The Value of a Great Teacher
Ezra 7:10
“For Ezra had
set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach
His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
1. As the
children of Israel gathered back to their homeland, Ezra “set his heart” to their
spiritual welfare. He wanted to do his
best to restore them.
2. The work we
are doing in Bible class is most important.
3. Jesus came to
seek and to save the lost, and we are part of that Divine plan.
4. Each of us has
benefited because we have had great teachers.
5. Paul’s
desire. And this I pray, that your love
may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that
you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and
blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of
righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
(Phil. 1:9-11)
6. Col. 1:9-12 For this reason also, since the day we
heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be
filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and
understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please
Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God; strengthened with all
power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness
and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to
share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Qualities that Make a
Great Teacher:
I.
Character and Example:
1. The teacher
himself is a most important factor in teaching. (1 Cor. 11:1)
2.
Jesus was such a great teacher because He lived what He
taught
3. Students will ask the question of any teacher: “Why should I listen to you?”
4. A teacher’s most important credential is CREDIBILITY
·
Can I trust you?
·
Do you care for me?
·
Do you know what you
are talking about?
1.
To touch a heart, you
must love the person. “People do not
care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
2. Your love for God, the Word, and people will show to those
you teach
3. Mark 6:34 And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude,
and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a
shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
4. Classes are made up of a variety of people with a variety of
needs
·
Some are looking for
God
·
Some are about to
give up on God
·
Some are hurting from
problems at home
·
Some are looking for
someone to love or comfort them
5. Compassion can be seen in many little things:
·
Coming early to the
classroom to greet students
·
Knowing the name of
every single student
·
Checking up on
students when they are absent
Effectiveness:
10% card, 25% letter, 40% phone call, 50% personal visit
·
Learning as much as
possible about each student
·
Encouraging students
to be involved in class activities
1. William A. Ward has said, "The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher
inspires. (Progress Magazine,
December 23, 1992.)
2. “A good teacher is someone who is very good at explaining to
those who are not very good at understanding, and very good at understanding
those who are not very good at explaining.”
3. Effective teaching must encourage remembering:
·
We retain 10% of what
we read.
·
We retain 20% of what
we hear.
·
We retain 30% of what
we see.
·
We retain 50% of what
we see and hear.
·
We retain 70% of what
we say.
·
We retain 90% of what
we say as we do, see, or hear something.
4. Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we
work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we
rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal
minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of
their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot
efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.
5. We appreciate a teacher who:
a. Knows the Bible and knows the lesson. (1 Tim. 4:16) Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both
for yourself and for those who hear you.
b. Built a good library of religious books and uses good tools.
c. Makes class informative, interesting
d. Is unafraid to stand for what he believes.
e. Always makes the Bible itself the center of every Bible
class.
Is there some
outstanding Bible teacher you have had that you remember?
Why not send him/her a note of
appreciation?
Little Teddy Stoddard