach. Paul is writing to his beloved son in the faith and admonishing him on pastoral skills, that all ministers need to sharpen and implement in their ministry. There are different types of teaching. Some involve small groups, house visitation and the most used today, preaching.
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. One key aspect of the pastor is to be such a true servant of God and able to teach, that he can convince those who wouldn’t hearken.
II. METHODOLOGY of Biblical Pastoral Teaching:
A. The House Church
In Acts 20 the Apostle Paul, stated that in Ephesus he taught in public and from house to house. B. The Open Air Services
In Acts 16 Paul taught Lydia the seller of purple in a part of Macedonia. Also in Acts 17 Paul taught on Mars Hill, expounding to the people. He sought out something that they had that he could connect with them. They had an alter to the unknown God, so he began to teach them about one that they did not know.
C. The Jail Ministry
In Acts 16 Paul and Silas began their jail ministry. Their method of teaching was to sing the majesty of God. They sang so well, that they brought the house down.
D. The Extended Ministry
Paul also stayed for extended periods of teaching at certain times. In Acts 18, he stayed at Corinth for six months, teaching the word of God to them
E. Reasoning in the Synagogues
In Acts 13:5 Paul taught in the synagogue at Salamis, he went to an established place of worship and preached Christ and the gospel to the Jews. The end result was that the deputy believed, being astonished at the doctrine that Paul taught. He taught them from the stories of the Old testament (Acts 13 – David, Moses, etc.).
III. MECHANICS of Biblical Teaching: When, What
A. Practice what you teach/preach
Romans 2:21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? In order to be an effective teacher/preacher, one must put into daily practice what one teaches. Paul is proclaiming that you cannot teach one thing and do another, such actions are called hypocrisy. .
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Teacher must be of such examplatory character that someone that is trying to condemn you cannot do so, because of anything that you have done.
B. Preparing the foundation (Building up to more difficult subjects)
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. Teachers lay foundation blocks in young children’s mind. As child developed throughout his life, he has many teachers, each taking their turn to build on that person’s life and aiding them to become the person God wants them to be.
C. The world is my class room
1 Corinthians 4:15-17 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. The responsibility of teaching is not just something that you present once to an individual but it is a process of accountability as you help that disciple of Christ grow in grace. This gospel is not just something you preach in one church but to everyone, in every church, so that you may be His witnesses, both in your hometown, neighborhoods, nation, and world (Acts 1:8).
D. Comprehendible lecture
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. The teaching and proclaiming of the gospel message is not to be so complicated that your students cannot understand. It is a simple clear message that is important, not the presentation of an exalted vocabulary.
E. Teach no new doctrine
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Avoid those who teach another doctrine than that which has been taught from the beginning. What is essentially new is essentially false.
1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.
Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.
F. Proper structure of the classroom/what to teach? 1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. There is a proper structure to the classroom. One must operate the classroom properly and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? The lesson plans of the teacher should not have to stay on basic Christian doctrine forever, but as a student walks with God, there must be a deepening in their relationship, so that they can change their diet from “milk to steak.”
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Teaching involves a spirit of admonition, as well as a spirit of worship to the Almighty God.
IV. MILITANT PURPOSE of Biblical Teaching
A. Discipling
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore into all the world and make disciples…
B. Admonishing the Brethren
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. In teaching of the word, we must be ready and persistent and encouraging our people with good teaching.
C. Teaching about Christ
The heartbeat of the Christian message. Wherever Paul stopped he preached Christ to them.
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified…
D. Guarding the weak Believer
Romans 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. The teacher also ought to protect the young disciplee until they can “get off the bottle” and start enjoying “the meat of the gospel.” A teacher ought to place others ahead of his own interest and self-rights. It comes down to the fact, does the teacher really love the student? If so the student’s interests will be placed before that of the teacher.
E. Establish correct thinking
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
F. Communicate all good things
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
G. Perfecting of the saints and edifying of the body of Christ
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The primary work of the teacher is the equipping of the saints. This equipping is for: 1) The work of the ministry; and 2) The edifying of the body of Christ.
V. MAGNIFICENT REWARD of Biblical Teaching: A. The harkening pupil is no longer the servant of sin
Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.
B. Pupils that reproduce themselves (prepared for the ministry)
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
C. The firmly persuaded pupil
Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
D. The development of their individual gifts of the Spirit
Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Conclusion:
If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. ~ Paul the Apostle
