Teaching Of The Word

by NEELY, G. | Category: Principles Of Church Growth | Jul 2002

When discussing church growth, we tend to immediately think of increasing numbers of people who are accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and being baptized and received into a church of God after the pattern of Acts 2:41. But Acts 2 carries on into verse 42, where those disciples continually devoted themselves to, among other things, the apostles' teaching. That is, they learned it and then they practised it diligently. Someone has rightly stated that effective teaching is measured by what is actually learned. And what is learned is measured by what is put into practice. Growth in this area is vital for a healthy church.

'Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.' So Paul instructed his friend and fellow-elder, Timothy, in his second letter to him.(1) Guard it because the adversary would steal it. And he is stealing something that the Lord has entrusted to us. No wonder it is called a treasure! We dare not, therefore, be lax in our attention to it. For it was to be their treasure because it is His! Paul continued: 'Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.'(2) There is shame attached to handling it inaccurately. So we must attend to its detail, rightly dividing it. And still further: 'The Lord's bond-servant must ... be ... able to teach ... with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.'(3) That might occur in the manner in which Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos,(4) so that the way of God is proclaimed, not only eloquently,(5) but more accurately, that the knowledge of the truth may be a guarded treasure for the learner as well. For without men and women who love the truth of God and are deeply committed to it, and are able to present it to others, the spiritual growth of a church of God will be stunted.

The Lord provided men and women in the early churches of the New Testament who were gifted with an ability to teach and a ministry or area of service which allowed them to exercise that gift. Some were both 'pastors and teachers.'(6) Some were teachers alone.(7) Paul taught publicly from place to place. On occasion, he spent considerable time with those whom he instructed.(8) Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, had a more private ministry,(9) but with God-given blessing.(10) Later in Paul's ministry, due to imprisonment, he taught by epistle.(11) 'There are varieties of ministries...'(12) for the teacher, as for those with other gifts of the Spirit. One of the obstacles to effective teaching in churches today is the reticence to adjust the teaching ministries to suit the teachers (and the students)! Not all are public preachers, nor should they be. And saints of different ages learn in different ways. Many who are older are quite accustomed to sitting and listening to a lecture-style presentation, as long as it is a God-given message presented with God-given passion by a God-gifted presenter! However, if you visit schools today, the teaching is much more interactive and student focused. There are activities and work-stations, as opposed to didactic deliveries by eloquent educators. Multi-media presentations abound, recognizing that learning occurs not only from what we hear, but also from what we observe, what we touch and what we experience for ourselves. Does your church have an audio and video system that is available for enhancing (not replacing) the presentation? Does your meeting schedule allow for varied teaching styles and interactive learning? Are you challenged to put into practice what you learn and are you given the opportunity to do so? Are you seizing the opportunity to learn the Word by whatever means is available, both privately and when together with other disciples, because you have an inner hunger for its meatier subjects? Men who take the lead in your church will no doubt appreciate your constructive feedback to continue the growth in this area in your church.

An overseer 'must be ... able to teach' (13) before ever he is recognized as such. He must hold fast the faithful word '... that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.'(14) The good shepherd will meet both those who need exhortation and those who need refuting, not only in the church, but outside it as well. When the Lord spoke with Peter on the shores of Galilee after His resurrection, He repeated those well-known words: '"Feed my lambs ... Feed my sheep."'(15) Feed them what? The Greek word is 'bosko' and, according to Vine, is used of the herdsman who nourishes, provides food for his herd, as in Matthew 8:30, where the same word is used. Feed them the necessary food for their well-being: in a spiritual connection, feed them the Word of God! There cannot be growth in a disciple's spiritual life without rich sustenance from the Bible. With deep pathos, the writer to the Hebrews declares: 'For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.'(16) Perhaps there was a need for good teachers among them! Conversely, perhaps the need was for good learners, good students among them. For as deep as the need is for gifted teachers, there is an equal or deeper need for hungry and diligent students of the Word who will 'let the word of Christ richly dwell within [them].'(17) And in doing so, find ourselves much more 'useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.'(18)

The Lord expects His disciples to grow with assistance from each other. Peter learned this from the mouth of the Lord Himself. (19) In the face of untaught and unstable men who distorted the Scriptures, his counsel to followers of the Lord Jesus was clear: '... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'(20) Don't let up your guard and be carried away by the error of unprincipled men. Don't fall away from, or fall out of, your own steadfastness. The Greek word for distort in 2 Peter 3:16 comes from the word for the 'rack'. When the torture victim was placed on it and the tension applied, his limbs were quickly pulled out of joint. Only growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ can guard against this disastrous effect in the lives of His followers. Disciples must put themselves in the presence of teachers who are firmly grounded in the Scriptures. They must reject teachers who are factious (divisive or heretical).(21) In Nehemiah's day, not only did the people assemble to hear the word of God from early morning to midday,(22) but also then daily through the Feast of Booths.(23) We too, in our day must 'assemble ... that [we] may hear and learn and fear the LORD [our] God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.'(24)

So give yourself a quick assessment. Are you diligent in your search of the Scriptures to ensure that what you are hearing is actually what the Lord is saying, as were the Bereans?(25) Are you active in passing along to others what you have learned, for their benefit and instruction, and for your blessing? Are you a teacher who is effective, or is your gift in another area?(26) That is, are people actually learning something when you teach? And is there some evidence of that in their walk and their talk? Are you a learner who eagerly put yourself in the presence of able teachers so you can be careful to observe the Lord's word?

Specific things might be done to ensure that the doctrine of the Lord is presented to those who need to hear it (and that includes us all!):

- Structured, topical ministry over a period of time is provided to cover a broad range of doctrinal/practical subjects;

- Gifted teachers and preachers engage in public speaking. Are those who are so gifted enabled to 'fulfil [their] ministry?'(27) (Likewise, are those who are gifted in other ways not restricted from fulfilling theirs through inadvertently being pressured to be engaged in public speaking?)

- Bible studies in small groups are properly organized and well attended - not for a sharing of ignorance, but for a discussion of well studied Scripture;

- Deacons give evidence of their teaching responsibilities as men who are 'holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience' (28);

- Teachers know what the listeners need to learn because they are in touch with them. But also because they are in touch with the Lord! Listeners ask questions when appropriate in order to be taught what is appropriate for them to learn;

- 'How to' ministry that is relevant to the audience is provided;

- The meetings for teaching are designed for the saints instead of trying to design the saints to fit the meeting style; that is, the meetings are not only for teaching, they are also for learning!

Spiritual growth among disciples in a church of God is not a stand-alone goal. For in developing a deeper relationship with the Lord and a deeper appreciation of His Word, a richer expression of worship and praise is possible at the Remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ each Lord's Day morning. A burdened prayer life results and a closer walk with the Lord in holy living can result from practising what is learned. This is true growth in the Word of God!

(Scripture quotations from the NASB)

(1) 2 Tim.1:14 (2) 2 Tim.2:15 (3) 2 Tim.2:24,25 (4) Acts 18:26 (5) Acts 18:24 (6) Eph.4:11 (7) Rom.12:7 (8) Acts 18:11 (9) Acts 18:26 (10) Acts 18:27,28 (11) Col.4:18 (12) 1 Cor.12:5 (13) 1 Tim.3:2 (14) Titus 1:9 (15) John 21:15-17 AV (16) Heb.5:12-14 (17) Col.3:16 (18) 2 Tim.2:21 (19) John 21:16 (20) 2 Pet.3:18 (21) Titus 3:10 (22) Neh.8:3 (23) Neh.8:18 (24) Deut.31:12 (25) Acts 17:11 (26) Rom.12:6-8 (27) 2 Tim.4:5 (28) 1 Tim.3:9

NEELY, G. | Jul 2002
Principles Of Church Growth