Category Archives: Teaching Objectives

We live in a world that expects us to conform to its ways, many of which are contrary to God’s ways. This can be confusing for people who encounter contradicting views with the pull of peer and the world being quite strong. As Bible teachers, we have opportunity to teach our students to live in the world without compromising who they are in the Lord. It will require understanding God’s desire for, but also His means of, our sanctification.

Jesus Prayed for Our Sanctification

Knowing that we’d be living in a world full of turmoil, Jesus prayed that His disciples then and now would know His joy, an inward reality they could experience regardless of circumstances. But, He didn’t want His followers to retreat inwardly and ignore the world around them. They still lived in the world, though they were no longer “of” the world. He prayed,

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them … (Jn. 17:15-17)

As believers, we receive a new citizenship and a new identify (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Jn. 3:1-2). Though living on earth, we are now citizens of heaven. Though born in the flesh, we are now children of God. The objective in Jesus’ prayer is that we live as those who are sanctified … set apart, holy. We live as those who are His.

Looking at Jesus’ prayer, we can see what it will take for us to live in the world yet not look like the world:

1) being protected from the evil one, the ruler of this world (Eph. 2:2)

… protect them by the power of your name … My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (Jn. 17:11-12, 15)

Only in His name can we find such protection. We need to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” putting on His armor so we can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:10-17).

2) rising above and not being controlled by circumstances

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. (Jn. 17:13)

When we know His joy, it strengthens us in our inner being, enabling us to find peace and contentment even in the worst circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13) and when faced with antagonism from those who don’t believe (Jn. 17:14).

3) following Jesus’ example of living in the world

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (Jn. 17:16)

Jesus came as the light of the world (Jn. 9:5), full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14). He mingled with sinners (Matt. 11:19) yet never compromised. He lived life with purpose. So, as His followers we walk in truth (Jn. 3:21), holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:14-16), yet loving as He loves (Eph. 5:1-2).

4) aligning with God’s standard, not in conformity to the world

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (Jn. 17:17-19)

Jesus sanctified Himself by submitting to the Father’s ways, even to the point of death on the cross (Phil. 2:8). In the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:39) — We too must submit to the will of the Father, even if it means sacrifice, denying self of its lustful desires and sometimes even earthly comforts (Lk. 9:23).

Pointing People to the Means of Sanctification Requires Confronting Their View of the Word

Notice in John 17:17 that God uses His Word to sanctify us — “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” That’s where we learn His character which forms the essence of His ways. If we’re going to align to God’s standard and not conform to the world, we need to know His Word.

Truth sets us free (Jn. 8:32) to live in the fullness of our potential in Him. Truth thoroughly equips us “for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God uses His Word in the transformation process to renew our minds so we think more in accordance with God and His ways and consequently act and react in line with His “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2). We use His Word to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5) which leads to our sanctification.

We must therefore help students understand that God’s Word isn’t confining but freeing. God’s Word isn’t something to merely know but to guide them in living a purposeful and fruitful life. God’s Word isn’t a man-made set of rules and regulations but inspired by God, His means of communicating with us that which is for our good.

For some students, we may need to take a step back, addressing their doubts and concerns about the veracity and authorship of the Bible. They won’t make following His Word a priority with an inadequate view of it. Help: Articles & Resources About the Bible

As Jesus did, let’s make sure we continue in prayer for God’s sanctifying work in our students’ lives that His Spirit guides them into all truth (Jn. 16:8-15) so they’re able to live purposefully in the world as the salt and light He intends them to be (Matt. 5:13-16).

We live in a world filled with stress and anxiety. So many people seem to lack joy. As Bible teachers, we have opportunity to reach into the hurts, disappointments, and despair in people and point them to the Source of Joy.

Jesus Prayed for our Joy

Jesus knew we’d have trouble in this world (Jn. 16:33). We read of Him praying for His followers in John 17 with one of His desires being that they have His joy within them (Jn. 17:13). He said He communicated with His disciples “so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them”. Notice the present tense — “so that they may have”. This isn’t something reserved for the future when everything is right but has the potential of being a reality right now, despite the difficult days in front of us.

Notice the amount of joy He wants us to have — “the full measure of my joy”. Jesus came that we might have life to the full (Jn. 10:10), an abundant life. That isn’t just a trickle of joy here and there. Also pay attention to the depth of this joy — “within” them, an internal reality not affected by external circumstances. Most importantly, take note of the source of that joy. Jesus said it would be His joy within them.

Pointing People to the Source of Joy Requires Confronting Their View of Jesus

If helping people experience His joy is one of our objectives in teaching, we need to address our students’ view of Jesus as it will make a difference in breadth and depth of their joy.

First, we must make sure our students understand that Jesus is the Life that brings joy. He is the One with authority to grant eternal life (Jn. 17:2) that affects not only our future, but also the kind of life we live now. He can offer this kind of life …

• because Jesus shares the same glory as the Father.
  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (Jn. 17:5)

• because He speaks the words of the Father.
  For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. (Jn. 17:8)

• because He is equal with God.
  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. (Jn. 17:10)

• because He is with the Father
  I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. (Jn. 17:11)

• because He is one with the Father.
  Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (Jn. 17:11)

Jesus has the authority and power, as God, to grant us an eternal life filled with His joy. So, when we teach, we must take students beyond “what” to “who”. Knowing about Jesus isn’t what brings joy but actually knowing Jesus. He is the Life we need to possess. He is the Truth we need to know. Make it about more than the commands, more than the stories. Make it about Him.

Second, we must emphasize that not only is Jesus the life that brings joy, but He is also the Way to the Father in whose presence we find fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11). — “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (Jn. 17:3) Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (Jn. 14:6-7)

This is contradictory to the world’s teaching that all paths lead to God. We mustn’t, however, be concerned about being politically correct but biblically correct if we want our students to know His joy. It’s not about making people happy by saying what we think they want to hear. It’s about them finding joy in Him, which comes by experiencing His presence in our lives.

Yes, our view of Jesus will affect our joy in this life. Joy comes in “who” we know, not what we know or what’s happening around us. — Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (Jn. 17:3)

Jesus knew the difficulty believers would have living in this world, especially as we draw closer and closer to the end times (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Before leaving earth He prayed for His followers then as well as those who would believe in Him through their message (Jn. 17:20). Since that would include us today, it’s important for Bible teachers to grasp the significance of Jesus’ prayer in John 17 to their teaching.

What Jesus Wants for His Followers

We can look at Jesus’ prayer as objectives He has for us as His followers.

1. Jesus wants His followers to live in the full measure of His joy. (Jn. 17:13)
2. Jesus wants believers to live in this world as those sanctified by His truth. (Jn. 17:15)
3. Jesus wants believers to live in complete unity with one another as a testimony to the world. (Jn. 17:23)
4. Jesus wants His followers to live with hope of the glory to come. (Jn. 17:24)

If Jesus deemed these desires important, certainly we should want the same for those we teach. We can turn the content of Jesus’ prayer into objectives and point people in that direction. Upcoming posts will look at how Bible teachers can aim toward the realization of Jesus’ prayer in their students’ lives. (Subscribe to receive updates of new posts.)

To Reach the Same Objectives as Jesus, Start by Praying

Jesus knew He would be ascending back to heaven, leaving His followers without His physical presence as they continued His mission, so He prayed for them. If Jesus prayed for His followers, how can we do less for students in our classes? We too can teach God’s truth, even showing how it applies to their lives, but we can’t go with them into the world on a daily basis to remind and encourage them to put it into practice. Further, we aren’t the ones who provide the joy, sanctification, unity, and hope. Jesus had the authority (Jn. 17:2) and He still prayed for His followers.

• How devoted are you to praying for your students?
• How specific are you in your prayers?

In previous posts we’ve look at truths about God’s Word in Romans 15:4 and the effects these realities should have on our Bible teaching.

1. Since everything was written to teach us, then we should teach the whole counsel of God and its value.
2. Since Scripture teaches endurance, then we should teach not just what it says but what it means for our lives.
3. Since Scripture provides encouragement, then we should use it to build up rather than tear down.

All of that leads to hope. And, since we find hope through God’s Word, then we should teach in ways that generate an expectation that God will indeed do what He says.

Why Hope Is So Essential to Our Walk with God

God uses His Word to teach endurance and provide encouragement so “we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). But, why is hope so essential?

We need to believe that even when life becomes difficult, God still cares and will work all things for our good (Rom. 8:28). We need to trust that even when people around us disappoint, disapprove, or disparage us, God is still there for us and will someday right the wrongs. There’s a bigger picture. With such hope, we will get beyond our own feelings and think about the benefit of others, like Christ of whom “it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.'” (Rom. 5:3).

Consider the results having hope that has been learned through the endurance Scripture teaches and the encouragement it provides:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 15:5-6)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

Since We Find Hope Through God’s Word, Then We Should Use It in a Way That Generates Faith

God defines faith in Hebrews 11:1. — “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” — If we read through that chapter in Hebrews, we’ll discover that faith is what enabled people recorded in Scripture to endure. They had the expectation, and confidence, that God would do what He promised even though they didn’t yet see evidence of it. They placed their confidence in a God who was able, who cared, and would be faithful. They put their faith, not merely in some dogma but rather in “the God who gives endurance and encouragement” (Rom. 15:5).

We won’t tend to generate faith with the line “because the Bible says so” but rather because its Author is trustworthy and won’t lie. People won’t find hope in a creed but rather in a God who is faithful and who works for our good just like He did throughout the pages of Scripture.

Scripture teaches endurance and provides encouragement that leads to hope because its Author is “the God who gives endurance and encouragement” (Rom. 15:5), “the God of hope” (Rom. 15:13).