Empowering Teachers

I keep thinking of something that the author of Hebrews said to a local congregation many centuries ago. “By this time you ought to be teachers”. It’s just a general comment – directed at – everyone!

In one sense, of course, not everyone is or should be a teacher (1 Corinthians 12:29; James 3:1; 1 Timothy 1:6-7). But in another sense, we all should be teachers. It’s simply a matter of sharing the truth with a neighbour, daughter, coworker.

So what would it look like if we had the goal of making everyone in our congregation a capable teacher? What would we teach them?

The first on my list would be helping people to love the Lord. After all, that is the greatest commandment. It’s at the heart of everything we are, everything we do (Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 Timothy 1:5).

After that, maybe the goal would be to help people to know how to handle their Sword – the Word of God. If anyone is going to grow, and help others grow, that’s the starting point.

Of course as leaders in a new church plant, these are things we are trying to do. Hopefully these things permeate our everyday lives and discipleship.

We have been talking about some ideas for the fall. Many of these come from requests that we’ve received from local believers. For example, in our Sunday School class, we have a couple of plans – a study of the gospel, using biblical key words. Rod has an outline planned that we probably will both teach. And I’m planning to teach my five part study on biblical discernment. We’re also talking about the possibility of an evangelism class.

We’ve just recently confirmed that the three churches will be partnering in a 40 hour class on biblical hermeneutics. It will officially be a partnership between the community centre and the Still Water Institute in Texas, a ministry of a church there which will be sending down teachers.

There are a number of exciting things about this. Of course it’s a key component of how to use Scripture properly. But we’re also hoping that it will be the beginning of something larger – an ongoing Bible institute that can train up leaders as a part of planting new churches in this less-reached area of Mexico, and beyond.

We’re in a unique place here. In some ways, this is still very much a “pioneering” area, with very few churches. But the growing young churches mean that there is an emerging leadership and enough resources to go beyond simple one-on-one discipleship.

There are some other exciting things in the works too. Maybe you or your church would like to be a part of this unique opportunity! There is a lot to do here – the work is just beginning!