Anyone who has spent any amount of time attending church has already or will probably at some point teach a class to someone on something. The first class I ever taught was to middle school girls. After that I taught in the youth group, then in the preschool classes and then bible studies. James 3:1 rolls around in my head every time I become responsible for teaching anyone so when Beth asks us:
Why would a new teacher feel shaken by the first sight of James 3:1, my answer is this:
It feels overwhelming to be responsible for teaching others about Jesus to begin with. Reading this verse rains down ever more doubt and insecurity and begs the question, "What happens if I don't get it right?" It's a little scary to me.
Lisa: Also, because maybe for the first time, they realize that they will be judged more strictly because of the influence that they have on others. It is scary and overwhelming when this verse is isolated, but then realizing that the kingdom needs teachers, and some are called to teach, and that by ignoring the calling you are being disobedient to the Lord and not walking in His Will.
Jill: Yes this is a bit daunting to read. But I think James is making sure to remind us, dont stray from the truth, dont teach for your own personal interest. I think it needed to be said, exactly the way he said it. I have only taught in matters of health care, not nearly the same but it is still scary to have someone come to you excepting you to know all about thier personal situation and have all the answers. I love how our Pastor reminds us frequently by saying "I dont have all the answers, I dont understand everything in the bible and I am NOT your Holy Spirit". I think it is important for biblical teachers/preachers etc to remind us that they dont know everything, but they can help us, guide us, pray with us.
As she goes through the lesson, some of my favorite parts are when she talks about Jesus being the only one to ever master teaching. I love that she takes us to Timothy and talks about attempting to teach on more than we know and the ability to mislead others with our teaching. These are things I worry about. Especially when she brings us to 2 Peter and talks about the false prophets who are among the people as well as teachers leading others astray.
Thank goodness for 2 Timothy 4:5, which says:
You, keep your head in all situations and endure hardships, do the work of the evangelist , discharge all the duties of your ministry.
It reminds me that being a position of teaching means that I need to be talking with God and in the Word, making sure that all that comes from my mouth is biblical and sound. Teaching is a gift and to be honest, it doesn't show up on my list of Spiritual Gifting. Perhaps that is why I struggle being in a position where what I am saying impacts others. I do it and have done it because sometimes a class has just needed a body to fill a spot. Reflecting on today's topic, I'm not so sure that is a good thing.
Lisa: It's interesting too, Emily, because we were taught that filling those empty spaces with warm bodies IS necessary. Perhaps, that is some false teaching in and of itself. Especially since the Scriptures plainly state that one is NOT to teach if they are NOT a teacher. Hmmm....
Jill: Good point Ladies. I have to agree with you, James says not everyone is meant to teach and not everyone should teach, Yes it is good to have a body fill a spot, but that is not what God wants, Personally I fell it better to skip a class if there isnt a teacher until you find someone who IS a teacher. THink of it this way, would you take an English teacher to fill in for a Physics teacher in college? No they cancel the class until they can find the right teacher for the class.
Not all of us are called to teach but for those who are, Beth does an incredible job of laying out self reflection questions. Are we trying to please people or please God? Much is required of those who teach and while it doesn't change our eternal salvation, it does speak to the quality of our works and whether or not we are letting God lead us and teach us.
Lisa: I starred a few spots:
Under The Temptation to use the platform for personal agendas and opinions I starred this thought:
Keep check on your motives, stick to the Scriptures, and ask God to give you the supernatural capacity to love those listeners more than you love your own skin.
And then shortly after that, under The demand for self-discipline:
A decent teacher has to study. Hard. One of the signs of a teaching gift is an unexplainable thirst to study followed by the difficulty of keeping to yourself what you learned.
The greater self-discipline is fighting ferociously to hang on to your intimate relationship with Jesus. God will never call you to sacrifice your intimacy with Him on the altar of ministry. We have to zealously maintain our prayer lives and our love lives and teach out of the overflow of what Christ is teaching us.
This area just spoke so much to me. It was a great reminder that teaching is one of my gifts, and the fact that I am not operating within my gift is so frustrating and discouraging. Sometimes, however, I need to keep myself in check when I am teaching. Often times I get so excited about learning and researching and planning and preparing that I do neglect my personal time with God.
My favorite nugget from today? The reminder that no matter what area of service God calls me to be a part of, He will never call me sacrifice my intimacy with Him on the altar of ministry. To that I say "Amen!"
Jill: Amen indeed
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