The Importance of Teaching

Its Condemnation (Continued)

2. THE CONDEMNATION OF FALSE TEACHING
1. The Level of Condemnation
1. The greater condemnation (James 3:1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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2. The greater damnation (Mark 12:35-40 [35] And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? [36] For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. [37] David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. [38] And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, [39] And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: [40] Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
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3. Swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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4. The end is destruction (Philippians 3:17-19 [17] Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: [18] Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [19] The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
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2. The Source of Condemnation
1. For the word taught
1. We often rejoice in the gaining of rewards for our disciples who in turn disciple others.
2. We rarely consider that we must likewise be accountable for false teaching that is passed from one generation to another.
2. For the people taught
1. When you teach, you invest yourself in the life of another.
2. When your students go into false teaching and preaching, you as the teacher will bear some of this burden.
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS (Taken from an article by Thomas Brooks, a puritan from the 1800s)
1. False Teachers Are Men-Pleasers (Isaiah 30:10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
   See All...; Jeremiah 5:30-31 [30] A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; [31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
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2. False Teachers Are Vision-Pushers (Jeremiah 14:14Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
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3. False Teachers Are Gnat-Strainers (1 Timothy 1:5-7 [5] Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: [6] From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; [7] Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
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4. False Teachers Are Speech-Makers (Romans 16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
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5. False Teachers Are Argument-Makers (Matthew 23:15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
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6. False Teachers Are Merchandise-Makers (2 Peter 2:1-3 [1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
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The Basics of Teaching

The Passing of Knowledge

1. ORDER IS IMPORTANT
1. Possess the Knowledge.
1. Possess before passing.
1. Before any knowledge can be passed on by a teacher, the teacher must first be in possession of that knowledge (Matthew 15:14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
   See All...; John 3:9-10 [9] Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? [10] Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
   See All...; 1 Timothy 1:7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
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2. In a letter to a young minister, Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) stated the following, “It is advantageous to a minister to feel himself necessitated, as it were, to understand every part of Scripture, in order to explain it to the people.”
3. In the same letter Fuller also stated, “There is a great difference between reading the Scriptures as a student, in order to find something to say to the people, and reading them as a Christian, with a view to get good from them to one’s own soul. That which is gained in the latter of these ways is, beyond all comparison, of the greatest use, both to ourselves, and others.”
4. John Taylor (1752-1835) was an important pioneer Baptist preacher in Virginia and Kentucky. According to Baptists on the American Frontier (p.48-49), he worked to encourage young preachers but often in an abrasive way. At one associational meeting, a young man was preaching from Ezekiel 47:3-5 [3] And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. [4] Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. [5] Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
   See All... where the water coming from the temple continually gets deeper. The preacher called his four points ankle-deep, knee-deep, loin-deep, and the depth for swimming. He identified ankle-deep as repentance from sin and knee-deep as assurance of salvation. While the young man took an hour preaching these two points, Taylor sat behind him with his head bowed and resting on his hand. The young man finally stated, “Thirdly, we go a little deeper where the water reaches the loins.” At that, John Taylor straightened up, pointed his finger, and said, “Young man, come ashore. You are deep enough, deep enough.” The young preacher sat down in some embarrassment, but he had learned a good lesson.
2. Basic knowledge that must be possessed
1. The doctrines of God
1. The Godhead
2. The Father
3. The Son
4. The Holy Spirit
2. The doctrines of creation
1. The spirit world
2. Physical creation
3. Man
4. Sin
3. The doctrines of revelation
1. The word of God
2. Dispensations
3. Prophecy
4. The doctrines of redemption
1. Salvation
2. Israel
3. Church
3. Hindrances to knowledge
1. Pride (1 Timothy 6:3-4 [3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
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2. Preconceived ideas
1. The general order of events for a person is that they find out what to believe, and then venture to the scriptures to find evidence to back what they have determined to believe.
2. We should always approach scripture with an openness to find out what we should believe.
2. Pass the Knowledge.
1. Once a person has possession of true Bible knowledge they are accountable to pass that knowledge on to others.
2. We understand this principle when it comes to salvation. We expect all who are saved to go and tell others who are not saved about what Christ has done for them. This is the passing of knowledge at work.
2. BUILD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
1. Start at the Lowest Level.
1. A good teacher will not start with the latest bit of knowledge that he/she has learned.
2. A teacher must start with what the student already knows.
3. Even in construction we understand that buildings must be built from the ground up.
2. Build Up.
1. The natural pattern of construction is to start at the ground level and build up.
2. As teachers, it is your responsibility to start with what your students know, and leave them with everything that you know (Acts 20:20-21 [20] And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, [21] Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
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3. CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION
1. Bring the Students Up to Your Level of Knowledge.
1. For some this takes only a short amount of time.
2. For strong Bible students and teachers this could take less than five years.
2. Increase the Level of Your Knowledge.
1. As teachers of God’s word, we ought to always be learning. Consider some thoughts from the late Pastor David F. Reagan.
1. Remember what you have been taught. Always be seeking more understanding and wisdom from the Lord.
2. Determine in your heart to never stop growing in the things of the Lord and in your service to Him.
3. You cannot lead people where you have not gone. If you want your people to continue to grow in the things of the Lord, then you must continue to grow spiritually.
4. Always be on the outlook for someone to train for service. Look for men who are faithful, teachable, and who have a good spirit. These are the ones who will respond best to your training. The most talented men are often the least teachable.
2. Charles Spurgeon accepted his first pastorate in Waterbeach Baptist Church at the age of seventeen. On his first anniversary at the church, Pastor Cornelius Elven said to him, “Lad, study hard; keep abreast of your foremost Christians; for if they outstrip you in knowledge of Scripture or power to edify, they will be dissatisfied with your ministry.” –from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (p.165)