GREAT TEACHERS LOVE…

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are all kinds of teachers:  bad, mediocre, good, and great.

1.      Sometimes the evaluations are in the eyes of the beholder.

2.      Most of the time, teachers are evaluated by their attributes and skills.

 

B.      We could talk at length about the attributes of a great teacher.  We could also talk at length about the skills one needs to become a great teacher.

 

C.     In this lesson, we are only going to look at one quality that a great teacher must possess.  The title of our lesson is:  “Great Teachers Love…”  (NOTE:  We are applying this specifically to those who are teachers in a Bible School Program).

 

I.                   THE FOUNDER AND THE ORGANIZATION

 

A.    In the secular world, there are times teachers take a position because they need a job and a certain job was all they could get at the time.  Most, however, desire to have a position at a particular place.  Why?  Because they love the founder and the organization.

 

B.      Great teachers in the church love the founder and the organization.

1.      The founder of the church is our Lord Jesus Christ.

a.      Teachers definitely love this founder.

b.      It was He who purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

2.      The organization is the church. 

a.      It is loved because of what it is.

b.      It is the house of the saved (Acts 2:47), that is, those who will ultimately populate heaven.

 

…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

II.                THE SUBJECT OF THEIR TEACHING

 

A.    The book they are teaching is “The Bible.”  It is a book authored by God (I Tim. 1:3).

 

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

 

B.      The main subject of this book is the Son of God.

1.      John 5:39

 

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:  and they are they which testify of me.

 

2.      Two examples:

a.      Philip taught Christ the eunuch (Acts 8:35).

 

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

 

b.      Jesus was the topic of Paul’s teaching (I Cor. 2:2)

 

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

 

C.     There are many other topics that a teacher in the church addresses, but they all point to our precious Savior and the life we are to live in Him.

 

III.             THE PEOPLE THEY ARE TEACHING

 

A.    All teaching is directed to one audience, human beings.

 

B.      This audience can often be quite diverse.

1.      Some are saved; some are lost.

2.      Some are faithful; some are unfaithful.

3.      Some are happy; some are hurting.

4.      Some are religious; some have no interest in religion.

5.      Some are male; some are female.

6.      Some are young some are old.

7.      They come from all cultures, races, nationalities, and languages.

 

C.     It doesn’t matter who the audience is, the teacher loves the pupils.  If not, his teaching is meaningless (I Cor. 13:1).

 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 

D.    There are some students who make it difficult for a teacher to love them, but the teacher loves anyway.

1.      They know that they were loved by their teachers in the past.

2.      They also know that God loves the person they are trying to teach.

 

IV.             THE REASONS THEY ARE TEACHING

 

A.    Teaching serves many, many purposes.

 

B.      We teach in order to bring men to Christ (John 6:45)

 

It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

C.     We teach in order to build and strengthen faith (Rom. 10:17).

 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

D.    We teach in order to equip individuals for the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).

 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

 

E.      We teach in order to warn (Ezek 3:17).

 

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:  therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

 

F.      We teach in order to rebuke and chasten (Tit. 1:13).

 

This witness is true.  Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

 

G.     We teach in order to sow seed into the hearts of men that will yield a productive crop (Matt. 13:23).

 

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

 

V.                THE PROCESS OF TEACHING

 

A.    Teaching is not merely standing and presenting information to one’s students.

 

B.      Teaching is a long, difficult process.

1.      Reading

2.      Studying

3.      Conclusions

4.      Organization

5.      Preparation

6.      Presentation

7.      Application

 

C.     If you do not love the process, you will grow weary and quit.

If you do not love the process, you become negative in attitude.

If you do not love the process, your teaching is weak and fluffy.

If you do not love the process, you will never be a great teacher.

 

VI.             THE OUTCOMES OF TEACHING

 

A.    The outcomes of teaching are many. 

1.      They are sometimes difficult to see.

2.      They may take a long time to come to fruition.

 

B.      Three we need to remember.

1.      Teaching sows the seed of God’s word into the hearts of men, or, waters the seed that was planted by others (I Cor. 3:3:6).

 

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

2.      Teaching relieves us of the burden of another’s soul (Acts 20:26-27).

 

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

 

 

 

3.      Enough teaching will eventually produce fruit (Ps. 126:6).

 

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

a.      Sins are forgiven.

b.      Lives are changed.

c.       Christ is magnified.

d.      Eternal life is in the future.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Teachers teach for all kinds of reasons.

 

B.      Great teachers have love as their starting point.

1.      Their love the founder and the organization.

2.      They love the subject they are teaching.

3.      They love the people they are teaching.

4.      They love the reason they are teaching.

5.      They love the process of teaching.

6.      They love the outcomes of teaching.

 

C.     We want all of our teachers at OceanSide to know that we appreciate the sacrifice they make to be teachers for this congregation.  We pray that God will bless you with many more years of both desire and strength to teach for this church.