Jesus was a teacher

1. A variety of organizations have offered something like a “best teacher’s” award.”

2. Teachers who are selected for this type of honor usually have some things in common.

3. There are certain qualities that really seem to make a positive effect on students (children and adults).

4. I do not have an exhaustive list of these qualities.

5. I do have a list of some of the qualities that cause teachers to receive special recognition; here they are:

Enthusiasm, students can feel excitement in the class, preparation, a teacher knows the subject,

Begins and ends a class on time, takes time with students, is friendly and courteous, consistency,

Treats students with respect, does not condescend, avoids embarrassing students in class

Firmness and control, avoids tangents in teaching, does not play favorites, takes time to explain,

Uses an effective delivery, is humble, fair, uses variety, and has good sense of humor.

1) Have we ever had a teacher who possessed and practiced these types of qualities?

2) Some of us have. If we look at the Bible, we find a teacher who had all these qualities plus more.

3) His name was Jesus. Jesus was a teacher, and He was the best teacher the world will ever see.

4) Tonight we want to think about Jesus as a teacher and learn some things from Him.

5) What we learn from the Lord can help us teach other adults, teach our children, or teach a Bible class.

6) Throughout the Gospels Jesus is called a teacher.

7) He is referred to in this manner about 40 times.

a) Jesus was an instructor of men and He intended for His people to be teachers as well.

b) Mt. 28:19-20 says “go and teach” others.

c) Jesus has told us how to be better prepared to do that by the life He lived.

d) We have an extensive example on how to be an effective teacher.

e) We have more than 3 years of information on how Jesus taught people.

8) One of the things we see in Jesus as a teacher is authority. Jesus taught with clout.

a) The Sermon on the Mount is regarded as an outstanding example of teaching.

b) What is contained in this sermon (Matthew’s version is in Mt. 5-7) is truly marvelous.

c) There is a key detail at the end of this presentation.

d) Mt. 7:29 says Jesus taught with “authority.”

e) Matthew also says this was not how the Scribes taught.

f) Some of the Scribes must have been very interesting; they were well educated.

g) As bright and competent as these men were, they lacked something.

9) A teacher who teaches with authority will stand out to his or her students.

10) When we teach the Bible, we want to teach with authority. We want to teach our children with authority.

11) Authority does not come from being bossy. It is not based on a big voice or how big we are.

12) We do not achieve authority by being mean or rude to others.

13) For us, authority is based on the Bible.

14) We say what God has said and that is the final word. The “creator says” is our authority.

a) The word given by the creator is are authoritative.

b) Jesus helps us see this point in places such as Mt. 15:4 where He said, “God said.”

c) We appeal to God’s word and that is the final word.

d) A teacher does not need to try to justify or explain away what the Bible teaches.

15) We open up the Bible, we read it, and once we know what a passage means, we apply it.

16) God said what He meant and meant what He said. In the past people understood this point.

a) A generation in the church is arising that does not always see God’s word as authoritative.

a) In this minds of some young people, some other things take precedence over God’s word.

b) We need to restore the authority of God’s word in the minds of those with whom we have contact.

c) Man is not his own or final authority. Morality is not open to debate and discussion.

d) True worship is not based on what we think is best, what we like, or what the majority do.

e) God has given His word and that is what teachers teach and what we must follow.

f) God calls people to be obedient to what His word says.

17) In addition to Mt. 15, we find in Mt. 21:42 Jesus saying, “have ye never read in the scriptures.”

18) Good Bible teachers regularly use the Bible; they read and have others read the scriptures.

19) May our teachers never be people who fail to read what God’s word says.

20) May we also not fail in regard to doing God’s word.

a) In this morning’s adult class we examined some of the information in Jas. 2.

b) James speaks of someone who has “faith” but no “works.”

c) He says that this type of approach does not please God.

d) We can say that we believe and profess our belief, but faith minus works is dead.

e) At least four times in James 2 this point is made. Faith without works destroys a person.

f) We may make a similar point about teaching.

g) If we have read the scriptures, that is great. If we do not use that information, we gain nothing.

h) We must take what we learn (know) and use it.

21) There is a big a difference between “saying” and “doing” or “knowing and doing.”

22) Jesus not only knew and taught what was right, He did what was right.

23) Acts 1:1 says Jesus both “did and taught.”

24) Jesus could have said to His people, “It is good to visit the sick.”

25) Jesus could have given all kinds of instructions about people who are ill.

26) Jesus did more than talk about the sick.

27) Jesus taught His disciples by doing; He took them to see the sick.

28) He healed the sick in the presence of the apostles.

29) Jesus could have said “It is good to heal the sick and I will give you the power to do that.”

30) Jesus gave His disciples a personal example and He did not do this once or twice.

31) His example as a teacher lasted for more than three years.

32) If we are a teacher, we want to be a good example and be a good example for a long, long time.

a) Jesus could have said to the apostles, “It is good to endure insults and injury” for my sake.

b) Jesus could have said, “Hard times will come for you be faithful.”

c) He could have said, “I will be watching over you, so have faith and stay on track.”

d) Acts 1:1 tells us Jesus did not more than say (teaching).

e) Jesus taught by example, even to the point of going to the cross.

f) He actually lived out the type of suffering He said His people would experience.

g) Jesus could have said “Pray for those who persecute you” but never demonstrated this point.

h) This was not how He lived. He showed love towards the people who hated and wanted to kill Him.

i) He continually tried to teach these people. He showed them sign after sign.

j) On the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them they know what they do.”

33) Sometimes I think a Bible class teacher may think “I have my classbook and I am prepared.”

34) “I have a 45 minute class and then things are over till the next week.”

35) Teaching a class is a good beginning point, but there are other things to consider.

36) Good teachers (and even those who are not Bible class teacher) look for other ways to offer instruction.

a) If we are a Bible class teacher, we may involve our children in raking leaves.

b) We might bring them to the building for a small project.

c) We might arrange for them to go see someone in a nursing home.

d) We might arrange for them to conduct a worship service with someone in a nursing home.

e) We might arrange for them to have their own little helping area when we assemble House to House.

f) There are all types of way to both “do and teach.”

g) These additional things can be done by Bible class teachers and those who are not teachers.

37) These are some of the things we see in Jesus as a teacher.

38) We also find some other items.

39) For instance, Jesus was a “balanced” teacher.

40) There were times when He spoke of Hell.

41) There were times when Jesus really laid it on thick; listen to Mt. 23:13-24 – READ

a) There were times when Jesus had to be tough. This is also true for teachers.

b) We will need to cover some subjects that are not pleasant.

c) There may be some times when students do not like what we have to say.

d) We may speak the truth and speak it kindly, but students may not like the message.

e) There may be some moral discussions teenagers do not like.

f) Adult Bible classes may have some subjects that are not appealing to some in attendance.

g) There are some things in the Bible that people may not always be inclined to do or even believe.

42) If we are a Bible class teacher, we should expect that some lessons will be difficult.

43) Some things are difficult to teach, and some classes have information some will not want to accept.

44) These classes are all part of declaring the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

45) Being balanced also means we get to present things that are easy and pleasant.

a) Good teachers should provide a mix of things.

b) We readily recognize this point in just about every other area of life.

c) A parent who has always bad news for a child will hurt the development of that child.

d) Always avoiding negative information will also injure a child.

e) There must be a balance in just about every area of life, including religious instruction.

f) Some teachers can have a “hobby” subject.

g) There are, and this is true even in the church, hobby” preachers.

h) These preachers have a favorite subject and that is all they preach on.

46) This type of man reminds me of a family Teresa and I came into contact with many years ago.

47) We asked them what they were having for supper one night and they said “chicken.”

48) We asked what they had eaten the previous night and they said “chicken.”

49) We asked what they planned to eat the following night and they said “chicken.”

50) I wanted to know what they would eat during the next week and they said “chicken.”

51) I have never met anyone who could cook chicken in so many different ways.

52) Jesus was not a hobbyist in His preaching and teaching and neither can we be if we follow His example.

a) We can follow all these principles but still fail and fail miserably as a teacher.

b) We cannot be an effective teacher if those who hear us fail to understand the message.

c) Jesus said He had “many things” to say to the disciples (Jn. 16:12).

53) Jesus wanted to tell His disciples a lot of information, but He knew there was a problem.

54) He said they could not “hear them” (they were not ready for this material).

55) Today this is still a problem.

56) We may have many good things to say and tell those we teach.

57) A child may be too young; adults may not be ready for some information.

58) Paul wanted to the provide the Corinthians with some advanced spiritual teaching but couldn’t.

59) Here was an inspired apostle who could not say what needed to be said.

a) He made this point in 1 Cor. 3:2.

b) He said he wanted to give them “meat” (more difficult facts of the gospel), but this was impossible.

c) Instead of meat, he had to give them “milk” (simpler information).

d) We need to know the people we are teaching.

e) How much are they able to understand?

f) If there are comprehension issues, we may need to slow things down a bit.

g) We may need to lay a better foundation or go into a fuller explanation.

h) Some things may be hard enough that we just need to let people obtain a deeper level of maturity.

60) Related to this point as teaching as we have opportunity.

a) We may not always have the perfect opportunity to teach.

b) Jesus taught as He had opportunity. He taught one on one and large groups.

c) Jesus is our model for so many things including teaching.

d) Jesus has, as the Hebrew author says, “blazed the way” for us.

e) He has shown us how to be a teacher and how to live faithfully.

f) He calls us to life a faithful life in His service.

g) Is this our choice?