Colossians 3:16 exhorts us to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Let’s break down what this verse could mean for us as Bible teachers.
As Bible Teachers We Both Teach and Admonish
While this verse doesn’t zero in on classroom Bible teachers, we still can find instruction for teaching. As stated in Colossians 3:16, we’re to “teach and admonish one another”, meaning members of the Body of Christ among each other. Classroom Bible teachers do that in a more formal way.
As believers, one toward the other, we’re to not only communicate the truth of God’s Word but also challenge one another where we might not be putting it into practice. Bible teachers therefore need to see their role as more than disseminating truth. They must address the real issues of life and provide warning of what will happen if people don’t align with God’s Word. We’re talking about instruction (didasko) that is put in mind (noutheto) where it needs to be applied.
To teach comes from the Greek word didasko from which we get the term didactic. This is instructional teaching, intentionally designed to convey information.
To admonish comes from the Greek word noutheteo which literally means “to put in mind” such as we do when we warn someone.
We need to take an instructional approach but at times it also needs to be correctional. As teachers we must be open to adapting our teaching to what students most need, similar to the instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:14. — “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
Truth will always be the foundation but if students don’t grab hold of that truth, all we have are Bible literate students. Being “filled with the knowledge of His will” is so we “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10).
What Bible Teachers Need to Get Right to Effectively Teach and Admonish
Click on the links below to posts that address what is needed to effectively teach and admonish based on the remainder of Colossians 3:16.
Here’s what it will take: