Learning How to Teach
--- title: "Learning How to Teach" date: series: "Sermons 2001 Rewritten" text: "Matthew 28:18–20" speaker: Ed Rangel location: Waupaca Church of Christ bibleversion: NASB 1995 type: Expository status: draft tags:
sermon
sermons-2001-rewritten
teaching
evangelism
discipleship
great-commission
cssclasses:
tpt-sermon
tpt-sermon-outline
tpt-mode-outline
---
Learning How to Teach
Learning Objectives
Explain why teaching has always been central to God’s work with mankind.
Show that teaching requires preparation, seriousness, and personal obedience.
Identify opportunities Christians have to teach the word.
Defend the responsibility of every Christian to help preserve and pass on the truth.
Apply the duty of teaching to the home, the church, evangelism, and the next generation.
Thesis
God has always taught His people, and Christians who have received His word must learn it, live it, and teach it so souls are not destroyed through ignorance.
Teaching is not religious decoration. Teaching is how truth is preserved, how faith is formed, how error is exposed, how children are trained, how sinners hear the gospel, and how the church survives. A church that will not teach will not remain faithful. A home that will not teach will not keep its children grounded. A Christian who refuses to learn cannot faithfully teach. God’s people are not allowed to be careless with the word that saves souls.
Introduction.
God has taught from the beginning.
In Eden, God taught man his place, his work, his food, his marriage, and his boundaries.
Genesis 1:27–30 shows God teaching mankind to be fruitful and to rule under Him.
Genesis 2:15–17 shows God placing man in the garden and giving commandment.
Genesis 2:23–25 shows God’s design for marriage.
God never intended His people to live in ignorance.
He taught Noah’s generation through preaching and warning.
He taught Israel at Sinai.
He taught through Moses, prophets, priests, apostles, and His Son.
God’s people must learn the importance of godly teaching.
Teaching prepares people for faithful service.
Teaching protects people from Satan’s lies.
Teaching carries the truth to the next generation.
James 3:1 warns that teachers receive a stricter judgment.
Teaching must not be treated lightly.
Error from a teacher can mislead souls.
Careless teaching can produce damage that lasts for years.
The church does not need more people who like the idea of teaching.
We need people who learn the word.
We need people who live the word.
We need people who teach the word plainly.
I. Teaching Matters Because Souls Are at Stake.
God’s word prepares people for service and salvation.
Teaching is not merely passing along information.
It shapes faith.
It corrects conduct.
It prepares people to serve God.
It directs sinners toward salvation.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
No one can believe the gospel without hearing it.
No one can obey truth he has never been taught.
God placed teaching in the path between ignorance and faith.
Matthew 28:18–20 places teaching inside the Great Commission.
Jesus has all authority.
Disciples are made.
They are baptized.
They are taught to observe all that Christ commanded.
Teaching is not optional church activity.
It belongs to the mission Christ gave.
It belongs to evangelism.
It belongs to discipleship.
It belongs to the survival of the church.
Teachers carry serious responsibility.
James 3:1 warns, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”
The warning is not meant to kill teaching.
It is meant to sober the teacher.
A teacher must know that God listens to what is taught.
A careless teacher can lead people astray.
Error may be taught on purpose.
Error may be taught through ignorance.
Either way, souls can be damaged.
The parable of the talents warns against burying responsibility.
One servant used what his master gave him.
Another hid it.
The master did not excuse laziness.
Some teach for the wrong reasons.
Some teach out of compulsion.
Some teach to be seen.
Some teach to show off.
Some teach unprepared.
The faithful teacher teaches to serve God and help save souls.
The motive is not applause.
The motive is not control.
The motive is not display.
The motive is love for God, truth, and souls.
Satan is not idle.
Satan works to undermine God’s word.
He wants the word doubted.
He wants the word neglected.
He wants the word mishandled.
Satan works to destroy families, churches, and souls.
Ignorant people are easier to deceive.
Untaught children are easier to capture.
Unprepared Christians are easier to move.
Ephesians 6:17 calls the word of God the sword of the Spirit.
A soldier who does not know his weapon is in danger.
A church that does not teach the word sends people into battle unarmed.
A family that does not teach Scripture leaves children exposed.
II. Teaching Requires Recognizing Opportunities.
Jesus used opportunities to teach.
Jesus taught even when opposed.
In Matthew 4, He answered Satan with Scripture.
The devil was not converted.
Yet Jesus showed the proper use of the word against temptation.
Jesus taught the Samaritan woman in John 4.
He was tired.
He was at a well.
He asked for water.
He turned the moment into teaching.
The result reached beyond one woman.
She heard truth.
She spoke to others.
People from the village came to hear Christ.
Jesus did not convert every person He taught.
Some listened.
Some refused.
The refusal of some did not stop Him from teaching others.
Christians must learn to see open doors.
Teaching opportunities are not limited to pulpits and classrooms.
Restaurants.
Stores.
Work.
Family conversations.
Hospital rooms.
Homes.
Ordinary daily contact.
Many Christians miss opportunities because they are not prepared.
They do not know what to say.
They are afraid of questions.
They have not trained themselves in the word.
Others miss opportunities because they are not looking.
They talk about weather, sports, food, complaints, and politics.
They rarely turn conversations toward the soul.
They live around people for years without ever trying to teach them.
The point is not to force awkward speeches into every conversation.
The point is readiness.
The point is courage.
The point is seeing souls.
The Christian’s responsibility is to teach and pray for the increase.
We cannot force conversion.
Jesus did not.
The apostles did not.
We will not.
We can sow the seed.
We can speak truth.
We can answer questions.
We can invite study.
We can press the gospel clearly.
God gives the increase.
That does not excuse silence.
It relieves us from pretending we control hearts.
We teach faithfully and trust God’s word to do its work.
III. Teaching Requires the Word to Dwell in Us.
A teacher must first learn the word.
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 commanded Israel to keep God’s words on the heart.
They were to teach them diligently to their children.
They were to talk of them in the house.
They were to talk of them on the way.
They were to talk of them when lying down and rising up.
The order matters.
The words had to be on the parent’s heart first.
Then they could be taught diligently to the children.
Empty parents cannot fill their children with truth.
The home is a teaching place.
Not only the church building.
Not only Bible class.
Not only the preacher.
Parents must teach.
The word of Christ must richly dwell within us.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.”
Not barely.
Not occasionally.
Richly.
The word dwelling in us produces teaching and admonishing.
A word-empty Christian has little to give.
A word-filled Christian is prepared to help.
The mouth usually reveals what fills the heart.
Ephesians 3:14–19 shows the need for inner strengthening.
Christ dwelling in the heart through faith.
Being rooted and grounded in love.
Knowing the love of Christ.
Being filled up to the fullness of God.
Learning the word does not require knowing everything before teaching anything.
Some hide behind the excuse, “I do not know enough.”
That excuse can become disobedience.
A growing Christian can teach what he knows while continuing to learn.
Continuous study and prayer prepare better teachers.
Read.
Ask questions.
Study carefully.
Learn context.
Practice explaining truth plainly.
A teacher must live the word.
Knowledge without obedience creates hypocrisy.
Nothing is more damaging than a preacher condemning sins he practices.
Nothing is more confusing than a teacher who will not live his own lesson.
Nothing weakens a home faster than parents who teach one thing and live another.
Romans 2:21 asks, “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?”
The teacher must come under the word first.
The preacher must be preached to first.
The parent must be corrected by Scripture first.
Micah 6:8 shows the life God requires.
Do justice.
Love kindness.
Walk humbly with God.
Hebrews 12:1–3 points us to Jesus.
Lay aside every encumbrance and sin.
Run with endurance.
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Do not grow weary and lose heart.
A faithful teacher teaches with life and lips.
Words matter.
Conduct matters.
Reputation matters.
The teacher’s life must not fight the teacher’s lesson.
IV. Teaching Preserves the Faith Against Destruction.
Satan targets the untaught and ungrounded.
The original notes used the picture of a rebellious servant attacking a king’s kingdom.
Satan hates the King.
Satan hates the King’s people.
Satan wants to weaken the kingdom from within.
He especially targets the unprepared.
Weak Christians.
Untaught children.
Careless homes.
Churches that neglect doctrine.
First Peter 5:8 says the devil prowls like a roaring lion.
He seeks someone to devour.
He does not need every Christian to deny God openly.
Sometimes he only needs them ignorant, lazy, distracted, and unprepared.
Ignorance destroys.
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
They lacked knowledge.
They rejected knowledge.
They forgot the law of God.
God also said He would forget their children.
That is a severe warning.
When one generation rejects knowledge, the next generation suffers.
Children pay dearly when parents and teachers neglect truth.
Ignorance is not innocence when God’s word is available.
Refusing to learn is rebellion.
Refusing to teach is neglect.
Refusing to pass on truth endangers souls.
Teaching must be preserved and passed on.
Matthew 28:20 requires teaching disciples to observe all Christ commanded.
Not some.
Not the easy parts.
Not only what the culture tolerates.
Second Timothy 2:2 gives the pattern of faithful transmission.
Paul taught Timothy.
Timothy was to entrust the truth to faithful men.
Those men would be able to teach others also.
The church must think generationally.
Who will teach the next class?
Who will train the next preacher?
Who will answer the next error?
Who will teach our children when we are gone?
If we want faithful churches tomorrow, we must teach today.
In the pulpit.
In Bible classes.
In homes.
In personal studies.
In ordinary conversation.
Truth does not preserve itself in lazy people.
God preserved the word.
We must learn it.
We must live it.
We must teach it.
Application.
For every Christian.
Stop thinking teaching belongs only to the preacher.
Every Christian can learn enough to help someone else.
Every Christian should be growing in ability to speak truth.
For parents.
Do not outsource your children’s souls to one Bible class a week.
Teach them when you sit in the house and when you walk by the way.
Let them see Scripture govern the home, not merely decorate it.
For teachers.
Prepare.
Pray.
Study.
Live what you teach.
Do not handle souls carelessly.
For the church.
Train teachers.
Encourage teachers.
Correct careless teaching.
Guard doctrine.
Make teaching central, not secondary.
For the next generation.
If children grow up knowing sports, entertainment, and schoolwork better than Scripture, we should not act surprised when they drift.
They must be taught who God is, what Christ has done, how to obey the gospel, how to worship, how to resist Satan, and how to defend truth.
A silent generation raises an ignorant generation.
Conclusion.
God has always taught His people.
He taught in Eden.
He taught Israel.
He taught through prophets.
He taught through Christ.
He teaches through the inspired word.
Teaching is a grave task.
It can save.
It can warn.
It can strengthen.
It can also mislead if handled carelessly.
The teacher must prepare his own heart.
Deuteronomy 6 places the word on the heart before the word is taught to children.
Matthew 12:34 says the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.
If the heart is empty, the teaching will be empty.
We must love the Lord with all the heart, soul, and mind.
Not lip service.
Not show.
Not occasional interest.
Real love that learns, lives, and teaches.
Examine your heart.
Are you learning?
Are you living?
Are you teaching?
Are you preparing someone else to stand after you are gone?
The work is too serious for laziness.
Souls are at stake.
Satan is not asleep.
Children are watching.
The church needs teachers.
The gospel must be taught.
Plan of Salvation
Hear the word.
Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ.
Teaching matters because the sinner must hear before he can believe.
Reference: Romans 10:17.
Believe Christ.
The sinner must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Faith must rest in Christ, not human wisdom or family tradition.
Reference: John 8:24.
Repent.
Repentance turns from sin and self-rule.
God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Reference: Acts 17:30.
Confess Christ.
Faith must confess Christ openly.
The sinner must confess Him as Lord.
Reference: Romans 10:9–10.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
The sinner must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Baptism is gospel obedience, not an optional symbol after salvation.
References: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.
Live faithfully.
The Christian must keep learning, living, and teaching the word.
The Lord calls His people to faithfulness until death.
Reference: Revelation 2:10.
Word Study.
| Word | Original | Meaning | Use in Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach | διδάσκω / didaskō | To teach, instruct. | Used in the Great Commission for teaching disciples to observe Christ’s commands. |
| Make disciples | μαθητεύω / mathēteuō | To make a disciple, train as a learner. | Shows evangelism includes forming obedient learners. |
| Observe | τηρέω / tēreō | To keep, guard, observe. | Disciples must be taught to observe all Christ commanded. |
| Word | λόγος / logos | Word, message, teaching. | Faith comes through the word of Christ. |
| Dwell | ἐνοικέω / enoikeō | To dwell in, inhabit. | The word of Christ must richly dwell within Christians. |
| Teacher | διδάσκαλος / didaskalos | Teacher, instructor. | James warns teachers will receive stricter judgment. |
| Knowledge | דַּעַת / daʿath | Knowledge, understanding. | Hosea says God’s people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. |
|---|---|---|---| | Teach | διδάσκω / didaskō | To teach, instruct. | Used in the Great Commission for teaching disciples to observe Christ’s commands. | | Make disciples | μαθητεύω / mathēteuō | To make a disciple, train as a learner. | Shows evangelism includes forming obedient learners. | | Observe | τηρέω / tēreō | To keep, guard, observe. | Disciples must be taught to observe all Christ commanded. | | Word | λόγος / logos | Word, message, teaching. | Faith comes through the word of Christ. | | Dwell | ἐνοικέω / enoikeō | To dwell in, inhabit. | The word of Christ must richly dwell within Christians. | | Teacher | διδάσκαλος / didaskalos | Teacher, instructor. | James warns teachers will receive stricter judgment. | | Knowledge | דַּעַת / daʿath | Knowledge, understanding. | Hosea says God’s people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. |
Scripture Interlock Table.
| Testament | Reference | Original Context | Connection to Main Text | Doctrinal Use | Sermon / Teaching Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | Genesis 1:27–30 | God creates man and gives instruction concerning fruitfulness and dominion. | Shows God taught from the beginning. | Establishes God as instructor of mankind. | Supports Introduction. |
| Old Testament | Genesis 2:15–17 | God places man in Eden and gives commandment. | Shows man was taught duty and boundary. | Shows obedience has always mattered. | Supports Introduction. |
| Old Testament | Genesis 2:23–25 | God establishes marriage. | Shows God taught His design for the home. | Supports teaching on family and divine order. | Supports Introduction. |
| Old Testament | Deuteronomy 6:6–9 | Israel is commanded to keep God’s words on the heart and teach children diligently. | Shows teaching begins with the word in the heart. | Supports parental and generational instruction. | Supports Point III. |
| Old Testament | Hosea 4:6 | God says His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. | Shows ignorance destroys God’s people. | Warns against rejecting knowledge. | Supports Point IV. |
| Old Testament | Micah 6:8 | God declares what He requires: justice, kindness, and humble walking. | Shows teachers must live under God’s requirements. | Supports life-and-lips integrity. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | Matthew 28:18–20 | Jesus gives the Great Commission. | Main text for teaching disciples and observing Christ’s commands. | Establishes teaching as part of evangelism and discipleship. | Governs the sermon. |
| New Testament | John 4 | Jesus teaches the Samaritan woman and others come to hear Him. | Shows use of ordinary opportunities to teach. | Supports evangelistic readiness. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | Romans 10:17 | Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. | Shows why teaching is necessary for faith. | Supports gospel teaching and conversion. | Supports Point I and Plan of Salvation. |
| New Testament | Romans 2:17–24 | Paul rebukes those who teach others but do not teach themselves. | Shows teachers must live what they teach. | Exposes hypocrisy in teaching. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | Colossians 3:16–17 | The word of Christ must richly dwell within Christians. | Shows teaching flows from a word-filled life. | Supports prepared and obedient teaching. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | Ephesians 6:17 | The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. | Shows the word equips Christians for spiritual battle. | Supports teaching as protection from Satan. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | James 3:1 | Teachers receive a stricter judgment. | Shows the seriousness of teaching. | Warns against careless teaching. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | 2 Timothy 2:2 | Timothy must entrust truth to faithful men who can teach others also. | Shows truth must be transmitted across generations. | Supports teacher training and preservation of doctrine. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Hebrews 12:1–3 | Christians are to run with endurance, fixing eyes on Jesus. | Shows the teacher must live faithfully under Christ. | Supports endurance and example. | Supports Point III. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Old Testament | Genesis 1:27–30 | God creates man and gives instruction concerning fruitfulness and dominion. | Shows God taught from the beginning. | Establishes God as instructor of mankind. | Supports Introduction. | | Old Testament | Genesis 2:15–17 | God places man in Eden and gives commandment. | Shows man was taught duty and boundary. | Shows obedience has always mattered. | Supports Introduction. | | Old Testament | Genesis 2:23–25 | God establishes marriage. | Shows God taught His design for the home. | Supports teaching on family and divine order. | Supports Introduction. | | Old Testament | Deuteronomy 6:6–9 | Israel is commanded to keep God’s words on the heart and teach children diligently. | Shows teaching begins with the word in the heart. | Supports parental and generational instruction. | Supports Point III. | | Old Testament | Hosea 4:6 | God says His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. | Shows ignorance destroys God’s people. | Warns against rejecting knowledge. | Supports Point IV. | | Old Testament | Micah 6:8 | God declares what He requires: justice, kindness, and humble walking. | Shows teachers must live under God’s requirements. | Supports life-and-lips integrity. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | Matthew 28:18–20 | Jesus gives the Great Commission. | Main text for teaching disciples and observing Christ’s commands. | Establishes teaching as part of evangelism and discipleship. | Governs the sermon. | | New Testament | John 4 | Jesus teaches the Samaritan woman and others come to hear Him. | Shows use of ordinary opportunities to teach. | Supports evangelistic readiness. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | Romans 10:17 | Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. | Shows why teaching is necessary for faith. | Supports gospel teaching and conversion. | Supports Point I and Plan of Salvation. | | New Testament | Romans 2:17–24 | Paul rebukes those who teach others but do not teach themselves. | Shows teachers must live what they teach. | Exposes hypocrisy in teaching. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | Colossians 3:16–17 | The word of Christ must richly dwell within Christians. | Shows teaching flows from a word-filled life. | Supports prepared and obedient teaching. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | Ephesians 6:17 | The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. | Shows the word equips Christians for spiritual battle. | Supports teaching as protection from Satan. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | James 3:1 | Teachers receive a stricter judgment. | Shows the seriousness of teaching. | Warns against careless teaching. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | 2 Timothy 2:2 | Timothy must entrust truth to faithful men who can teach others also. | Shows truth must be transmitted across generations. | Supports teacher training and preservation of doctrine. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Hebrews 12:1–3 | Christians are to run with endurance, fixing eyes on Jesus. | Shows the teacher must live faithfully under Christ. | Supports endurance and example. | Supports Point III. |
Invitation.
Hear the word.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Believe Christ.
John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.
Repent.
Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Confess Christ.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Live faithfully.
Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.
