47 Sermon Illustrations on Teaching

In telegraphy, there is a custom of repeating the despatches to make sure that they are correctly rendered at the office of delivery. New York says to New Orleans, "Is Mr. A. good?" The reply is, "Note good for any amount." This reply secured the purchase of five thousand dollars' worth of goods on time. By letter, the party learned that the despatch should have been, "Not good for any amount." The failure to repeat, a single letter added, — and the result was a loss of five thousand dollars. The teacher must know that the instruction is rightly received.

In music you learn more in a week from a sympathetic teacher, or at least from some one who is so to you, than from another, however excellent, in a month. You will make no progress if he can give you no impulse.

What a mystery lies in that word “teaching!” One will constrain you irresistibly, and another shall not be able to persuade you. One will kindle you with an ambition that aspires to what the day before seemed inaccessible heights, while another will labor in vain to stir your sluggish mood to cope with the smallest obstacle. The reciprocal relation is too often forgotten.

— R. H. HAWEIS

In the photographic studio it is not enough to have a favorable light, expensive lenses, and the latest arrangement of shutters and slides. It is not enough to have fair women and brave men before the camera. It is not enough to have a perfect plate, ready to respond to the faintest ray of light; there must also be a skilled operator, who shall moderate the glare, arrange the shadows, measure the distance, adjust the instrument, calculate the exposure, pose the sitters, engage the attention, and at the psychologico-photographic moment spring the shutter.

In like fashion the artist-teacher deals with his carefully sensitized pupil as he prepares to take a picture worth developing. Deftly he arranges each detail and improves every condition; then he unveils before him some image of truth and beauty wrought by skilful hands and eagerly awaits the results. If he succeeds, he knows it without troublesome delay. He glances swiftly about his class, detecting here and there a pupil who responds, “his rapt soul sitting in his eyes”; and the instructor glows with the consciousness that his labors have not been in vain.--D. O. S. LOWELL, “Proceedings of the Religious Education Association,” 1905.

You look into the face of a mirror, and an image is before you--more truthful, if less flattering, than that which the photographer produces. You pass on, and another comes and looks into the same mirror; but it tells no tales of you, revives no recollection. A thousand persons pass before the glass, and when the day is done, it is just as brilliant and just as vacant as when it made its first reflection. Do we desire a likeness that shall endure? Science must come to our aid with its camera and its chemicals; the image must be caught upon a sensitized plate or film and then fixt so it shall not fade.

In like manner the teacher may hold up a truth before an untrained pupil. It may be beautiful and inspiring, as reflected in the mirror of the pupil’s mind. He may understand it, assent to it, even enjoy it; but he may also forget it as he looks upon the next picture. To prevent such loss, it becomes the teacher’s function to see that his pupil’s mind is not a mere mirror from whose polished surface glide these bright images in swift succession, but a sensitized plate on which truths may be photographed and fixt. (Text.)--D. O. S. LOWELL, “Proceedings of the Religious Education Association,” 1905.

Major article on the NT view of “prophecy” with a special emphasis on 1 Corinthians 14.

1. NT prophecy has less authority than Scripture.

2. Testing prophecies.

3. The situation in Corinth.

4. Not "the words of God" for today.

5. Benefits of prophecy.

6. Only until the Lord comes.

7. A cautious approach necessary.

a. The gift should be allowed today.

b. An emphasis on the Bible is even more important.

Used 10/28/90:

b) Prophecy reached outsiders, convicted them of sin. 14:24-25

Example in a Baptist church:

A missionary speaker paused in the middle of his message.

“I didn't plan to say this, but it seems the Lord is indicating that someone in this church has just walked out on his wife and family. If that is so, let me tell you that God wants you to return to them and learn to follow God's pattern for family life.”

The missionary did not know it, but in the unlit balcony sat a man who had entered the church for the first time just moments before. The description fit him exactly, and he made himself known, acknowledged his sin, and began to seek after God.

In 1947, a professor at the University of Chicago, Dr. Chandrasekhar, was scheduled to teach an advanced seminar in astrophysics. At the time, he was living in Wisconsin, doing research at the Yerkes astronomical observatory. He planned to commute twice a week for the class, even though it would be held during the harsh winter months.

Registration for the seminar, however, fell far below expectations. Only two students signed up for the class. People expected Dr. Chandrasekhar to cancel, lest he waste his time. But for the sake of two students, he taught the class, commuting 100 miles round trip through back country roads in the dead of winter.

His students, Chen Ning Yang and Tsun-Dao Lee, did their homework. Ten years later, in 1957, they both won the Nobel prize for physics. So did Dr. Chandrasekhar in 1983.

For effective teachers, there is no such thing as a small class.

Learn how to put together a lesson that will have an impact on lives.

1. Start with a simple main point. (Don't use a shotgun approach)

2. Choose lesson aims.

3. Choose methods that fulfill aims.

a. Warm-up.

b. Bible study and interpretation.

c. Application.

4. The first and last component - caring for your individual students.

Sidebar article: Asking Good Questions

Four kinds of questions:

1. Warm-up questions.

2. Information questions.

3. Clarifying questions.

4. Application questions.

It is important to ask, "Why?" And we should not be afraid of silence after asking our question. Ask students to report on progress, not just "dirt."

[Another sidebar article is a self-"report card" for Christian teachers.]

C.K. Chesterton said, "In truth, there are only two kinds of people: those who accept dogma and know it, and those who accept dogma and don't know it."

People come into this world like a blank video cassette in a camcorder. Clean & fresh -- ready for input. Francis Xavier, great Catholic educator: “Give me a child until he is 7 and anyone else can have him for life.” Old proverb: “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”

________

Alternate version: "Give me the child until he is seven and I’ll give you the man." (It is also attributed to Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits).

In his sermon "Tide Riding," the late Bruce Thielemann accomplished both of these effects in one short passage: "My first pastorate was in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, which was famous at that time for having the world's largest steel-tube rolling mills .... Many was the time I stood in one of those great machines ... with the man operating the machine. I'd see a great serpent of molten metal come slithering down into the machine, and it would be chopped off. Then the machine would grab it by its end and begin to spin. By centrifugal force, that bar of metal would open from the inside out .... I asked the men directing those machines, `What's the most important ingredient in the process?'

"The answer was always the same: `It's the temperature of the metal. If it is too hot, it will fly apart; if it is too cold, it will not open as it ought. Unless you catch the molten moment, you cannot make the perfect tube.'

"Unless we catch those molten moments when character can develop, we miss our opportunities just as the disciples did."

Thielemann heightens our interest in the steel mill by introducing the snake metaphor, and then he uses "molten moments" as a tangible way to talk about the abstract concept of opportunity.

A chaplain who was ministering to a seriously wounded soldier was

requested by the dying man to write a letter to his former Sunday

school teacher. "Tell her I died a Christian because of what she

taught me in that class in church. The memory of her earnest pleas

and the warmth of her love as she asked us to accept Jesus has stayed

with me. Tell her I'll meet her in Heaven." The message was sent,

and some time later the chaplain received this reply: "May God forgive

me. Just last month I resigned my position and abandoned my Sunday

school pupils because I felt my work had been fruitless. How I regret

my impatience and lack of faith! I shall ask my pastor to let me go

back to teaching. I have learned that when one sows for God, the

reaping is both sure and blessed!"

Nearly a century ago, John Milton Gregory proposed what he called the first law of teaching: “The teacher must know that which he would teach.” That law must govern the preacher's message as the first law of thermal dynamics governs the physical universe. We cannot declare with authority what we do not know from God's Word. The congregation deserves to know that “Thus saith the Lord” lies behind their pastor's message. We can declare God's truth with even greater authourity when we have experienced its truth ourselves.

__________

Bill O'Conner, Proclaim, July, August, September, 1995 “Preaching from a Firm Foundation” 40

*

My Source:

VIGIL

Volume 27, #9, September 1999

Author: Bobby Duncan

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HIDDEN TEACHERS

by Bobby Duncan

The first part of Isaiah 30 contains a warning to the people of Judah against trusting in the powers of Egypt to deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who would come against them and carry them away into captivity. No foreign power could stave off the punishment which God's peple had brought upon themselves. They would go into captivity for seventy years because of their sins. The latter part of this chapter, however, contains an assurance that Judah would return from Babylonian captivity. The language used in describing this return seems also to rise above the material, and to constitute a prophecy of the church.

Verses 20 and 21 allude to a matter that was most certainly one of the key reasons the nation of Judah would experience the punishment of the Babylonian captivity...

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity

and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers

be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes

shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a

word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye

in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn

to the left.

The problem was that their teachers were hidden in a corner, out of sight, and their voices were silent.

Is not this one of the major problems in every generation? Those who should be teaching the true way and pointing people in the right direction are scarce and hard to be found. Parents, unto whom God has given the great responsibility of rearing children (Ephesians 6:4), are hidden out of sight, as it were, so far as the training and discipline of their children are concerned. Their voices are not heard in instructing and guiding their children in the way that is right and good. They do all within their power to see that their children know how to make a good living, but they have forgotten that making a good livng is not the same as making a good life.

Even preachers, in so many cases, are hidden in a corner, with stilled voices, so far as certain needed instruction is concerned. Not nearly enough preachers are loudly and clearly preaching the truth. Sermons on fundamental Bible themes, such as: the identity of the church, scriptural worship, and the plan of salvation are heard less and less frequently. And even less frequent than these are sermons on the evils of the modern dance, immodest apparel, social drinking, and the like. Many preachers have quit preaching against these things altogether, and some even make efforts to justify these evils.

But one of the main reasons the teachers of Isaiah's time were hidden in a corner is found in verses 9-11:

That this is a rebellious people, lying children that will

not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers,

See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us

right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy

deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the

path, cause the Holy of Israel to cease from before us.

Is not this same disposition on the part of so many, even church members, partly responsible for the fact that teachers of our time are hidden and their voices stilled? People now, as then, do not want the truth of God. It is unpleasant to them, and they rebel against it. Some would even stop the preacher from preaching on certain subjects. "Speak unto us smooth things," is their cry. Now, as then, Jehovah stands in the way, and they would prefer he move aside and not hinder them in their pursuit of wickedness.

Unfortunately, some preachers have capitulated and are now preaching just exactly what their hearers want instead of what God wants. Others, rather than preach a watered-down gospel that would please their hearers, have left the pulput altogether. Would to God the former would do as have the latter!

What is the solution to the problem of the hidden teacher? Needless to say, there will never come a time as long as the world stands when this problem will not exist to a greater or lesser degree. But there are some things which, if kept in mind by us all, will go a long way toward lessening the problem.

In the first place, those who preach and teach, whether in the home, in the classroom, or from the pulpit, should remind themselves often that they are teaching for the good (not the pleasure) of those who are taught; that they are striving to please God, and not men (Galatians 1:10).

In the second place, all who hear the teaching being done should remind ourselves that what we want is not always what we need, and that the teacher who tells us things we do not enjoy hearing may be a much better friend to us than the one who tells us only what we like to hear.

Finally, regardless of what you may have heard, there are still many good people in this old world who love the truth and want it preached in its ancient purity. These are the people who will be saved by the preaching and teaching we do. If one does not love the truth and want it preached, it is sheer folly to try to preach something he does love. No amount of such preaching will save him or anyone else.

Prayer or Teaching or Potential

Howard Hendricks wrote, Years ago in a church in Dallas we were having trouble finding a teacher for a junior high boy's class. The list of prospects had only one name - when they told me who it was I said, "You have got to be kidding." But I couldn't have been more wrong about that young man. He took the class and revolutionized it. I was so impressed I invited him to my home for lunch and asked him the secret of his success. He pulled out a little black book. On each page he had a small picture of one of the boys, and under the boy's name were comments like "having trouble in arithmetic," or "comes to church against parent's wishes," or "would like to be a missionary some day, but doesn't think he has what it takes."

"I pray over those pages every day," he said, and I can hardly wait to come to church each Sunday to see what God has been doing in their lives."

We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.

The more you read,

The more you know;

The more you know,

The further you go.

Luke 4:31–44 — Healing and Teaching « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Some thoughts from last Sunday

1. thank you, Dave, for your work in preparing and in presenting the profiles and the anatomy of temptation

2. in Luke 4:16–21, Jesus read part of Isaiah 61, saying that He was then fulfilling that scripture.

a. It was not some future event. It was His day-to-day ministry.

b. He was also saying, indirectly, that He was the Messiah (or the Christ), the Anointed One. But He did so referring to particular aspects of the Messiah, rather than merely naming Himself as Messiah, because to have done so would have been to have agreed to the Jews conception of the Messiah — one who would give them political deliverance.

c. You will find that throughout His ministry — and in today’s passage — that Jesus refused to name Himself as the Messiah (the Christ); for that was something to be perceived by faith, through the Spirit, from His words and His deeds.

3. it is very easy to fall into the error of the people of Nazareth. Because they knew Jesus, His family, His first 30 years or so, they did not honour Him. It is all too easy to become enamoured with some gifted servant — musician, worship or other leader — of another congregation and disparage those of our own. Yet of our own we are in the position to see their life as well as their works, so that we should esteem those whom God has given us.

4. that Jesus had already done mighty works is evident from His words to the people of Narareth: that they wanted Him to do what He had already done at Capernaum.

B. Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit — Luke 4:31–37 (NKJV): 31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

1. Parallel Passage, Mark 1:21–28

a. particularly distinguishes Jesus’ from the scribes’ teaching

b. also says the demon tore or convulsed his subject

2. The demon uses the term “Holy One of God” … what does the use of that term mean? See Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:37–31

a. « that Jesus was the promised Messiah »

b. the Bible says little about demon possession either before or after Jesus’ ministry but records a large number of incidents in that period. This focusses on the conflict between Jesus and evil. Jesus’ manifest purpose was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

3. The word “rebuke” has an underlying meaning of judgment, of laying a penalty upon someone and is also translated to reprove or to admonish. A principal, but not exclusive, application, is to Satanic spirits and to the wrong spirit in His disciples.

a. How does this tie in with Jesus’ first coming not being one of judgment? « It was a coming of salvation, not judgment, for mankind — but it brought judgment upon Satan & his »

4. In what two aspects did Jesus cause their amazement? (The first could be translated, verse 32, “and their senses reeled at …”

a. « His teaching — it was with authority and originality (the rabbis did not teach in this fashion; just the opposite, taking pride in the illustrious predecessors that they quoted »

b. « His exorcism — it was with authority and power (using the present tense of the verb indicates that this was a repeated, rather than a singular, occurrence »

c. exorcism, as practised by the Jews (presumably by those associated with the scribes and Pharisees) was based upon recitation of certain formulae and names of the patriarchs or Solomon « (Josephus Book VIII Cap II § 4) »

C. Peter’s Mother-in-law Healed — Luke 4:38-39 (NKJV): 38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

1. Parallel passages

a. Mark 1:29-31 tells us Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother) and also James and John were present

b. Matthew 8:14-15 leaves no doubt that this Simon is Peter

c. only Luke points out that is was a high fever

2. Is there any significance in the fact that Jesus rebuked the fever?

a. « it has been speculated that the hand of Satan was behind this illness, to sidetrack Peter from discipleship »

3. what is the character of her cure?

a. « it was immediate, it was complete »

D. Many Healed after Sabbath Sunset — Luke 4:40-41 (NKJV): 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

1. why not until then? « To have borne them to Jesus on the Sabbath would be contrary to the law; later the rulers set traps so Jesus was confronted with the sick on the Sabbath »

2. what additional testimony do the demons present

a. « that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) »

b. « that Jesus is the Son of God »

E. Jesus Preaches in Galilee – Luke 4:42–44 (NKJV): 42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

1. Parallel passage: Mark 1:46–49 — what was His reason for going to a deserted place? « … to pray according to Mark »

2. Modernistic, liberal churches state that Jesus’ ministry was to be our great Example. Comment on this statement, based on these three verses.

F. What practical application(s) should we take out from here this morning into the coming week to strengthen our Christian walk?

G. What is the distinction between disciples and apostles?

2 Peter 2:1–2 — Destructive Teaching « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. False prophets, then 2 Peter 2:1a

1. AV – But there were false prophets also among the people, …

2. NAS – But false prophets also arose among the people, …

3. NIV – But there were also false prophets among the people, …

4. J. B. Phillips – But even in those days there were false prophets among the people, …

5. NLT – But there were also false prophets in Israel, …

6. “false prophets” « — Greek, “pseudoprophetes” compound word »

a. the prefix “pseudo” means untrue, false;

b. those who speak D « eliberate » ______________ falsehoods with the intent to D « eceive » ___________

c. such as found in Jeremiah 6:13–14, 29:8–9; what identifies them? « — covetousness; false dealing; words do not come to pass; God has not sent them »

7. “among the people”

a. this is the Old Testament term meaning, in many, many instances, Israel, in a special way being “the people of God”

b. these false prophets are the « Old Testament false prophets »

B. False prophets, now 2 Peter 2:1b

1. AV – … even as there shall be false teachers among you, …

2. NAS – … just as there will also be false teachers among you, …

3. NIV – … just as there will be false teachers among you. …

4. J. B. Phillips – …just as there will be false teachers among you today.…

5. NLT – … just as there will be false teachers among you. …

6. “false teachers” « — Greek, “pseudodidaskoloi” compound word »

a. the prefix “pseudo,” as before, means untrue, false;

7. “among you”

a. this is parallel to the “among the people” abve

b. these false teachers are the « New Testament false teachers »

C. Destructive teaching 2 Peter 2:1c

1. AV – … who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, …

2. NAS – … who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, …

3. NIV – … They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, …

4. J. B. Phillips – …They will be men who will subtly introduce dangerous heresies. .…

5. NLT – …They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God…

6. “privily bring in”

a. this word is a bit archaic; what do the other translations tell us about the methods of these teachers? « — they teach lies in an underhanded, deceptive manner; this is not the Berean’s (Acts 17:10ff) honest searching and examining the truth »

7. “damnable” « — Greek, genitive of attribution »

a. those which are characterised by destruction, ruin, loss

8. “heresies”

a. Greek word is pronounced just about the same way

b. from a verb meaning “choose” so these are “self-chosen opinions” … how does this differ from the truth? « — truth, in the spiritual sense, is from God, not man, in origin »

D. Anti-Christ (compare 1 John 2) 2 Peter 2:1d

1. AV – … even denying the Lord that bought them, …

2. NAS – … even denying the Master who bought them, …

3. NIV – … even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — …

4. J. B. Phillips – …They will thereby deny the Lord who redeemed them,

5. NLT – …and even turn against their Master who bought them.…

6. “denying” — to disown, reject

a. nearly every false sect turns upon the denial of some truth concerning the P « erson » _________ of C « hrist » _______ « (as His incarnation, His Deity, His sinlessness, His saving work) »

7. “Lord” – Greek, despotes (master, ruler)

a. as Ruler-God: Luke 2:29, Acts 4:24, Jude 1:4, Revelation 6:10

b. of earthly masters: 1 Tim 6:1-2, 2 Tim 2:21, Tit 2:9, 1 Pet 2:18

8. “bought” « — Greek, agorazo, buy as in the marketplace »

a. found in 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:30; Revelation 5:9, 14:3-4 for redeemed people; but also as in Matthew 14:15 of things

b. this word emphasizes the price that God paid on behalf of all the world as described otherwise in John 3:16 & 1 John 2:2

c. this differs from the words used in Matthew 20:28, Titus 2:14, for example. which describes the release from sin and its consequences those who accept Christ’s work

E. Their Destruction 2 Peter 2:1e

1. AV – … and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2. NAS – … bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

3. NIV – … bringing swift destruction on themselves.

4. J. B. Phillips – … and it will not be long before they bring on themselves their own downfall.

5. NLT – …Theirs will be a swift and terrible end.

6. “swift”

a. same word as in 2 Peter 1:14 “shortly I must put off my tent”

7. “destruction” —

a. as found earlier in the verse (”damnable”)

b. as in Matthew 7:13, Acts 8:20, Philippians 3:19

8. keep this in mind as Peter later tells of “Their Destiny”

F. Their Disciples 2 Peter 2:2a

1. AV – And many shall follow their pernicious ways; …

2. NAS – And many will follow their sensuality,

3. NIV – Many will follow their shameful ways

4. J. B. Phillips – Many will follow their flagrant immorality

5. NLT – Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality.

6. “shall follow”

a. same words as in 2 Peter 1:16, “stick closely to, adhere”

7. “pernicious ways”

a. this means “destructive ways” (see NKJV), and, while tying in with verse 1, does not capture the flavour of the Greek

b. so, how do the other translations render this?

(A) « shameful ways, flagrant or shameful immorality, and sensuality »

(B) lexicographer Alexander Souter describes it as “conduct S « hocking » _________ to public D « ecency » _________”

G. Their Legacy 2 Peter 2:2b

1. AV – by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2. NAS – and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

3. NIV – and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

4. J. B. Phillips – and thereby bring discredit on the way of truth.

5. NLT – And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered.

6. “the way of truth”

a. to what does the word way refer in

(A) John 14:6? « — the Person of Christ and His work »

(B) Matthew 7:13–14? « — the means of salvation »

(C) Acts 9:2, 18:25–26, 22:4 24:14, 22? « — the gospel, message of salvation »

7. “evil spoken of” « — Greek, blasphemeo »

a. root word is literally, speak evil against or of

b. but common usage is somewhat stronger, indicating speech that harms « (Gk. Blapto) » and so is to use A « busive » _________ or scurrilous language about

8. so what is the legacy of false teachers? « — others are dissuaded from believing the true gospel that brings salvation »

Whenever I meet a Christian for the first time, I’m interested in learning how he came to trust Jesus as his Savior. Each person has a different story to tell, but they all testify that they learned the truth because of the efforts of others-their parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible club leaders, friends, writers. Someone has rightly observed that the body of Christ grows through “an unbroken chain of teachers.”

In today’s Scripture we learn that Timothy became a believer through the influence of his grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice, and the teaching of Paul (2 Timothy 1:5; 2:2). The apostle told Timothy to become part of that chain and “commit these truths to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (v.2).

The “faithful men” Paul had in mind were probably church elders, yet he was expressing a principle that applies to every believer. We had to receive the truth from someone; now it is our gracious privilege and solemn duty to transmit that truth to others.

Think of yourself as a link in the living chain that extends from the time Jesus lived on earth to the present. We must keep that chain strong by telling others about Him so that the gospel will reach to future generations. — Herb Vander Lugt

Give me a passion for souls, dear Lord,

A passion to save the lost;

O that Thy love were by all adored,

And welcomed at any cost. — Tovey

The good news is meant to be shared.

The tired ex-teacher edged closer to the counter at Kmart. Her left leg hurt and she hoped she had taken all of her pills for the day: the ones for her high blood pressure, dizziness and a host of other ills. Thank goodness I retired years ago, she thought to herself. I don’t have the energy to teach these days.

Just before the line to the counter formed, she spotted a young man with four children and a pregnant wife or girlfriend in tow. The teacher couldn’t miss the tattoo on his neck. He’s been to prison, she thought. She continued checking him out. His white T-shirt, shaved hair and baggy pants led her to surmise, He’s a gang member.

The teacher tried to let the man go ahead of her.

“You can go first,” she offered.

“No, you go first,” he insisted.

“No, you have more people with you,” said the teacher.

“We should respect our elders,” parried the man. And with that, he gestured with a sweeping motion indicating the way for the woman.

A brief smile flickered on her lips as she hobbled in front of him. The teacher in her decided she couldn’t let the moment go and she turned back to him and asked, “Who taught you your good manners?”

“You did Mrs. Simpson, in third grade.”

“We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” Written in 1939, George Orwell’s words might well be addressed to the leaders of today’s biblically illiterate church.

J. I. Packer, on his 80th birthday, said that the greatest challenge of evangelicalism is to re-catechize our churches. More than ever, Christians need to be able to speak intelligently and courageously about the hope that lies within.

Personal faith is of course vital, but it is not sufficient. And yes, doctrine has often been taught so that it comes across as dry and dusty. But as Dorothy Sayers noted, once we grasp what Christian doctrines teach, “The Dogma is the Drama.”

The determination to restore orthodox faith — the faith “that was once for all entrusted” (Jude 1:3) — brought about the Reformation, of which we are heirs. A new emphasis on orthodox doctrine could also transform the church and culture today.

Orwell was right: In a crisis, we often have a duty to restate the obvious. The greatest challenge for serious Christians today is not re-inventing Christianity, but rediscovering its core teachings.

A good illustration is the most powerful “motor” ever invented; it will drag a whole congregation which has drifted into infinite space back again to earth in a twinkling. It comes like a sweet sea-breeze blowing in through the church windows on a hot Sunday, and relaxing the feverish tension of crowded worship.--MACKAY SMITH, _Harper’s Magazine_.

The thought of heaven often seems boring to Christians. Worship is the same way, but it should be different.

Irenaeus: "The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man is the vision of the glory of God."

Professor Estabrook, the well-known educator, once told this story to teachers for the purpose of showing them the discouraging results that attend the negative form of command. A mother once sent her little boy to buy some eggs. “Take this basket,” she said, placing it in his small hand, “and don’t spill one or drop the basket. And don’t fall down.” As he was passing through the gate, she called after him, “Don’t be gone long and don’t break the eggs.” After the little fellow had his order filled and started home all he could think about was not breaking or spilling the eggs. A vivid picture of broken shells filled his mind. With a fearful looking into the basket as if afraid they would jump out of themselves, he did not notice the large stone in his path and naturally fell over it, spilling and breaking the contents of the basket.

Our human tasks are done most safely and effectively not while we are concerned with the task, but while we keep in mind the exemplary Way by whose guidance all tasks are made plain.

Luke 5:12-26, 33–39 — Jesus Heals, Teaches (This could be the title for a number of sections in this book of Luke) « Leader information shown in this fashion (All Bible quotations in NKJV) »

A. Healing the Leper — Luke 5:12–16 (parallel passages Matthew 8:1–4, Mark 1:40-45)

1. The Healing — 12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

a. In the Bible, the name “leprosy” is given to a variety of diseases; some curable, some not. Infection could be of both people and things, as described in Leviticus 13–14. Some symptoms were those of fungal infections, open sores, and contagion. The only treatment seems to have been quarantine (see Leviticus 13:45–46). Whether it included what is known as leprosy today is unknown. Those who suffered were both physically and ceremonially unclean. They were excluded from towns: this took place either on the outskirts of the city, or the leper ignored the rules.

b. What does Dr. Luke note about this case? « — he was full of leprosy, indicating an advanced infection. »

c. What did the leper recognize concerning Jesus

(A) « healing depended on Jesus’ sovereign will »

(B) « Jesus had the power to both heal and make clean »

d. The charge — “tell no one” (as with demons and others); Jesus healed as part of His ministry, but His mission was spiritual, not physical, healing (see Luke 5:31–32)

e. the command (Leviticus 14:2ff) — why was it important for this man to follow the command as given by Moses?

(A) « showing that Jesus fulfilled the Law »

(B) « to restore the leper to society, recognized as clean »

2. The Results — 15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Mark tells us the leper published it much.)

a. what was the result of the leper’s “publicity campaign?” « — a further increase in the number of those coming to Jesus; Mark tells us that He could no longer openly enter the city. »

b. what is the answer to increased pressure? « Jesus found it in prayer; the verbs in verse 16 indicate continuing action: “kept on withdrawing and praying” »

B. Enter the Pharisees & Scribes: – Luke 5:17-26 (parallel passages Matthew 9:1–8, Mark 2:1–12)

1. The Scene — 17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

a. what was another result of the “publicity campaign?” « — for the first time He attracts the attention of the religious rulers. There were about 6,000 Pharisees (”separated ones”). They had concentrated on the outward keeping of the law, as opposed to loving God; e.g., they would not pronounce the covenant name of God, YHWH, lest they break the third commandment (”thou shalt not take the name … “) »

2. The Paralytic (AV: “man with palsy”)

a. Brought to Jesus (raising the roof!) — 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. (Mark’s description is more graphic.)

(A) why is it dangerous to let Jesus come into your house to take possession? « – He’s a world-upside-down-turner! »

b. Forgiven of Sin — 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

(A) what do these words of tell us?

(1) « God responds to man’s faith — “their” includes the paralytic himself, as well as the four carrying him »

(2) « Jesus’ first priority is spiritual healing; the removal of spiritual paralysis that sin has brought to mankind »

c. The Quibblers — 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

(A) Did the teachers of the law have the right to ask this question … see Deuteronomy 18:14-22 (especially the last two verses)

(1) « yes, to listen to a true prophet, or else be called into account »

(2) « yes, to identify false prophets »

(3) « yes, to punish such false prophets »

(B) what did the opposition get right? « — only God can forgive sin »

(C) what did the opposition neglect? « — examining if Jesus’ relationship with God gave Him the right »

d. The Teaching — 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —

(A) Jesus is about to perform an act in order to defend His A______________ « (authority) »

e. The Proof — He said to the man who was paralysed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

(A) What two things did Jesus do to answer the question of the teachers of the law in accordance with the passage in the book of Deuteronomy?

(1) « He connected His forgiving of sin with a prophecy »

(2) « He ensured that this prophecy was immediately fulfilled »

f. The Response — 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” ie., things beyond all of our expectations

(A) what correct responses made the paralytic and people?

(1) « glorification of God »

(2) « fear or awe in the presence of Deity »

D. Fast or Feast? — Luke 5:33–39 (parallel passages Matthew 9:14–17, Mark 2:18–22)

1. The Question and the Answer — 33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

a. Mark 2:18 tells us that the Pharisees and John’s disciples were fasting at this very time However, this was not the Day of Atonement where there was a prescribed fast or else they all would have been fasting (Leviticus 23:26-32). There was also their practice os set prayers at set times (like Muslim).

b. In what connection would the disciples of John fast? « — as part of repentance, mourning for their sin »

c. Why did the Pharisees fast? (Luke 18:11–12, Matthew 6:16–17)

(A) « to be able to claim righteousness »

(B) « to be glorified by men (assumes this describes Pharisees) »

d. What would be the reason for Jesus’ disciples fasting « — not to attend to some ritual, but voluntarily due to grief »

2. The Justification — 36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 “But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

a. the application or explanation of these sayings

(A) Ecclesiastes 3:4 « — there are appropriate occasions and reasons for doing things; not from mere formal ritualism »

(B) « Jesus will not blend his teaching with the tradition and teaching of the Pharisees; so He, His teaching and His disciples will not be accepted by those who rely upon and prefer the old traditions »