Bible Study Bible Teaching 3

[Gary Sullivan]

In my recent posts, we saw facts, particularly in James 3:1, that no one should teach the WORD unless they received the gift of teaching when saved. 1 Corinthians 12 makes it clear that the gifts are sovereignly bestowed upon us at salvation at the moment we were baptized by the HOLY SPIRIT into the Body of Christ, the Church. As I have taught on many occasions the ministry of Spirit Baptism is unique to the church age, beginning when the Church was born in Acts 2 and continuing until the Rapture.
The problem has always been the sin nature of man In Romans 7 Paul teaches that as soon as a command is given and understood our old sin nature wants to rebel, and Paul found this out in his early months as a believer as we see in Romans 7:7-13. So the command not to teach error, or if one is not gifted, is ignored by many and the fact is that they do not fear GOD ie they are not in awe of him and they do not know HIM. In James 3 The apostle warns that Bible teachers will receive the greater judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. As stated the vast majority of people teaching today are patently unbelievers and will appear at the appalling Great White Throne in Revelation 20:11. The urgency for being passionate about God's truth is seen here.
The Bible teacher has an awesome responsibility towards his brothers and sisters in Christ but so many people abuse the office.
The pre-requisites for Bible teaching are several and various as follows:
1) He must have believed in the Person and Work of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
2) When saved he or she must have received the gift of teaching and at least 2 other ancillary gifts ie the gift of wisdom and knowledge. A full teaching on the Ministries of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are available from Ariel Ministries. These manuscripts are not expensive and the teaching when assimilated will stimulate spiritual growth.
3) A Bible teacher must investigate gifted male teachers by testing everything they teach and using that which is clearly true. I have found it is much less time to consume to check out on the labours of those who love the LORD than spend countless hours on research. For example, many godly men have researched the true and in-depth theology of the Jewish religious situation in the first century Israel. Without the Jewish background surrounding Jesus in HIS time as a man so much of the gospels are incomprehensible. Jesus knew the thoughts of the religious people who opposed HIM and taught directly into their misled mindset.
4) There is a great danger In pride. They must be proved by recognised mature Bible teachers and must not be young either in age or his time in the LORD. What is true of a pastor is just as true for the teacher (1 Timothy 3:6). He needs proper training ideally from a bible college that teaches the truth. The problem is that most Bible colleges today are themselves steeped in error. How do we know, simply because they teach contrary to the commands of the LORD given to us from Romans onwards? With impunity so, many contradict the revealed, inspired WORD of the LORD.
Nevertheless, there are some excellent Bible teaching centers given to us and preserved by the LORD. There is no good Bible teacher who has not been tempted by pride but those who resist are blessed.
5) Whatever is taught must centre on the Second Person of the Godhead as taught in John 16:13-15.
6) The Bible teacher should have at least a basic knowledge of New Testament Greek and have an accurate concordance. Another asset is the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek. It is also a great asset to have access to an excellent Bible teacher who has and in depth knowledge of the Hebrew language. In all things the teacher must test everything they are taught!!
7) It must be understood that the words of all be Bible are infallible and inerrant in the original languages.We need to test and ascertain the best translations.
8) The Bible teacher needs to study all the Bible. When he trains up his fellow believers, however, the focus must be on the New Testament, and specifically the epistles from Romans to Revelation.. It must be understood that we live in the Dispensation.of Grace not the Dispensation of the Law of Moses. I will deal with this in another study in a little detail. For a full study go to Ariel Ministries. Like all of the teaching of Arnold Fruchtenbaum he teaches this subject only from the word and makes it easy to understand. The LORD prayed to the Father in John 17 and His prayer is easily constructed for our understanding. In John 17:1-5. In verses 6-19 HE prayed for the 11apostles HE chose at that time. Note verse 8 as follows: " for the words that THOU gavest ME I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from THEE etc" Jesus then prays that the FATHER protect these men very specifically because HE is now to go to the Cross and cannot protect them for a while as HE had since they began to be HIS disciples. Please read these fantastic verses. Then in verse 20-26 Jesus prays for all those that will believe through the message of the chosen apostles throughout the Church age. Note in verse 20" Neither for these only, but for them also that believe on ME through their word!!" This is self evident. In Ephesians 2:20 the whole foundation of the Church is Jesus and the revelation HE gave only to HIS apostles and NEW Testament prophets.
The words of All the New Testament are the words of God. The words are all equally inspired whether the words of Jesus recorded in the gospels or anything else. No words of the Bible in its original languages are more inspired than any other. For us in the Church we do not go to the Old Testament for our doctrine but to the words of the epistles. We have no authority to change those words.
10) Bible teachers can teach anything from the Old Testament bit they need to recognise that Christian living is based solely on the epistles and nothing else. There are always principles we can learn from.the Old Testament but it was specifically written to others. All the Bible needs to be read and understood for all teachers and other believers but the Old Testament was not written to the church but Old Testament believers and mostly to the nation of Israel. The bible was written for us but obviously not all is written to us. The old testament believer was told to make animal sacrifices after the fall but Christ is the final sacrifice for sins. The church is not the nation of Israel. They had the Law of Moses and we are under the Law of Christ recorded in the epistles.
I will continue with this study in a few days time.

 

[Douglas Summers]

in James 3:1, that no one should teach the WORD unless they received the gift of teaching

The average local church will pick volunteers or name someone from the congregation to fill a teaching spot in the church without knowing what they believe or even if they are qualified. I have seen gifted teachers passed over because the local church body did not know the doctrines of Scripture from called and Spirit filled teachers, therefore, they shunned them. When a called and gifted pastor/teacher preaches or teaches the room is filled with the Holy Spirit. The pastor/teacher is not using the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is manifesting it self through the born again believer. The field is planted with a multitude of self willed teachers (tares). But even a called and gifted believer must make his calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10)

 

[Gary Sullivan]

You are absolutely correct Douglas, it is, for this reason, I am posting this study, too many people who think they are doing Gods will are not as they are not following what the word states. Before following what someone may well say or be told something or even follow a study all should go to the word & check to see if what they have been asked or taught is what the word says & states, always go to the word, always check to see if what has been told or asked is what the word says or explains, if the word does not say the same then what has been asked or told is not of God & has to be ignored. God Bless

 

[for_his_glory]

I truly do not remember who put out this teaching, but it was mandated by the state of Pennsylvania for one to become a licensed Evangelist through the Church. I believe it was a two week course in order to be a licensed Evangelist and mainly in my case for the purpose of prison ministry. I didn't have to attend any Bible College or know NT Greek and the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek as the Pastor chose those who he prayed over and felt were ready and then it was up to us to pray and ask the Lord if this is what He wanted us to do.

This is just a snippet from the 131 page course:

Study to know for a surety of what you are speaking is truth so you will remain in Gods will and teach his acceptable word in all truths. Teach with love and compassion and never think you are better than the ones you are teaching. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing the word of God and everyone is on a different level of learning by the way they study.

Keep your teachings simple so everyone can understand what is being taught. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit teach through you. We can only teach through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and when that anointing is done has reached it’s purpose for the timing of God learn to end the teaching there and always leave them wanting more. Too much information can confuse the mind and a person’s attention level will soon wonder away from the teachings. Try not to teach for more than an hour unless the Holy Spirit directs you to continue. Usually after an hour of sitting a person will become restless and their concentration will wonder away from the word.

The most important thing to consider before you want to become a teacher of Gods word in a public setting is to first pray about it seek an answer from God if this is truly where he wants you to be. Know what you are getting into as a teacher as you will now be Gods ambassador to the world and it is no longer your life to live, but the life of Christ that will live through you. Make sure you will be available anytime to go where the word needs taught as we all have the ability, but God wants our availability. Teachers stand in a greater judgment of God for what they have taught here on earth so always be prepared and grounded in truth through the Holy Spirit teaching you so you will teach others and bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus.

1Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.