From God’s Word we can pull together teaching on the essentials of our faith and present them in a systematic way. These truths should transform us and ground us. We must, however, be careful to accurately arrive at what the Bible says. Teaching sound doctrine is important so “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Why Teaching Sound Doctrine is Important
The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Tim. 4:2-3)
- If we don’t provide this kind of instruction, sound doctrine, what will people do when faced with false teaching? … with their own human tendencies to compromise?
Paul also wrote to Titus about doctrine. Overseers in the Church are to “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it for there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception” (Titus 1:9-10). Paul goes on to exhort Titus, “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)
- If our teaching doesn’t stand in contrast to what people hear out in the world, why would it make a difference for them? Why would God’s ways matter to them?
Read:
Sound Doctrinal Teaching Makes a Difference
Our doctrine, what we believe, will affect the way we live. Inaccurate doctrine gives us an excuse for ungodly living. Accurate, or sound, doctrine leads to what is good and honoring, aligning with the glorious gospel by which we are saved. (Read 1 Tim. 1:3-11.)
And so, we read, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Tim. 4:16) We must pay close attention to what we teach, and hold fast to biblically sound doctrine, if we want to make an eternal difference in the lives of our students, as well as our own lives. Let’s be careful we’re advancing, not hindering, God’s work by what we teach.
Looking for Curriculum to Teach Doctrine? Go To: Biblical Topics & Doctrine