Articles
Teaching With Open Hearts
In a world that depends on relationships, everyone can become a role model to the people around them. People who are spiritually younger are constantly absorbing and practicing what they see. Thus, as a child of God you can choose to imitate the example of your role model, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:1-6).
Jesus Christ is the perfect standard of a role model because He taught by authority instead of force. He trained others to have a dependence only on God and lead by example. There are at least seven verses in the New Testament when after healing a person Jesus says, “…your faith has made you well (Matt. 9:22 ESV).” Having a relationship with God and faith in that relationship are matters of individual choice that each person willingly has to make. People choose to have faith in God because they are compelled by His power and love.
When teaching others about God, it is important to remember Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the father are one.” In context, Jesus is talking to the Jews about the authority He has as God’s son and how God remains the ultimate authority. The applicable lesson from John 10:30 is that everything is truly about God. The more reliance there is on God, the better His word will be understood and explained. Teaching about God should be done in a way that nurtures a dependence on Him and an independence from worldly influences (Matt. 4:10).
Biblical examples of what Godly teaching can be to a person’s soul are seen in the disciple Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. Timothy developed a sincere faith in Christ because he was influenced by his grandmother and mother. Timothy learned from their devotion to reading the sacred texts and seeing their faith in action. Timothy’s devotion was rooted on his choice to grow in his own relationship with God, and not on Lois or Eunice. Lois and Eunice just happened to be the encouraging example that Timothy needed to start growing and acting on his own faith. They lead Timothy by example just as Jesus had done with His disciples when He told them to pray, “thy will be done (Matt. 6:10 KJV).” As we teach others about Christ, “thy will” always conquers “my will.”
