OceanSide church of Christ

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Part of the series: LIVE FOR JESUS
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LIVING FOR JESUS

by Teaching

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   We have several songs in our hymn books that exhort us to live for Jesus.

1.     One of them is entitled:  “Live for Jesus.”  It begins with these words:  “Live for Jesus, O my brother, His disciple ever be.”

2.     Another is titled:  “Living for Jesus.”  It opens as follows:  “Living for Jesus a life that is true.”

 

B.    As Christians, it should be our goal to live for the Master.  How to do this involves many components.

 

C.   In this lesson, we want to study the concept:  “Living for the Master by Teaching.”

1.     The opening words of the Great Commission as recorded by Matthew are:  Go ye therefore and teach… (Matt. 28:19).

2.     Christianity is a taught religion.  Thus, one of the ways that we live for Jesus is by teaching.

 

I.           WE FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPEL BY TEACHING

 

A.   If we are to live for the Master, it naturally follows that we must follow Jesus’ example.

1.     I Peter 2:21

 

For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.

 

2.     I John 2:6

 

He that saith, He abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

B.    Christ was definitely a teacher.

1.     When Luke summarized what was contained in his gospel narrative about Jesus, he included Jesus’ teaching (Acts 1:1).

 

The former treastise have I made, O Theolphilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.

 

2.     Numerous passages in the gospel records speak of Jesus as a teacher.

a.     Matthew 4:23a

 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues…

 

b.    Matthew 5:1-2

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:  and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…

 

c.    Matthew 11:1

 

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

 

C.   Our point

1.     We are to follow the example of Jesus to live for Him.

2.     Jesus was a teacher.

3.     Therefore, we must be teachers if we are going to follow His example.

 

II.         THE MASTER’S TEACHER WILL POSSESS

 

A.   A desire to teach

1.     Desire involves a “want to,” a longing or craving.

2.     According to Hebrews 5:12-14, this desire comes through one’s growth in the Christian faith.

a.     The babe, the one who still feeds upon the milk of the Word will not teach.

b.    The mature, full-grown Christian, reaches a point that he becomes a teacher.

3.     Desire is one of the key factors between a great teacher and a mediocre one.

 

B.    A knowledge of truth

1.     Truth is a vital component of our faith.

a.     God desires for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4).

b.    Truth is that which sets man free (John 8:32).

c.    Truth sanctifies, that is, sets man apart for a holy purpose unto God (John 17:17).

2.     One cannot teach what he does not know.

3.     The teacher, therefore, must:

a.     Study (II Tim. 2:15)

b.    Grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3:18).

c.    Discern and reason correctly (I Thess. 5:19-21)

 

C.   A love for one’s students

1.     To be a teacher one must have students.

2.     For students to do well

a.     The teacher must know his stuff.

b.    The students must know that the teacher cares for them.

3.     Twelve men sat at the feet of Jesus for some 3-1/2 years.  Did He love them?  (John 15:9).

 

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

III.       THE MASTER’S TEACHER WILL TEACH LIKE JESUS

 

A.   Jesus taught with authority.

1.     Matthew 7:28-29

 

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

2.     Paul exhorted Titus to speak with authority (Tit. 2:15).

 

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee.

 

3.     Meaning (Barnes, e-sword)

a.     The sense here is, he was to do it decidedly without ambiguity, without compromise, and without keeping anything back.

b.    He was to state these things not as being advice or counsel, but as the requirement of God.

 

B.    Jesus taught with confrontation.

1.     The Sermon on the Mount

a.     Scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20)

b.    What was said in old time versus what Jesus said (Matt. 5:21-48)

c.    The publicans (Matt. 5:46-47)

d.    The hypocrites (Matt. 6:1-18)

e.     The Gentiles (Matt. 6:32)

f.     False prophets (Matt. 7:15)

2.     Ephesians 5:12

 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

C.   Jesus taught with simplicity.

1.     The Bible says that that “the common people heard him gladly” (Matt. 12:37).

2.     One of the reasons they heard him gladly was because of the simplicity of His teaching.  The Parables of Jesus are a case in point.

a.     Simple stories

b.    Simple meanings

1)     The Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23)

2)     The Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43)

3.     In our teaching, we should seek to be as simple as we can be.

a.     Definition of terms

b.    Logical explanations

c.    Common terminology

d.    Sparing use of the Hebrew and Greek

e.     Illustrations

 

D.   Jesus taught with impartiality.

1.     Jesus taught his apostles.

2.     Jesus taught the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.

3.     Jesus taught the sinners and publicans.

4.     Jesus taught people in positions of authority.

5.     Jesus taught women.

6.     NOTE:  When He spoke to these individuals, He did not pull punches.  He told them exactly what they needed to hear.

7.     I Timothy 5:21

 

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 

E.    Jesus taught by example.

1.     John 13:15

 

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

 

2.     Paul told Timothy to be an example of the believers (I Tim. 4:12).

 

Let no man despise they youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

F.     Jesus taught with a call to action (Matt. 11:28-30).

 

IV.        THE MASTER’S TEACHER WILL TEACH ABOUT CHRIST

 

A.   He will teach the students about Christ (Acts 8:5, 35; I Cor. 2:2).

 

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Christ Jesus, and him crucified.

 

B.    He will teach the need to believe in Christ (John 8:24.

 

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:  for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

 

C.   He will teach the need to obey Christ (Matt. 7:21; 12:50).

 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

D.   He will teach the need to put on Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27).

 

For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.   For as many of you as have been bap-tized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

E.    He will teach the need to live for Christ (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21).

 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   If you and I are going to live for Jesus, we must teach.

1.     Follow Christ’s example as a teacher

2.     Possess His traits as a teacher

3.     Teach as He taught

4.     Teach the Christ

 

B.    Isaiah 52:7

 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bring good tidings of good, that publish salvation; that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!