Thursday, July 5, 2007

The Called Teacher

“Get that, will you?”
“Tell them I'm on another line.”
“Just take a message.”
“Tell them I'm not in.”

Most of us would recognize these as normal responses to hearing the phone ring. I want you to just take a moment and think about what your response may be should God be the one calling you to be a Bible teacher. I mean, we all know (or at least suspect) that God won't call us on the telephone to be a teacher, but He may call us when it isn't convenient. He may even send a message through another believer. One thing for sure is that God knows whether you're really “in” or not.

Another thing we dread about communication today is being put on “hold”, but have you ever considered how God feels when we place Him on hold? So often, someone who is busy climbing the career ladder doesn't feel he/she has time to respond to God. A single parent doesn't feel he/she has time to respond because of the demands of parenthood. Still others may have chosen a lifestyle that doesn't allow room for God.

Being too busy with life will often keep someone from being used of God for His glory. That is one reason we open our Teaching a Bible Lesson workshop with a segment on The Called Teacher. In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus calls....did you get that? He calls us to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God gives some specific instructions here in Matthew. He tells the disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you......”. Notice that He gives us specific instructions. For starters, they have to:
  • “Go...” - We all need to be about the Father's business. That means that we can't serve him effectively sitting still.
  • “make disciples” - We have something to say that bears repeating over and over again by many. It is the gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
  • “baptizing them” - He even tells how to baptize them....completely!
  • “teaching them to observe” - He gives specific instructions about what we are to teach these new disciples - to teach them to “observe” everything His Word commands.

He continues by giving us assurance with His statement, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We don't have to do it alone! Jesus is our teammate. He is our help. He is our comfort. He is our protector. He is literally our everything!

In the Teaching a Bible Lesson workshop series, we talk about the “gift” of teaching. Not everyone is called to teach, but we are all called to learn. Ephesians 4:11 reads “And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers....”. Notice that He personally appoints us to specific roles.

I didn't feel qualified to teach when God first called me, but it wasn't long until I realized that He was giving me a new discipline of study that I hadn't desired before. This was confirmation of His call on my life. I have since been teaching a regular Sunday School class along with various discipleship classes in addition to the training we do through Center Cross Creative.

James 3:1 warns us that “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment...” If you are struggling with whether or not God is calling you to teach a Sunday School class or a Bible study group, I would strongly suggest that you consider this bit of Scripture as fair warning ahead of time. James is saying that if you aren't willing to be 100% serious about following what the Lord's Word teaches, you had better leave it alone.

People will look up to us as teachers. They trust us with their innermost thoughts. They trust us with their hurts and sorrows, and they expect us to be real and genuine with them.

Pray that God would confirm His call in your life. And if He has called you, renew your commitment now to be the Bible teacher that God has called you to be.

by James Gunter

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