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To teach is to touch a life forever.
[/ultimate_heading][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Teaching is my life. Whether I’m teaching at the music academy, the private Christian school, or homeschooling my grandkids, I love it. But the highlight of my week is getting as much of God’s word into kid’s hearts, especially in Sunday School. Being around each child’s sweet face, effervescent personality, and exuberant activity speaks to me of God’s incredible creation and love. Unfortunately, according to Wheaton College professor, Timothy Larsen, “it has been demonstrated that biblical literacy has continued to decline.” He says, “Gallup polls have tracked this descent to a current ‘record low.’”
The good news is everyone is a teacher because we follow Jesus. This is a theme found throughout the scripture. The Shema, Israel’s statement of faith in One Lord God, commands parents teach children diligently by reciting it each morning and night (Deuteronomy 6:4-8). Over and over, the Psalms command us to tell the next generation of the wonderful things the Lord has done (Psalm 78, 79:13, 145). The Seven Feasts, which includes the Passover, use visual reminders of what God has done and points us to what he will do in the future (Exodus 12:21-27). God is all about passing on faith. In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrates the importance of children and teaching them by allowing them to come to him to be blessed. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of daily spiritual food (Hebrews 5:11-14). Luke’s gospel urges us to know the truth, and have certainty of what we’ve been taught (Luke 1:4).
To pass on our faith, there’s no more important task than teaching, because both parenting and discipling require it. As a young believer, I began sharing Christ with my high school classmates, attending Bible studies, and putting myself under the instruction of godly teachers. As a young parent, I took these commands seriously. Becoming a Sunday School teacher equipped me to be the best parent I could be. Trainings, curriculum lessons, and Bible studies gave me what I needed to teach my kids confidently as we came and went, walked and talked, sat and dined. My job as a parent is to follow the commands in Scripture to teach my children, and let God do the rest. It’s my job as a believer to share Christ with others and leave the results to the Holy Spirit.
To teach is to touch a life forever. The process of teaching begins in the heart. Every heart can be God’s teacher by living and doing His word continually, every day, all day long. Because we profess the Lord is God, our priority is to do all we can, at all the times we can, to win hearts and minds for the Lord. We set an example in our words and in our life. Who we are and how we live echo into future generations just as loud as words. Identify where you might invest in future generations. Email any of the NexGen staff at South Fellowship Church if you need ideas. Amy Palma, Children’s Director at [email protected]. Josh Suddath, Youth Pastor, at [email protected]. Yvonne Biel, Young Adult’s Director at [email protected].
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:19-20
The good person out of the good treasure
of his heart produces good, and the evil person
out of his evil treasure produces evil.
For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
– Luke 6:45
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By Donna Burns
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