The congregational teacher is a most noble position in the service to the Lord. It is a position of instruction as well as leadership. Typically, as the pulpit goes so goes the congregation.
I receive a number of distressing calls each week from members of various congregations. The number one problem they wish to discuss is the lack of edification in their respective places of worship. Sometimes my heart goes out to them in true pity. Sometimes anger. Sometimes disappointment. Sometimes helplessness.
What is the reason for all of this dissatisfaction? The congregational teacher.
Too often the problem lies with the teacher because he has not given sufficient time to study and prepare. Brethren, even the most seasoned of preachers cannot maintain a solid, vibrant, growing congregation without effort. Though congregations may be small, rural, have only one or two teachers, elderly, etc. there is no excuse for a lack of spiritual edification!
If you are a teacher, obey the scriptures and “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Tim 4:2) Don’t try to reinvent the gospel wheel, preaching still works. Approach the pulpit with dignity and respect because you are about to utter the words of the Most High. Study your subject thoroughly and not just on Saturday night before you go to bed. If you want to do something “new,” try working on your delivery. Raise and lower your voice to emphasize the meanings of scriptures. Practice preaching at the building before the time comes to give the lesson. Keep your topic focused but notice the details that surround your topic, make the words come alive with love, wisdom and conviction. Notice the body language of your audience, see if they are with you as you speak. Encourage your congregation to ask you questions about your lesson, after all, you have nothing to hide. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Rom 1:16-17)
If you are not a teacher, do your part by paying attention. Get plenty of rest before service. Take notes, even if you feel the speaker is dragging on. Consider your body language from the pulpit’s view. Encourage your congregational teacher with suggestions on subjects that need to be taught. Be Christian enough not to pout or become angry when you find yourself guilty of one of those topics. Come to every service and arrive on time. (If you are a Christian man who does not think the teaching at your congregation is sufficient, learn to teach.) Ask the teacher questions after services. Don’t lie to him if you couldn’t understand anything by saying, “That was a good sermon brother.” Speak gently, but let him know that you are needing more than what you are currently receiving. If all else fails and you simply cannot be edified with your speaker, begin at the same scripture that he began with and study for yourself during that time. Use the references in your Bible to lead you on a fact finding journey until you can be appreciative of the time spent. “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (I Thess. 5:11)
I assure you that if you will apply the effort you will have edification.
Let me alert you to the dangers that may plague your congregation if you don’t seek edification in the Bible pattern. Members will want to try new things with the hope of bringing a better understanding to their group: Bible classes are in vogue now; Lazy leadership encourages the unqualified to be spiritual guides;
Innovations come in, someone suggested that we use recorded sermons instead of the local talent because they were so desperate for teaching; Long-held convictions become like wavering doubts as people “give in” for the necessity to change etc. In a word, DESTRUCTION! “ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Tim 4:3-4)
We can and should have edification if everyone will do his or her part. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph 4:11-16)