Deuteronomy 6 provides understanding about the teaching-learning process, including the role of the teacher. While God gave these instructions to Israelite parents, as the primary nurturers of their children, certainly much of it can relate to teachers within the Church today.
We have the same God as they did. Just as He was faithful to keep His promises to His people then, so will He keep promises He gives for us today. Just as He was Someone to be feared then, so He is worthy of our reverential awe, trust, love and adoration today. Whether parents, or teachers of any age, the objective of the teaching-learning process is the same — to take students from head knowledge to heart knowledge that evidences itself in keeping (obeying, applying) God’s Word.
The Role of the Teacher in the Teaching-Learning Process Similar but Parents Still have the Primary Responsibility
When it comes to nurturing children, God does clearly place the responsibility on parents. Teachers in the Church should not view their role as the primary nurturer, though it often happens when parents neglect their responsibility. Church leaders, need to keep putting reminders before parents, even provide them with training on biblical parenting. Bible teachers can help by keeping lines of communication open between them and parents. Parents are the ones who have opportunity to talk about what their children have learned when they “sit at home … walk along the road … lie down and … get up” (Deut. 6:7). And, parents are the ones who can cue teachers in on what’s happening in children’s lives so they can best reach and teach their students.
Resource: Without a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship Worksheet
The Role of the Teacher Goes Beyond Imparting Knowledge
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 does include verbal and visual representation of God’s Word but those are means, or methods, for fulfilling the first part of those verses. The next post will look at methodology.
Verse 7 begins with “impress them on …” not inform them about or impart these truths on them. A look at the original Hebrew word lets us know why this is significant in helping us understand the role of Bible teachers in the teaching-learning process.
The word “shanan” means to sharpen, as in pricking or piercing. This would suggest getting below the surface to the heart. Hebrews 10:24 uses a similar word where we’re told to spur one another on to love and good deeds. We’re to poke at one another, to the point of provoking them, or stirring up a reaction.
The word “shannan” also means to whet. We might think of whetting one’s appetite. As teachers, we need to be creating a thirst or hunger within students for God and His Word. This interpretation serves to remind us of the saying about how we can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink. So, when it comes to teaching the Word, we can’t make our students believe. We can’t make them trust and obey God. But, we can whet their appetite for Him.
To impress upon, and not merely impart, Deuteronomy 6:1-9 suggests the following to whet their appetites or pierce their hearts:
- present a God worthy of their trust and obedience
- emphasize not only the “what” but also the “why”
- get beyond the Bible stories and doctrine to the God behind them
- stress a love relationship with God, who has their best interests at heart, not a blind obedience to a creed or bunch of commands
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 also provides some tips for methodology that will help the process — the topic of the next post.
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