Why?:How do you adapt the message the author of Scripture meant for the original hearers to those you are trying to teach?

What?: The divine and human authors of Scripture meant to communicate a specific truth to those who received the original writings. That truth was to be applied to their lives in a particular way. But, often, there’s a problem in communicating that same truth to a modern audience so that it affects their lives. We’re separated from the original recipients of Scripture by time, culture, language, and geography. If that weren’t enough, our modern learners vary in physical and spiritual maturity. So, how can you teach a lesson that’s true to the truth of the passage yet relevant to the lives of your learners? Well, sometimes the truth applies to the modern learner in exactly the same way it did for the ancient learner. Sometimes it has to be adapted through one or more of the filters of time, culture, language, or geography. Sometimes it has to be adapted because of the physical maturity of the learners— you wouldn’t teach the same application for a 5 year old and a 50 year old. Sometimes it has to be adapted to the spiritual maturity of the learners—some are still on milk while others need meat.

So What?:In each case, the truth is the same, but the teaching point you will want make will be different.

So What Now?: Will you commit to knowing your learners? Knowing what they need right now? And then finding a way to communicate the truth of the passage in way that is likely to be used by the Holy Spirit to transform your learners?

Why?: The Apostle John says we don’t need teachers. So, why are you one?

What?: In 1 John, chapter 2, verse 27, the Apostle John writes, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you.”
We need no teacher other than the Holy Spirit living in us. It’s the Holy Spirit who is ultimately our teacher and the teacher of our learners. He is the one who revealed God’s truth, had it written down, illumines our hearts and minds to that truth, and then applies the truth to the life of every disciple of Jesus.
Yet, he uses human teachers in the process. Have you ever wondered why? I certainly have and I can’t find a single passage from Scripture that I can point to that answers the question directly. Instead, looking at all of Scripture, it’s clear that everything God does is for His own glory.
Somehow, His using us broken people to transform other broken people puts His glory on display in a way that must be greater than if He taught us directly by Himself.

So What?: So, if it brought Him more glory to not use human teachers, He could and would do that without us. Instead, He calls us to be teachers so that He can demonstrate His power to earthly and heavenly onlookers. He uses dull tools like us to sharpen one another. And that brings Him great glory.

So What Now?: You’re a teacher because God made you one. Will you bring glory to God in your teaching by relying on the real teacher — the Holy Spirit? Asking Him to guide you as you prepare your lesson? Asking Him to prepare the hearts of your learners for the lesson? Asking Him to help you teach your learners and then apply the truths they learn so that they can become more Christlike?
God called you to be a teacher to bring glory to Himself, so glorify Him in your teaching.

Why?: How and why should you grow in your teaching skill?

What?: God is the only perfect teacher. Jesus, God the Son, taught perfectly in His earthly ministry. He sent God, the Holy Spirit to teach until He returns for us. Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit teaches perfectly. To be blunt, you’re neither of them. You ARE given as a gift by Jesus to the church. You ARE used by the Holy Spirit to teach, but only as His instrument. And, every instrument could be better…sharper…more effective.

So What?:So how do you improve?
One way to get better is to record your teaching and then go through the painful process of reviewing your own teaching.
Another way is to have your learners critique your teaching. Did they actually understand the truth you were trying to teach them? Were they motivated to be transformed by that truth?
You might even invite other teachers or church leaders into your classroom to give you feedback.
At TeachersOfTheBible.org, we have a list of questions that are useful in showing you ways you can improve.

So What Now?: The question is, “Will you actually try to improve?” Are you willing to receive feedback, even criticism, in the spirit of helping you to be more effective? Every teacher should want to improve. What will you do about it?