HOW WOULD YOU TEACH AND APPLY THESE VERSES?

Victor M. Eskew

 

          There are several teachings found in the Bible that stir up feelings of resentment within those who hear them.  There are some Christians who seem to get upset when certain doctrines are proclaimed from the pulpit or in the classroom. These negative reactions to the revelation of God caused this preacher to wonder:  “How would those who get upset with God’s Word teach those things that anger them?”  If they had to proclaim certain texts to a group of people how would they explain God’s truths to them?

          Let’s illustrate.

 

1.    How would you teach Genesis 1:27?  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

 

2.    How would you teach Matthew 6:33?  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 

3.    How would you teach Matthew 15:13?  “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

 

4.    How would you teach Matthew 19:9?  “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another committeth adultery:  and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”

 

5.    How would you teach Mark 9:1?  “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them what stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”

 

6.    How would you teach Mark 16:16?  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

 

7.    How would you teach Acts 2:47?  “Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

 

8.    How would you teach Acts 4:12?  “Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

 

9.    How would you teach Romans 1:26-27?  “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:  for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”

 

10. How would you teach Romans 6:3-4? “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

 

11. How would you teach 1 Corinthians 1:10?  “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

 

12. How would you teach 1Corinthians 15:25-26?  “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is dead.”

 

13. How would you teach Galatians 5:4?  “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

 

14. How would you teach Ephesians 1:22-23?  “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

 

15. How would you teach 1 Timothy 2:9-10?  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

 

16. How would you teach 1 Tim. 2:11-12?  “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

 

17. How would you teach James 2:24?  “Ye see how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?”

 

18. How would you teach Hebrews 10:25?  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

 

19. How would you teach Hebrews 13:17?  “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you.”

 

20. How would you each Revelation 2:10b?  “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

 

If one or two of these verses upset you, study the verse.  Then, prepare a lesson in such a way that you can teach it to others.  What are the meanings of the words in the verse?  What is the context of the verse?  What is the reason the verse was given to the first century church?  What are the major lessons of the verse that can be applied to our lives today?

If individuals would do this every time something in the Word of God upsets them, they would come away with a different view of the text, that is, if they truly believe the Bible is the inspired Word God that is to govern one’s life.  They might realize that the things they have said about the verse or verses were wrong.  Hopefully, they would guide those they teach in the right way.  We close with James’ words recorded in James 3:1. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”