Good teaching

Read Titus 2:1-10

1 As for you,Titus,promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control,to be worthy of respect,and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

3 Similarly,teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead,they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,5 to live wisely and be pure,to work in their homes,to do good,and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

6 In the same way,encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal,but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive in every way. (NLT)

We sometimes hear of people who attend a particular church because of its good teaching. Some even go so far as to comment that they don’t particularly appreciate the music,the building or the fellowship,but they go for the teaching. Which means teaching must be pretty important. Paul certainly thought so when he urged Titus to be a sound teacher.

Note that the teaching is to be very practical. It is sadly true that some of our so-called ‘teaching’ is mere distribution of learned information with little relevance to daily living. Facts which could just as easily be absorbed by reading a book at home. Titus is to teach in such a way that patterns of living are challenged and reformed.

A church teacher is not just sharing information but urging transformation. Not just displaying knowledge but imparting wisdom. A sermon is to be backed up by deep and thoughtful preparation,but it is a mistake to preach such preparation. Interesting facts do not change lives.

And good teaching occurs in a climate of pastoral care. If the teacher doesn’t care and express that care in forging relationships with those who hear,then the teaching will lack integrity. Teachers are fellow learners and need to master the art of teaching with both authority and humility.

By all means seek out good teaching. But make sure it is truly ‘good teaching’. Is it changing your life? Is it helping you live for Jesus day by day? If not,it might just be the sharing of orthodox information which stimulates the brain but never penetrates the heart and will.

Blessings
David Reay

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by