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Promoting Advancement of God’s Work?

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Bible Teachers Promote the Advancement of God's Work

When Bible teachers make it a conscientious goal to advance God’s work through their teaching, they become more aware of what hinders the work of God in the classroom. And, they are then ready to think through what they can do to promote it instead.

Understand What Promotes the Advancement of God’s Work

In 1 Timothy 1 the Apostle Paul addressed the negative effects of false doctrine, meaningless talk, and controversial speculations. He instructed Timothy to “command” the people in the Church of Ephesus doing it to stop. As the teacher and leader, it was Timothy’s responsibility to reign in these hindrances to the work of God. Paul went on to provide the ultimate objective of setting such parameters. — “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim. 1:5)

Environments centered around loving as God loves, shift motivations and focus from self-promotion to advancement of God’s work and what’s for the good of others. We don’t have to get up on our soap boxes. We don’t have to win for the sake of winning. Rather, we want to bring our lives and doctrine into conformity to the Gospel (1 Tim. 1:11). People knowing and loving the Lord becomes our greatest concern.

Think about it: There’s so much in the Bible that can build us all up and bring us together that it isn’t necessary to focus on issues that tend to divide. That doesn’t mean we totally ignore these issues but when we do deal with them, we do so out of a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith — respectfully, gently, and non-combative. We might simply present both sides of an issue rather than merely push our own point of view. And, as Bible teachers, we expect the class to abide by these parameters of love.

Why Promoting the Advancement of God’s Work Matters

When we do that which promotes God’s work, we please God and can be at peace with people even if we don’t agree.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of … {Fill in the blank} (Rom. 14:17-20)

When our classroom environments are centered around responding in and out of love, it becomes more about truly helping people rather than proving who is right and wrong.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:23-26)

Regardless of the outcome, we can be at peace with ourselves, knowing before God that we did our part to advance His Work “in love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5).

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Pet. 3:15-17)

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