Responsibilities of Those Who Teach (Originally published August 16)

The scriptures teach that those who assume the role of teaching God’s word have assumed a great responsibility and will be judged more strictly than others (James 3:1). Certain responsibilities are considered critical for the teacher to be effective:
Accept the responsibility you have assumed. Recognize the seriousness of the assignment and the need to be present each time the class meets or insure proper arrangements are made for someone to take your place.

• Prepare properly. Nothing will replace thorough preparation that comes by spending time with the Bible. Those who study such matters conclude that thorough preparation will alleviate as much as 90% of the apprehension connected with public teaching.
  Guard your personal life from anything that would detract from your teaching. The teacher’s life must be consistent with what is being taught (Proverbs 22:1; Romans 2:21-23).
• Develop a genuine interest in each student. Develop the attitude of teaching them—not just presenting a lesson.
  Seek ways to make teaching applicable in everyday living. Jesus, the Master Teacher, used things around Him and known to the people to illustrate His teaching.
  Seek to improve as a teacher. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser” (Proverbs 9:9).
• Resolve to teach truth in its fullness. “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
  Pray for success. Certainly not last in importance—should be the first step in preparing to teach.

We each should recognize that we all are teachers. Someone is learning each day from our attitudes, manner of life, speech, and what we do. We may have an option as to whether or not we will be a classroom teacher—yet if we profess to be a Christian, we are teaching someone daily.

~Memorial Parkway Messenger
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