The Basics of Teaching

Good Practice

1. PURPOSEFUL TEACHING
1. Have a Purpose.
1. One of the biggest mistakes of any teacher or preacher is the lack of purpose in their teaching/preaching.
2. Before teaching on any subject matter, the teacher needs to ask the question, “Is there a purpose for teaching this lesson?”
3. Consider the Lord’s teaching in Matthew 6 – Did He have a purpose for teaching these things?
1. On giving (Matthew 6:1-4 [1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. [2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
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2. On prayer (Matthew 6:5-15 [5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. [9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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3. On fasting (Matthew 6:16-18 [16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
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2. Know the Purpose.
1. This goes hand in hand with having a purpose. Once you know that you have a purpose for teaching a particular subject, it should immediately follow that you know what the purpose is.
2. If the teacher/preacher does not know the purpose of the lesson, how can the hearer be expected to grasp it?
3. Consider the Lord’s teaching in Matthew 6 – What was the Lord’s purpose in each section?
1. On giving (Matthew 6:1-4 [1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. [2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
   See All...)
2. On prayer (Matthew 6:5-15 [5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. [9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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3. On fasting (Matthew 6:16-18 [16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
   See All...)
3. Accomplish the Purpose.
1. Once the teacher determines the purpose of the lesson, every effort should be placed into accomplishing the purpose.
2. It will generally take time to determine whether or not the purpose has been accomplished.
3. There are many indicators that people look for in this situation and most of them are faulty.
1. Attention from the hearers
2. Praise from the hearers
3. Immediate action by the hearers
2. RELEVANT TEACHING
1. Teach the Bible.
1. Great teachers/preachers use the Book.
1. The teachers and preachers in the Bible are known for teaching/preaching the words of God.
2. The only source of help that we can truly offer people is to instruct them in what “thus saith the Lord.”
2. The Spirit of God uses the Book.
1. We know from the word of God that the Holy Spirit is the teacher (Nehemiah 9:20Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
   See All...; John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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2. We know that the Holy Spirit’s weapon of choice is a sword, and that sword is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
   See All...; Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
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3. To use anything else would be like sending a soldier into battle without an offensive weapon and asking him to wipe out an entire army.
2. Make It Relevant.
1. One of the cries of Bible critics is that it is no longer relevant.
2. A great deal of this can be blamed on those who teach and preach the Bible who fail to show the hearers its relevance.
3. The beauty of a Bible written by God is that its use is not limited to the past, present or future, but will in every age be just as useful.
4. Examples
1. Lessons from the storms of life (Matthew 8:23-27 [23] And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. [24] And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. [25] And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. [26] And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. [27] But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
   See All...; Mark 4:35-41 [35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. [36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. [37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. [38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? [39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? [41] And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
   See All...; Luke 8:22-25 [22] Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. [23] But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. [24] And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
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1. The reasons we go through storms
1. God sends storms to draw us close to Him.
2. Satan attacks with the permission of God (Job 1:12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
   See All...; Job 2:6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
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3. Troubles are part of life (Job 14:1-2 [1] Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. [2] He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
   See All...; Job 5:7Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
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2. Storms give a better revelation of us.
1. The disciples were sailing just fine on their own during the calm – “but as they sailed He fell asleep” (Luke 8:23But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
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2. The storm came and was causing problems but the disciples were still trying to do it own their own – “they were filled with water” (Luke 8:23But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
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3. When the waves filled the boat and they were in trouble, they turned to Him – “they came to him” (Luke 8:24And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
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3. Storms demonstrate the faithfulness of God.
1. When the sea was calm and the disciples were sailing, they gave no thought to the fact that the Lord was keeping the seas calm.
2. When the storm got out of control, the disciples were able to see that Jesus was faithful to calm it.
4. Storms give us a better revelation of Christ.
1. The disciples apparently did not know that the wind and the water had to obey Jesus (Luke 8:25And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
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2. This showed them a side of Jesus that they could not have seen without the storm.
3. Those who were not in the storm had no idea what Jesus could do.
4. This event proved Jesus Christ to be God (Psalm 65:5-7 [5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: [6] Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power: [7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
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5. This event showed that Jesus comes to the aid of His own – “he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water” (Luke 8:24And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
   See All...) (See Psalm 78:65-66 [65] Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. [66] And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
   See All...) (Daniel 3:23-27 [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. [24] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. [25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. [26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. [27] And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
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2. The battle to go forward (Genesis 19:1-16 [1] And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; [2] And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. [3] And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. [4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: [5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. [6] And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, [7] And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. [8] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. [9] And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. [10] But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. [11] And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. [12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: [13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. [14] And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. [15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. [16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
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1. Reasons for looking back
1. Lot’s childhood
1. Loss of family
1. Father first- Haran (Genesis 11:28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
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2. Grandfather next- Terah (Genesis 11:32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
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2. Land travelled
1. Ur to Haran (Genesis 11:31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
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2. Haran to Canaan (Genesis 12:5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
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3. Canaan to Egypt and back (Genesis 12:10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
   See All...; Genesis 13:1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
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2. Leaving family
1. Sons (Genesis 19:12And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
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2. Daughters in his house (Genesis 19:8Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
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3. Daughters that were married (Genesis 19:14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
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4. Sons-in-law (Genesis 19:14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
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3. Leaving stability (A position of authority and judgment)
1. Position (Genesis 19:1And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
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2. Economy (Luke 17:28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
   See All...; Ezekiel 16:49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
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4. Leaving comfort
1. Home - It seems that Lot was no longer living out of the tent, but that he had a house.
2. Garden - More than likely Lot and his family had some sort of garden to aid in their food supply.
3. Friends and neighbors - When Lot came out of the door to address the men, he called them brethren.
5. Leaving attraction - Apparently the place where they lived was a beautiful place (Genesis 13:10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
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2. Reasons for not looking back
1. God’s word (Genesis 19:17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
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2. God’s plan (Genesis 19:22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
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3. God’s judgment (Genesis 19:12-13 [12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: [13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
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3. Results of looking back
1. Judgment (Genesis 19:26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
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2. More sin (Genesis 19:31-36 [31] And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: [32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. [33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. [34] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. [35] And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. [36] Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
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3. ORGANIZED TEACHING
1. The Use of Outlines
1. Outlines help the teacher to know the focus of the lesson.
2. Outlines help the teacher go in order.
2. Make It Flow.
1. Start somewhere.
2. Move to the next points smoothly.
3. Have a destination.