Let’s Not be Shortsighted

Think of the objectives of many Bible teachers:

• imparting knowledge rather than discipling for changed lives
• getting through that day’s lesson rather than impacting lives outside of class
• being more concerned with class activities than outcomes

Teachers might not verbalize their goals as such but the way they teach betrays them. These are shortsighted goals when compared to God’s objectives seen in Ephesians 4:11-14. God desires teachers to go well beyond what happens in the classroom.

God’s Long-range Objectives

First notice that God’s short-term objective for teachers is to equip people to “do” something not merely to “know” what the Bible says.

Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service

Bible teachers with this objective include an applicational approach into their lessons wherein students are encouraged to not only determine the implication of truth to their lives but also practice doing so there in class. This kind of goal affects lesson structure and methodology.

Second notice that God’s long-term objective is that equipped people affect the growth of the whole Body.

to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Bible teachers are to impact individual lives so they can do their part helping others, leading to unity and maturity in the Body of Christ. We aren’t merely developing “super” Christians but rather a supernatural Church.

Third notice God’s attention to the outcome of such teaching.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

How we could use such stability, perseverance, and growth to be evidenced in our churches. Bible teachers, it begins with you! Let’s not be shortsighted but rather teach in accordance with God’s objectives.

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