If you want to learn what you don't know about teaching, I would suggest signing up to work at a high school for a couple of years. That's what I have had to do this past year, and wow, I'm pretty sure I'm learning more than my students.
One of the big things I've learned is the difference a class can make. I often teach the same lesson to two classes, and you know while I might be overstating the case a bit, I really believe a class can make a good lesson great or they can make a good lesson tank.
I understand, I understand, it might be me. I might have a little more energy or whatever, but I don't think it always is.
I think a class or we might say a group of people can make a teacher/preacher better or or can make a teacher/preacher worse.
It's amazing.
I can have the same exact lesson, be the same person, I mean I feel the same, I'm in pretty much the same spot spiritually, and the way the class goes can be completely different.
I'm not sure we always realize that as church members.
What I'm trying to say is that I'm not sure we always realize that it's not just the preacher/teacher who has a responsibility when it comes to making a sermon effective – the congregation plays a major role as well. In other words, when I come to church and I look up at the preacher behind the pulpit I really believe I can help him become a better preacher or I can make it more difficult for him to preach effectively.
Now, where the rubber meets the road. How do I do that? How do we do that? How do we help our teachers/preachers be the best possible preacher/teachers they can be?
I've got some ideas. I'll give you two, then I'd like to hear yours.
1.) LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE LITERALLY DESPERATE TO HEAR THE WORD. Tell your pastor you want him to take you deep. Tell your pastor you value his study time – you see that as important. Don't let him get the idea that management or administration is more important than knowing and teaching the Word effectively.
2.) RESOLVE TO BE INTERESTED IN THE WORD NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES. I've kind of made a commitment this year that whenever someone else preaches at our church, I'm going to try as hard as I can to put away my sermon and listen to his. I'm going to be interested even if his style is different than mine. And you know what, I'm going to try to let him know it. I want him to look out at the congregation and know that I'm trying to be with him – I'm engaged and thinking about what he says. I want to view the sermon almost like a conversation that the pastor is having with me – and I know that when I'm talking to somebody in a conversation and they are looking all around or their eyes are glazed over – well, it makes me want to end the conversation.
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April 25, 2006 at 2:55 am
Steve Hailstone
When we don’t feel desparate for the Word, we are most desparate for the Word.
What I love about solid, true, biblical teaching is that it carries its own authority, and it is self-evident.
Thanks to you two able Bible students who whip up a tasty meal each time we sit to hear the Word with you.
April 25, 2006 at 4:29 am
themacks
Great quote from Steve and so true. Our lack of desire for and interest in God’s Word demonstrates how much we need God’s Word. As in the physical realm, so in the spiritual realm. A lack of appetite is a bad sign. Only difference is that in the physical realm too much appetite can be a bad thing. Not so spiritually. Our appetite can never be too strong. Thanks Steve and greetings from a few thousand miles away.
April 25, 2006 at 7:21 pm
debtortograce
It is an old addage that the greatest teachers all have one thing in common: willing students.
Knowing firsthand the blessing and privelege of teaching God’s word publicly, two things come to mind when considering this subject.
First, is the indelible image, etched in my memory, of the rapt face of a godly housewife who was a blessing to her pastors, because she understood this principle and made it a matter of conscience to apply it consistently. Every week she would sit, eyes wide open, mouth slightly agape, relaxed but intense, eager, almost leaning forward – you couldn’t help but be aware that she was facing you, concentrating, straining the way a baby bird cranes its’ neck, seeking nourishment.
Over the course of a year and a half, I can’t remember her ever blinking or fidgeting – she was that focused on the activity of listening.
Often, when preparing a lesson, the Lord would bring her to mind and I would be rebuked. Was I as diligent and eager in studying as this dear saint was to hear the fruits of my labors? Would her soul be fed with bread from heaven that week or would she go home empty and hungry, still longing to hear the voice of her Savior? The thought of it would make a sober man tremble and get to work.
Second, when I find dullness towards hearing God’s word in my heart, I recall Amos 8:11-12, where the prophet reminds God’s chosen nation that he will not always be merciful concerning their lack of interest in his word. And who knows where that line is drawn between his grace and his justice? Who can say when God will declare “Enough!” and give us over to the hardness of our own hearts?
“Behold, the days come,” saith the Lord GOD, “that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
May God give us hearts that receive with meekness the pure milk of the word that we may grow thereby, thankful that we have a pastor who loves us enough to preach the whole counsel of God. And may we learn to encourage our pastors, so that their ministry of the word is not a burden, but a labor of love, faith, hope and rejoicing.
April 26, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Andrew
As a pastor, I can say that another way to encourage/help your pastor as he is preaching is to take notes. I love to see our people with paper and pen ready. It tends to make a pastor more accountable for every word that is said from the pulpit.
By the way, Macks, I just got done reading your book on Humility. It was a tremendous blessing. Thank you for your contribution.