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We invite you to join us on Sunday morning for worship at 9:30. We think you will find the spiritual connection you’ve been looking for. Our current study is the Great Commission and our need to practice it as Christ intended. This week we are going to focus on “teaching” God’s way and as Christ used the word in the Great Commission. First let’s consider:
- PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN BIBLICAL TEACHING. Biblical teaching (all real teaching for that matter) has three distinct steps/processes that are clearly seen in Scripture. 1—imparting or passing on knowledge or skills. In this sense there are two distinct goals of imparting: A) insight or opening the understanding of the student; B) knowledge presupposed to the teacher. In the discipleship idea it is the desire of the student to receive the insights of the teacher, and the desire of the teacher to pass those insights to the student. For this process to work both the student and teacher must have an intense heart desire for the information/skills to be passed and received. For us as Christians that means Christ can desire with all His heart to teach us God’s Law, but if we aren’t willing to learn, He can’t teach! The idea of imparting leads to 2—increasing in knowledge. The constant and consistent sharing of the teacher with the student naturally resulted in the student incorporating both the principles and practices of the teacher into the daily life of the disciple. For us as Christians that means for us that every day there ought to be a greater likeness to Christ as we allow Him to teach us in our hearts. These two principles naturally lead to the third which is 3—incorporation of all that is taught into the life and lifestyle of the disciple. Superficial imitation is not the goal. When Paul says in Eph. 5:1 “be imitators of God” he is telling us that we are to be so deeply affected by the principles of Scripture that they influence our thoughts and permeate our entire life, not just certain parts we display on Sunday. When we apply these principles they result in:
- PRACTICES INVOKED BY BIBLICAL TEACHING. One of the primary purposes God intends is that His saving grace will not just clean a sinful heart but will also soften it so it absorbs all His Law teaches. The truth that he who hears God’s law also lives God’s law is woven all through it. What does God really expect from those of us who become alive through His saving grace? 1—immediately after getting off their knees asking for salvation a person must become a disciple of the One Who cared enough to share salvation with them. That means that we should never lead a person to Christ just to put another notch in our Bible. We must be prepared to disciple them for the rest of our life. 2—from the day of salvation God expects total immersion or baptism in His Law. From beginning to end God tells us to be fully involved/immersed in His Law allowing it to penetrate every part of our life. 3—Jesus tells Christians to teach converts “all things that I have taught you.” He taught them all the Law of God. We as fundamental Biblicists should learn a lesson in discipleship from those who often act contrary to Scripture by immersing their “disciples” in their own cause or mission. How many fundamental Bible believing Christians do you know that would actually die for their faith? It is one thing to say it and quite another to live it. Many Christians aren’t willing to die to self and allow Christ to live through them. Let’s show those who need Christ’s salvation that we can be good students of the Word.
If we can help you with answers to your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.
