Post by Zac Loh on Aug 7, 2009 10:29:52 GMT -5
Whether we are established or new or going into the teaching ministry, we have to have Personal Experience of the truth plus Personal Acquaintance with the whole Bible.
For instance, one cannot teach eternal salvation, and not have it already. We don't do that, do we? Without directly experiencing it ourselves, we are hardly able to help others.
Nevertheless, one's personal experience is not complete or perfect. We need to reflect on what the whole Bible says about the matter that we are grappling with. We need to embrace lifelong study. We need to adopt the attitude of ever learning, to ensure that we keep on growing.
The above is simple enough to understand. Yet we all need to be reminded of it, often. I find that many tend to be lopsided over this. Some know the Bible well ...which gave them the false confidence to comment on things which they have not personally experienced nor exposed to. Others tend to go off-tangent because they allow their experience to overwhelm a careful interpretation of the Bible.
We hear with two ears. We see with two eyes. We stand on two feet. We clap with two hands. God created us, as balanced beings. So, let's stay balance.
The Teaching Ministry
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
Barnabas and Paul taught a great many people for a whole year. And the disciples were called Christians meaning `followers of Christ’.
The disciples must have been an impact on the community to have been called by a special name. The teaching transformed the disciples; it wasn’t a collection of scriptural thoughts for head knowledge sake.
The name of Christ must have been made prominent by the disciples. They were not inward looking, their lives were transformed, and they shared Christ with others.
The Teaching Transformed Lives
There must have been power in the teaching to have transformed the lives of the disciples.
What was the secret?
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)
Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (John 7:16-18)
Barnabas and Paul had the real divine authority from God when they taught. It wasn’t merely words. The authority of God was evident to the hearers. There was an anointing. There was divine revelation. There was great boldness.
The next question is; how did they get that divine mandate, that divine authority, that divine stamp on their teaching?
Jesus had His authority from God because:
1. He was sent by God to teach.
2. He sought God’s glory.
Some are not called to be in the teaching ministry. And some seek fame for their teaching ministry and self-glory.
The Teaching Was Christ-Centered
Today, we have many teachings going around in Christian circles and churches that are not Christ-centered.
After Barnabas and Paul taught, it was conspicuous to outsiders that the disciples were followers of Christ. And the disciples were called Christians by these outsiders.
Does the teaching which we have been receiving make Christ visible in our lives?
For instance, one cannot teach eternal salvation, and not have it already. We don't do that, do we? Without directly experiencing it ourselves, we are hardly able to help others.
Nevertheless, one's personal experience is not complete or perfect. We need to reflect on what the whole Bible says about the matter that we are grappling with. We need to embrace lifelong study. We need to adopt the attitude of ever learning, to ensure that we keep on growing.
The above is simple enough to understand. Yet we all need to be reminded of it, often. I find that many tend to be lopsided over this. Some know the Bible well ...which gave them the false confidence to comment on things which they have not personally experienced nor exposed to. Others tend to go off-tangent because they allow their experience to overwhelm a careful interpretation of the Bible.
We hear with two ears. We see with two eyes. We stand on two feet. We clap with two hands. God created us, as balanced beings. So, let's stay balance.
The Teaching Ministry
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
Barnabas and Paul taught a great many people for a whole year. And the disciples were called Christians meaning `followers of Christ’.
The disciples must have been an impact on the community to have been called by a special name. The teaching transformed the disciples; it wasn’t a collection of scriptural thoughts for head knowledge sake.
The name of Christ must have been made prominent by the disciples. They were not inward looking, their lives were transformed, and they shared Christ with others.
The Teaching Transformed Lives
There must have been power in the teaching to have transformed the lives of the disciples.
What was the secret?
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)
Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (John 7:16-18)
Barnabas and Paul had the real divine authority from God when they taught. It wasn’t merely words. The authority of God was evident to the hearers. There was an anointing. There was divine revelation. There was great boldness.
The next question is; how did they get that divine mandate, that divine authority, that divine stamp on their teaching?
Jesus had His authority from God because:
1. He was sent by God to teach.
2. He sought God’s glory.
Some are not called to be in the teaching ministry. And some seek fame for their teaching ministry and self-glory.
The Teaching Was Christ-Centered
Today, we have many teachings going around in Christian circles and churches that are not Christ-centered.
After Barnabas and Paul taught, it was conspicuous to outsiders that the disciples were followers of Christ. And the disciples were called Christians by these outsiders.
Does the teaching which we have been receiving make Christ visible in our lives?