Am I prepared and equipped to speak the Word of God?
Yesterday
Our focus was on teachers in verse 1.
Today
We want to LOOK at the responsibilities of teachers.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Before We Begin, Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, we come today quick to hear You speak to us. We long for the pure milk of your Word that is implanted within us, knowing we must receive it and do it. Clear our minds, and grant us the understanding we need to live out what You teach us. Thank you!
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha lead you in your discovery.
How will you get under way?
Begin By Reading
Let’sRead James 3:1-12 again asking the 5W’s and H.
Now let’s concentrate on James 3:1.
Our context for teachers is in the church.
Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.
Truth Explains Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Fine Tune Your Ears!
Zoom in on a few more Cross References to see what God says about ‘teachers‘.
1. What are teachers to speak? Why?
a. Those who teach, are to speak the utterances of God, God’s Word. (1Pe 4:10-11)
LISTEN…
If teaching, am I teaching and speaking forth God’s Word?
b. Teachers are to speak and teach the Word of God to equip (to make fully ready. A perfecting, mature) the saints for their work of service.(Eph 4:11)
THINK: This leads the saints to be doers of the Word.
LISTEN…
Why am I teaching?
If teaching, what is my burden, my motivation, my goal?
Are the saints maturing under my leading and teaching?
2. What are other responsibilities of a teacher of the Word?
a. Be a watchman on the wall to warn the people, and he better be careful that he does it right, or their blood is liable to be on his hands. (Eze 3:17-18; 33:7-9)
b. Be trustworthy – The Lord is the one who examines us. (1Co 4:1-5)
LISTEN…
Am I a watchman? Do I warn people?
Whose blood will be on my hands because I didn’t warn them?
Am I trustworthy?
We have LOOKED at those with the gift of teaching, BUT
3. What is EVERY BELIEVER’S role in teaching?
a. The great commission is for us ALL to make disciples [to make a learner; to train, instruct, teach] of all the nations . (Mat 28:19)
We see: ALL BELIEVERS are to make disciples, learners/instructors, who make other disciples who are learners/instructors.
LISTEN…
Am I doing what God wants me to do?
Who am I discipling?
b. By this time MANY ought to be teachers BUT are in need of someone teaching them the elementary principles of the Word of God. (Heb 5:12)
We see: ALL BELIEVERS have the responsibility to mature and instruct others in God’s Word.
LISTEN…
Would others say I am maturing?
Who am I instructing in the Word?
c. The Lord’s bond-servant must be able to teach [able to communicate] God’s Word. (2Ti 2:24)
LISTEN…
Am I able to teach God’s Word to others?
d. Fathers and mothers are to teach the Word. (Deut 4:9; 6:7)
We see: It is the parents responsibility to teach their children the Word of God.
LISTEN…
Am I teaching my kids and/or grandkids how to discover truth for themselves?
Or, have I left that responsibility to others? Why?
What is my daily routine like to teach my children the Word of God? (Use GODcha and this blog. It’s the perfect tool!)
e. ALL BELIEVERS are filled with all knowledge able to gently correct others. (Rom 15:14)
LISTEN…
When was the last time I was nudged to gently corrected someone with God’s knowledge?
4. What does God say about false teachers?
a. Jesus said, beware of the false prophets, who come in sheep’s clothing. We will know them by their fruit. (Mat 7:15)
LISTEN…
Do I expect false teachers?
Am I heeding Jesus’ warning?
What am I doing to be alert?
Or, do I except everyone who claims to be a believer?
b. Peter gave a full chapter to false teachers and their judgment. (2Pe 2:3-4, 9)
LISTEN…
Can I recognize false teachers?
Who do I know that fits Peter’s description?
c. Jude said, Certain people (ungodly) have crept in unnoticed who turn the grace of God into a license to sin, and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. They will be judged. (Jud 1:4, 15)
LISTEN…
Am I guilty of cheapening God’s grace?
Why do I think God’s grace gives me a license to sin?
Have I in any way denied the Lord Jesus Christ by my deeds, (Tit 1:16)?
d. Paul said, Wolves will come into the flock speaking perverse things… (Act 20:28-31)
THINK: Where do the ungodly and the wolves creep in to unnoticed?
Understand: There is a battle raging within the church.
Understand: The false teachers are in our churches; in our seminaries; in our colleges; on television; writing books; posting on social media.
LISTEN…
Have any crept into my church, THE church, that have cheapened grace and/or speak perverse things?
What am I doing to be strong and discerning to protect myself from false teaching?
e. There are those who will come in to the church advocating a different doctrine that does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, they are conceited and understand nothing…(1Ti 6:3-4)
LISTEN…
Who do I know that advocates a different doctrine?
Do I take the time to line everything up along side the Word so I will not ever advocate a different doctrine other than what Jesus taught?
f. God had this against the church, Jezebel was teaching and leading many bond-servants astray. (Rev 2:20)
Understand: You must be careful whose teaching you sit under.
Understand: If we are constantly under incorrect doctrine it will have an influence on our life.
LISTEN…
Have I ever experienced false teaching? Did it lead me astray?
How and when? What turned me from error?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
We see: Every single one of us has a responsibility to teach others God’s Word.
What Did We LEARN
Sum It Up!
You can do this recap! Go for it.
UNDERSTAND:
We are accountable not only to teach Truth but do the Truth…
We have a huge responsibility before others, whether it be our children, our grandchildren, family members and others, to LIVE out what we LEARN and teach.
We teachers influence others!
UNDERSTAND:
We either teach Truth,
leading people to grow up in the Lord and be equipped for works of service;
OR
We teach False,
leading people astray, into error, into strange doctrine and keep them stumbling.
That’s It For Today!
Reflect and meditate on all God taught you today about ‘teachers‘.
To be a teacher of God’s Word is a very critical position for anyone, because of the power of the tongue to speak in error, inappropriately, or in any way that would misrepresent God the Father, Christ, or the Holy Spirit.
Are you a teacher of the Word?
You and I need to realize we will incur a stricter judgment, and it is frightening!
Journal Your Discovery in Your Notes
As we bring this day to a close, journal your discovery, thoughts and communion with the Lord in your Notes.
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Let’s Turn What We LEARNED Into Prayer
Perhaps…
OH FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, help us to see how necessary and powerful Your Word is for our lives. For in Your Word You speak to us! And we, in turn, are to speak Your Word to others. May we hunger to know and understand Your Word, and then may we speak Your Word correctly to others. May we realize how serious our responsibility is.
We confess, knowing there have been times for all of us where we were not slow to speak, speaking arrogantly and incorrectly, mishandling Your Word. Oh Father, please forgive us! May we be ever so careful!
Father, may those who are daily being nourished on these Words of faith and sound doctrine that James speaks realize they are being diligent workmen, who will be able to show themselves approved to You one day because they are able to handle Your Word accurately. May You encourage and strengthen them as they give of their time to You and Your Word of Truth. May we all be obedient bond-servants, giving of ourselves to make disciples by teaching Your Word as You have commanded. We ask this in Jesus name! Amen!
GODchats posts 3 to 4x a week to give you time to sit at the feet of Jesus and not be rushed.
Please know that God established a pattern for mankind, and that pattern is that we work six days and then we have one day when we set it aside to rest, and replenish our body, and focus on worshiping God. Rest tomorrow and worship God!
In a couple of days we will dive in, taking small bites to investigate what God says about the tongue.
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