The Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary requested the preparation of a booklet in honor of Sunday School teachers. I received with joy the assignment to prepare that booklet. Most of my life I have been blessed by association with great Sunday School teachers. Throughout the preparation of the booklet, I have made reference to those teachers who helped shape my life by giving spiritual direction.
The booklet is dedicated to all the faithful Sunday School teachers in all the churches. The
project is a way of saying thanks for the effort you have put forth in helping build the churches
through your teaching efforts.
There is no claim of originality for the material in this booklet. It is the product of books, teachers, lectures, pastors, seminars, seminary students, and Sunday School workers.
In addition to the mentioned resources, the six churches who have allowed me to be their pastor and to take part in their Sunday Schools have helped to translate the material into real situations. With each application the thinking about Sunday School has taken on new dimensions.
The writing of the booklet would have been impossible without the encouragement of Dr. Philip Bryan, president of Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary. He desires to see the churches of the BMA of America flourish, and he believes they can flourish through a renewal of Sunday School work among the churches.
My wife, Linda, was of great assistance in completing the project by offering suggestions for
further development of various points and helping in the mechanics of producing the manuscript.
©Copyright 1988 (USED BY PERMISSION)
Baptist Publishing House
Texarkana, Texas 75505-7270
Gift to the churches
Teachers of good things
People responsible for the teaching ministry
Heart of the Great Commission
Problems
Responsibility for the tongue
Responsibility for a consistent life
Responsibility to prove worth
Salvation and life
Prayer
Discrimination
Stewardship
Fear of the Lord
What disciples are to do
What disciples are not to do
The transgressor
The children
All nations
All groups within the church
A praying teacher
A scholarly teacher
A motivating teacher
A faithful teacher
Other teachers
A challenge to feed the sheep
A challenge to plan creatively
A challenge to understand problems
A challenge to understand Sunday School function
A challenge to understand motivation
A task too big for one person
The pastor
The Sunday School superintendent
The teacher
The church body
Organizing for classes
Organizing the classes
Recruiting teachers
Make it easy to become a part of the class
Make it hard to be removed from the class roll
Make it inviting to attend the class
Make it easy for a stranger to find the class
Christian teachers were an important part of development in the early church. As such references
to teachers abound in the New Testament. Many references in the New Testament were to
individuals who were serving in an official position as a teacher, often as a pastor-teacher. Much
of what the New Testament says about teachers applies to individuals who serve as Sunday
School teachers today.
Gift to the churches
Teachers were viewed as a gift to churches. Paul wrote that God gave to churches, among other workers, "pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints" Ephesians 4:11, 12). Paul was setting forth the idea that, through the work of teaching saints would be brought to maturity.
As mature believers the Christian body would be able to do the work of ministry which would result in edification of churches.
Teachers, you are a gift from God to your church!
Teachers of good things
Paul wrote of aged women that they should be "teachers of good things," such as teaching "young women to be sober (wise), to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet,chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands" (Titus 2:3-5). In addition to helping young women have better lives, the effect of their teaching was to assure that the Word of God would not be blasphemed through the improper conduct of young women.
In light of all the problems in the world and in the church today, perhaps it would be in order to
pray that God would raise up some aged women to exercise a similar gift of teaching today.
People responsible for the teaching ministry
Teachers were charged to do their teaching faithfully. While teachers were blessings to the early
church, teachers who did not continue growing in Christ became problems. People who were
teachers needed to give the teaching ministry the best they had to offer. For those reasons Paul
wrote that those who were involved in teaching should "wait on" their teaching (Romans 12:7).
If Paul were writing to contemporary churches, he certainly would urge all Sunday School
teachers to be faithful in their teaching.
Heart of the Great Commission
Jesus made the ministry of teaching the heart of the Great Commission. In addition to going and baptizing, Jesus charged that the church was to "teach all nations." He charged furthermore that people were to be taught to observe all things whatsoever He had commanded (Matthew 28:19, 20).
Jesus' commission to His church has not expired. Therefore, teaching the things of Christ must
remain a top priority in the program of the church.
Problems
Teachers in the New Testament experienced problems. Some people who claimed to be teachers were ignorant. Paul described some of those teachers as people who were "desiring to beteachers of the law understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm" (I Timothy 1:7).
Other teachers were motivated by a desire to please people. Such teachers taught what people wanted to hear. Paul wrote that those kind of teachers are the ones people choose when they have "itching" ears and do not want to hear the truth (II Timothy 4:3, 4).
Peter warned that false teachers would arise among the people of God who would privily "bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (II Peter 2:1). Peter went on to warn that many within the church would follow the "pernicious ways" of those ungodly teachers (II Peter 2:2).
The writer of Hebrews spoke of people who should have become teachers but had failed to grow. He rebuked them by telling them that they should have already developed into teachers instead of continuing to need someone to teach them "the first principles of the oracles of God"(Hebrews 5:12).
Paul wrote to Titus that there were teachers in Crete who were "teaching things which they ought not." To make matters worse, Paul charged that those teachers were teaching their lies because of greed. Paul stressed that the mouths of such teachers must be stopped (Titus 1:11).
Jesus, through the writings of John, spoke of a teacher who was described as a "Jezebel" teacher. The thing that seemed to be the greatest irritation to Jesus concerning that teacher was that the church of Thyatira was allowing her to continue her teaching. Jesus said that she was seducing His servants "to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." He demanded repentance on her part and on the part of people who had followed her teaching (Revelation 2:20).
From the brief survey on biblical references to teachers, it is obvious that teachers were very influential in the development of the early church. The influence of teachers counted for both good and bad purposes.
Christian teaching today holds the same potentials for both good and bad. Therefore, let every
teacher dedicate all teaching efforts to the glory of the Lord.
James wrote, "My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (James 3:1). James recognized the necessity of teaching, but he wanted all teachers to understand the awesomeness of their task.
Those who teach are subject to a more strict judgment than others. They have professed clear knowledge of duty; they are all the more bound to live consistently what they teach. To fail is to create a stumbling block for others.
Some today, like people in the days of James, aspire to be "teachers of righteousness." That
aspiration sometimes is based more on a desire for a perceived rank or admiration rather than a
desire to please the Lord. The words of James stand as a clear warning for prospective teachers to
proceed with caution--the responsibility is awesome.
Responsibility for the tongue
Being a teacher requires expressing views on varied matters. Multiplied talk certainly will result in multiplied offenses with the tongue and, consequently, greater condemnation or judgment. James wrote, "In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2).
Before launching into a Christian teaching assignment, a person needs to evaluate carefully
personal discipline. Being a Christian teacher requires severe discipline of the tongue. Only the
mature possess the needed personal discipline to avoid offences.
Responsibility for a consistent life
Paul addressed the problem of inconsistency when he described Jewish teachers who failed to live according to their own teaching. He wrote,
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of Cod is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" (Romans 2:21-24).
Those words of Paul carry a severe warning requiring every person who dares to teach to
maintain a definite consistency with the life lived and the words taught. To do less will render
any lesson of righteousness of non-effect and bring reproach upon the cause of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Responsibility to prove worth
Nicodemus hit upon the secret that makes a great teacher when he approached Jesus by night. He said to the Lord, "Rabbi (teacher), we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2). While the modern Christian teacher may not perform miracles of nature, the lessons taught and the life lived as an example should produce miracles of change in the lives of those taught. If the teaching effort is meaningless to the hearers, it probably is a sign that the teacher is less than a rabbi "sent from God."
Preachers are often accused of "preaching for the money." To be a preacher motivated by greed
would be a horrible offense. Likewise, it is also a horrible offense for a teacher to be motivated
by a desire for recognition and acclaim rather than a sense of a heaven-conceived mission. A
Christian teacher must be sent from God or not be a teacher at all.
A Christian teacher is responsible for the most important curriculum that will ever be taught. The lessons that must be taught cannot flow from some prescribed course; the lessons must arise out of the life-needs of those being taught. No quarterly or plan exists for answering all the questions that the dynamics of life will cause to surface. The preparation a Christian teacher must make, therefore, is preparation of the mind and heart through study, prayer, and a daily walk with Jesus. Peter admonished Christians to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). Only through such growth will a Christian teacher be ready to teach.
The subjects that a Christian teacher must address are presented in the Bible. Every Christian
teacher must be sure that those vital lessons are addressed in the process of teaching.
Salvation and life
Just as Nicodemus came to Jesus confused and wanting to know how to be born again, there will come into the life of every dedicated Christian teacher a confused person asking the same question, "Teacher, how can I be born again?" There will probably come to every dedicated Christian teacher a girl whose life has been soiled by moral impurity needing to know how to receive the living water that not only satisfies the eternal thirst of the soul but also washes away forever the filth of a soiled life. There will come before every Christian teacher children seeking guidance for beginning their pilgrimage of faith. What will the teacher tell such people?
The answers needed cannot be reduced to print in a book; the answers must come from God through a Christian teacher. As a Christian teacher, therefore, you must do as Peter urged the Christians of his day and "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give ananswer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15).
A Christian teacher needs to remember that whatever counsel is given to the inquirers
concerning salvation will shape not only the rest of their lives but also their eternal destiny.
When a teacher speaks on salvation and life, that teacher is standing on holy ground.
Prayer
"It came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
The disciples of the Lord felt an acute need for learning to pray. What made them feel that need? The Scripture reveals that their request came at the conclusion of one of the Lord's prayers. It was, therefore, by example rather than by lecture that the Lord had shown the disciples the need for prayer.
A Christian teacher today must employ the same methodology Jesus used - students must be taught to pray by the example of their teacher. No teacher should pray just to give an example but should be of such spiritual disposition that there is a heart-felt need for communion with the Lord. When a teacher's prayers are genuine, they will create a genuine thirst within disciples for learning to pray.
How did the Lord go about teaching the disciples to pray? His teaching started long before the disciples asked to be taught. In fact the request of the disciples for instruction in praying was overwhelming evidence of the Lord's commitment to prayer. Day after day the Lord had prayed with the disciples. He had prayed for them; He had prayed with them; He had urged them to pray (Matthew 7:7); and He had counseled them how not to pray (Matthew 6:5, 7). The life of the Lord was so filled with prayers that for the disciples to be with Him was to experience the sacredness of the prayer relationship between God the Son and God the Father. To experience that relationship was to create a spiritual readiness for learning to pray.
Too often a teacher will try to teach behaviors for which students have not been prepared. Suppose that Jesus had begun with verbal instruction on prayer instead of showing them prayer in His life. The disciples would, no doubt, have listened to His instructions; they may have even learned the Model Prayer--but something would have been missing in their learning experience. To learn to pray, they needed to see prayer in action. The visual demonstration of prayer prepared them for exploring prayer through a verbal lesson. Prayer in the life of their teacher created within them the concept of prayer; the Model Prayer which they were taught simply helped them translate their concept into action.
No teacher should ever be content to have students merely learn the mechanics of prayer. Every teacher should first seek to have students experience the power, the peacefulness, and the sweetness of prayer. A teacher should create within students a thirst for exploring mysteries of the God-given privilege of prayer. When that thirst is created, the teacher can then share the same principles of praying which the Master shared with His disciples years ago.
A teacher's goal must be to teach students to pray--not just to teach about prayer or the methods of praying. Knowing about prayer is not the problem Christian teachers face. Some Christians already know about prayer, yet they seldom pray. Others talk much about prayer, but few experience the power that comes from praying.
The Great Commission did not command teachers to impart factual knowledge to people but to
teach people to observe what Christ had commanded. Teaching that does not produce a positive
change in behavior is not real teaching!
Discrimination
The prophet Ezekiel wrote of a day of revival. As he described that glorious time, he said of the priests that they "shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause him to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23).
Christian teachers face a confused body of disciples. Many things that were called sin a few years ago are now glamorized and made to appear as acceptable behavior. What was adultery a few years ago is now considered an "affair" and is paraded on television as an accepted form of behavior. Day after day viewers see glamorous people drinking, gambling, and behaving immorally. The alcohol industry advertises its products as the ultimate means for enjoying life. At the same time they make token contributions to charitable causes; and despite the pain and suffering caused by their product, they earn for themselves a good name. Such behavior creates confusion among people, and the lines between good and evil become blurred.
The confusion becomes even more complicated when one views conditions within the churches. Some people assemble for prayer on Sunday and use the rest of the week in pursuing ungodliness. It is not unusual for a regular Sunday churchgoer to pay homage to the alcohol industry by filling the refrigerator with alcoholic drink. It is not unusual for a couple to delight themselves with the fellowship of Christians in Sunday School and then party with the world at some private club during the week. It is not unusual for a seemingly dedicated couple to announce that they have encountered irreconcilable differences and are seeking a divorce. It is not even unusual for a Sunday School teacher to teach a lesson on the joys of church life and then skip the worship service because of "more important things." Such inconsistencies within the assembly of believers creates confusion as to what is right and what is wrong.
Several years ago a Sunday School superintendent gave a devotional before sending classes to their respective meeting places. In his remarks he pointed out that attendance was down considerably. He blamed the low attendance on inclement weather. But he went on to say that if it had been pretty weather he and his family would not have been present. He reported that they were planning a trip to the zoo, but since it was raining they decided to attend church instead. Through those remarks that superintendent probably did much to confuse the loyalty of people to the services of God.
The confusion of right and wrong and of what is important and what is of secondary importance
is one of the great challenges before a teacher of righteousness. A teacher must not just tell
students what is right and wrong. That would only be one more voice adding to the confusion of
the student. Instead of merely telling what is right, a teacher must demonstrate what is "that
good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). When a teacher's life is
committed to the holy will of God, the lessons taught will not be empty-sounding phrases from
the past, but will be words of power which "shall teach . . . people the difference between the
holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." When such
teaching prevails in the churches and Sunday Schools, God will use it to bring conviction to a
confused generation.
Stewardship
The psalmist prayed, "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).
The word stewardship usually conjures up thoughts about money. While the proper use of money is an important consideration of stewardship, it certainly does not encompass the entire matter. Stewardship involves the use of time and abilities as well as material resources. It demands faithfulness with all that a person has and all that a person is.
Even though people are probably giving more of their money to Christian causes today than ever before, the commitment of self leaves much to be desired. The kind of stewardship that gives money without giving self is a far cry from that advocated by Paul. He advocated the principle that faithful stewardship requires people first to give themselves. When that was done, he expected people to give beyond their normal ability (II Corinthians 8:1-5).
How can people be taught the ideal form of stewardship? Paul showed the way. While he taught great principles of stewardship in his preaching and writing, the most powerful lesson of stewardship that he taught came from his life. He gave all that he had and all that he was in order to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ. Those who knew him saw that his teaching on stewardship was not a chain of empty words but the reflection of the life he was living.
Teaching stewardship to people today requires the same approach as used by Paul. The key is stewardship in the life of the teacher. A teacher cannot teach stewardship just with s lecture or by giving large offerings each Sunday. It must be taught by demonstrating faithful stewardship in all areas of life. A teacher must give self to the Lord if people are to be taught to be faithful stewards.
Once a teacher came before the class and said, "This has been a bad week for me. I have been so busy that I have not had time to prepare my lesson. I guess we will just have to depend on the Lord as we try to teach the lesson. If you will forgive me this time, I promise you I will be better prepared next time."
In that action that teacher reduced the effectiveness of his future efforts to teach stewardship. He proved to the class that he had been a poor steward of time and probably a poor steward of the truth.
Life makes heavy demands on teachers, but the work of teaching is one of the most awesome responsibilities in life. A priority must be given to allotting the time necessary for adequate preparation. To do less is to teach the class that stewardship of time is not important.
Paul wrote, "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:2). He
could have written that it is required of teachers who teach stewardship that they be found
faithful lest their teaching be totally ignored!
Fear of the Lord
The psalmist invited his listeners to "come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you thefear of the LORD" (Psalm 34:11).
The condition within the present generation lays upon Christian teachers an urgent challenge to teach people to fear the Lord. Unless people learn that important lesson, society will continue to degenerate.
What is the fear of the Lord? In simple terms, it is reverential trust in the Lord. It involves believing God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Fear of the Lord involves reverence for the power of God. One who fears the Lord fears to disobey Him because he knows the consequences of disobedience. One who fears the Lord wants to serve the Lord by reaching out to the lost because he knows that God will forgive a sinner if he will repent. He also knows that a sinner will perish unless he does repent.
When teachers adequately communicate the concept of "the fear of the Lord," Christians will be
more faithful and sinners will be more eager to turn from their sins.
What disciples are to do
God sent a great blessing into the life of Manoah and his wife. He gave them a promise of a son. That blessing filled Manoah's heart with concern as he pondered the responsibility that heaven's gift would thrust upon him. He hungered to know what he was to do to deal properly with the son when he was born. He took the matter to the Lord and said, "O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born" (Judges 13:8).
Christian parents need to help their children; Christian children need to help their parents; all need to make their lives count in the service of the Lord. Those things Christian teachers must teach.
No set of rules will guarantee that everything being done is the thing that should be done. To try to formulate such a list would be a legalistic approach to Christian living. Instead of searching for a list of rules, focus should be on eternal principles that are to be followed in trying to live a life pleasing to God. Paul identified some of those principles in Colossians 3:
(1) Seek those things which are above (verse 1)
(2) Set your affection on things above (verse 2)
(3) Mortify . . . members which are upon the earth (verse 5)
(4) Put on bowels (inner attitudes) of mercies, kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering (verse 12)
(5) Forbear and forgive one another (verse 13)
(6) Put on charity (love) which is the bond of perfectness (verse 14) (7) Let the peace of God rule in your hearts (verse 15)
(8) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (verse 16)
(9) Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (verse 17)
(10) Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands (verse 18)
(11) Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them (verse 19) (12) Children, obey your parents in all things (verse 20)
(13) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger (verse 21)
(14) Servants, obey in all things your masters (verse 22)
(15) Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men (verse 23)
Teaching such behaviors requires special dedication on the part of a Christian teacher, but it is a
challenge that cannot be ignored.
What disciples are not to do
When the children of Israel were preparing to cross the Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land, God gave them specific instruction as to things against which they must constantly be on guard. Some of the instruction sounded harsh, but God knew the people and what was necessary if they were to be true to Him. Part of the instruction was that the people who possessed the cities of Canaan were to be destroyed. God went on to give as a reason for that drastic order "that they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods" (Deuteronomy 20:18).
While no Christian teacher should be guilty of legalistic teaching, certain actions are not to be tolerated within the Christian community. Paul identified those things as "fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry"(Colossians 3:5). People do not need to be taught a list of do's and don'ts, but they do need to be taught that there are behaviors which must be avoided if one is to meet God's standard for holy living. That standard demands that the Christian "mortify" members (body parts) that would lead into sin. By mortifying a member, Paul meant that one should put to death the evil purpose of various body parts. Jesus described the same procedure when He said, "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. . . . If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee" (Matthew 5:29, 30). Jesus and Paul were not advocating physical surgery as a way of achieving holiness, but they were teaching that there are certain things that Christians must not do.
The Christian is to be taught not to be sexually immoral. Present conditions demand renewed emphasis on the teaching of morality. Not many years ago a young couple came to their pastor expressing a desire to be married. Both were quite young to be taking such a step as marriage; so the pastor began to inquire as to why they were getting married so young. The conversation soon revealed that the girl was pregnant.
The girl had been reared in a Baptist church and Sunday School; the boy had also attended church. The pastor assumed that during those years of church attendance they had been taught to avoid promiscuous behavior. He thought that over the years they had been taught that the biblical standard for engaging in sex involved marriage first. The pastor took liberty to ask the couple why they had engaged in sex before marriage. Without any hesitation or without any apparent guilt, they answered they had done what they had done because they loved each other.
What a surprise! A girl reared in a Baptist church and Sunday School and a boy brought up in another denomination did not know that sex was intended for married couples. Someone had failed to teach that Christians are to avoid sexual impurity.
The story of improper sexual activity among Baptist young people does not stop with just one illustration. In 1986 Wayne Watkins sent a questionnaire to teenagers in seven churches. Ninety-nine teens responded to the questionnaire. In response to the question, "What are your feelings about sex before marriage?" 11 percent said it's OK; 15 percent said it's OK only if the people love each other; 18 percent said they were unsure; and 56 percent said it is wrong. While 56 percent held that premarital sex was wrong, 44 percent were either unsure or held an opposing view.
The story continues when focus is placed on adults within the church. Once a man came to his pastor troubled by the thought that his wife was being unfaithful. In the conversation, it was revealed that the reason he could not trust his wife was because he had been untrue to her. As he continued to tell his story, it was almost as if he had memorized a script from a television soap opera and had appropriated the events to his own life. Such events cry out loud and long for teachers to teach that there are some things Christians must not do.
Another activity that Paul taught that Christians were to avoid was greed, which he said was idolatry. The horrible effects of greed are evident in almost every congregation. Once a person shared some of the problems that existed within the fellowship where he was a member. As he talked, he came to a certain young couple who were members but who no longer attended church and Sunday School. He said that the young couple had once been faithful, but after starting their own business they had become too successful. They had fallen prey to the god of gold and no longer had time for the services of the Lord.
Whether the evaluation of that couple's problem was correct cannot be known for certain. It is known, however, that as time went on the couple separated, divorced, and then married different partners. Their lives became very confused. Possibly, their problem developed because they had surrendered to greed, which is idolatry. The presence of couples like that in almost every congregation cries out for teachers to teach that there are some things that must not be done.
Other behaviors that Paul identified as actions to be avoided include anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying (Colossians 3:8, 9). Christian teachers must have
the courage to teach their students not to allow those behaviors in their lives.
For whom is the Christian teacher responsible? The Bible identifies definite groups whom the
Christian teacher cannot afford to neglect to teach.
The transgressor
In David's agony of repentance, he prayed for a clean heart and a new spirit. He prayed that the Spirit of God would not be taken from him and that there would be a restoration of the joy of God's salvation. He then stated in his prayer that if God would grant the revival of spirit for which he prayed, he would "teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Psalm 51:12,13).
Each Christian teacher needs to pray a similar prayer. One of the most important groups a
teacher will ever teach are the transgressors. What a tragedy if a teacher is so backslidden that
God cannot bless with transgressors learning of God and sinners being converted from sin.
The children
As Moses gave the second account of God's laws to Israel, he constantly emphasized the
importance of the laws' being taught and passed on to coming generations. He urged people to
"teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons" (Deuteronomy 4:9). He stressed that one of the reasons
God had taught them the law was so they could "teach their children" (Deuteronomy 4:10).
While that responsibility still rests upon the shoulders of parents and grandparents, there is no
escaping the fact that anyone who teaches is responsible to teach the children.
All nations
Jesus gave the commission for the church to "go . . . and teach all nations." The commission stressed that the goal of teaching must be
"teaching them to observe . . . . " If such teaching is done, Jesus promised, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19, 20).
In the light of that commission, the Christian teacher has no way to escape from the
responsibility of reaching out to all people everywhere. While a teacher cannot personally teach
"all nations," all people within the world that surrounds the teacher can be taught. From those
who are taught will come new teachers who will reach out farther into the world. Through
faithfulness in teaching the people who make up the teacher's personal world, the teacher will be
reaching out to all lands of people in all places. The teacher can also reach out to all nations by
teaching students to be faithful in giving to support those who have been called to go to those
beyond.
All groups within the church
Paul spoke of teaching young women. He spoke of teaching young men. He himself was busy
with the task of teaching the older men and women. The words and example of Paul leave no
question but that Christian teachers must be busy teaching all the people whom God adds to the
church all the things about the way of God.
Through close association with Sunday School teachers for over a quarter of a century,
characteristics of certain teachers have etched an indelible picture in my brain. In most
instances, the people who have been the most supporting of the ministry of the church have been
those people who have given of themselves to serve as Sunday School teachers.
A praying teacher
One teacher had a pastor who did not believe in tithing. She shared the matter with her husband and together they began praying for God to teach their pastor the truth concerning Christian giving. The pastor did not know of their prayer commitment or of their concern.
After a few months, the pastor came into their house and shared with them that he had been convicted of an error in his thinking. He had become convinced that Christians should give at least a tithe. With rejoicing, the couple shared with him how God had answered their prayers.
Reflecting on that teacher and her husband, one cannot help wondering how many more positive
changes were brought about by their prayers!
A scholarly teacher
There was s teacher who spent as much or more time in the preparation of his Sunday School lessons as his pastor did in the preparation of the Sunday morning sermon. He studied scriptures, read books, and made notes --he was thoroughly prepared. So thorough was his preparation that he served as a constant motivation to his pastor to give his best in the preparation of all sermons preached in the hearing of that teacher.
All pastors need such a teacher as an example in study!
A motivating teacher
There was a teacher who had an uncanny ability to motivate young people. That teacher could
take a handful of junior high or senior high students and turn them into a growing class. She
could start with one or two class members and in a few months have a room full. She kept her
class busy as bees. They had socials, elected officers, worked on class projects, and had regular
class meetings. She consistently planned interesting ways of involving teenagers in the work of
the Lord.
A faithful teacher
There was a teacher who was faithful to her class in every way. She was faithful in attendance,
faithful in preparation, but most importantly she was faithful to the class members. While most
lessons she taught have been long forgotten, the lessons she taught through her life of
faithfulness, no doubt, continue to live in the lives of those who sat in her class.
Other teachers
There have been many teachers who have come and gone in the life of this pastor. Even though
there were times when disagreements arose, every teacher was greatly appreciated. All people
who gave of themselves to prepare for teaching, and endured both the criticism and the praise
for doing that work, have been special. To all such people who had a part in shaping my life and
ministry, I say thank God for you. May your kind be multiplied in the churches of the Lord!
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