I’m a little behind with my articles, here’s one I wrote back in March…

Introduction

Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He gave instructions to His apostles which are, also, instructions for us. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Even though we all can’t be preachers, all of us can be teachers. And we need to be busy doing the work. Even at age 12, Jesus understood this, Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:46-49) This is not to say that one begins teaching at age 12 but, even at that young age, Jesus knew that teaching was important.

The Harvest is Ready

In Mt. 9:35-38, it is written, Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Jesus knew that there was a desire for the gospel out there, but He couldn’t do it all alone. That’s why He obtained 12 followers (The Apostles) to aid in the work. Even then, as He stated, the laborers are few. It was the hope of all of them to not only preach and teach the gospel, but to gain more people interested in doing the same thing.

Even Paul wrote to Timothy on this subject, And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Paul and the others understood that they couldn’t do it all and, yet, even some of us today feel like we are the only ones that are doing any work. We tend to get discouraged as we seem to be in competition with worldly distractions.

One of the main struggles is going up against the god of this age (Satan). Paul writes, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:4). In this modern age of technology, sharing the gospel gets harder as there are more distractions. Social media is a dominate force in the world today. There are some good qualities to it, but it has a tendency to overtake one’s life.

Satan also goes one step further in that he and his ministers pose as religious figures and offer “help” to this world. Paul goes on to say, And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

We need to be wary of these religious “con men” who claim to be representatives of Christ but are merely hawking their wares through flattering words. Paul warns us of this, Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

We Don’t Need Salesmen

Years ago, a preacher once discussed a situation in which a woman constantly interrupted a bible class bringing up the subject of a certain website online that served as a teaching tool for students. Every time she would answer a question, she would reference this website. For as often as she brough up the subject, you would think she was a sales representative for the site.

The church doesn’t need salesmen to promote a project, tool, or some other “new thing” to encourage people to assemble with the local congregation. To do this can appear to be similar the social gospel or, also, what is known as the Church Growth Movement. Too many people are concerned with getting the numbers of the local congregation up rather than teaching them the truth.

That is not to say that we don’t want to increase our numbers, but when you’re more concerned with that than the saving of souls, it puts us on a dangerous path. We can do both, but the souls must come first whether they assemble with the local group or somewhere else.

As Paul wrote, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). As long as we are planting and watering, we are doing what we are tasked to do. It’s up to God, then, to give the increase, not us.

The Bible is our Main Teaching Tool

There is nothing wrong with using extracurricular tools to teach the gospel. The problem lies within, when the focus is on these tools themselves. Here are some examples…

Bible Tracts have been around for a long time. It is like a mini-sermon on a certain subject followed by, what is called, an invitation. However, I’ve seen tracts use cartoons to promote their ideas and it suddenly becomes distracting as you’d almost want to collect these tracts like comic books or baseball cards. Then when a new tract comes along, you go out of your way to obtain it, and a few others, to trade and/or share with your friends.

I’ve seen preachers use overhead projectors and PowerPoint presentations to preach a lesson on Sunday. There’s nothing wrong with that until the presentation becomes so “fancy” and/or “eye-catching” that people are more interested in what’s happening on the screen than what’s actually being said in the lesson.

My personal preacher training involved PowerPoint usage and, oftentimes, I have to reign in my own creative talents so that the focus isn’t on the “cleverness” of the program but the message from scriptures.

When we tend to find a new tool, or outlet, to proclaim the gospel, we get so excited that we expect others to follow in our steps and grab the same tools. We then become blinded by using these tools that we seem to put the bible aside.

Even though the new tool is quoting scripture; whether it be a bible tract, CD, DVD, or PowerPoint program, we must make sure that we have an actual bible in hand and are showing people that we are using it first and foremost to proclaim God’s word.

Paul writes, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16) This is what saves peoples souls! It’s not the program but the gospel itself. When you talk more about the non-bible tools than the bible itself, you may have just lost the battle.

Conclusion

If I’m given the choice to pick between the bible and some bible-teaching tool, I’m going to choose the bible every time. It’s God’s word and hasn’t, and doesn’t need to, change. It is the Spirit’s sword (Eph. 6:17), sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). If wielded correctly, it can change lives for the better. If wielded incorrectly, it could condemn a man’s soul. Before you teach, make sure you’ve properly studied.