SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Jesus taught openly.
(2). Jesus communicated effectively.
(3). Jesus talked appropriately.
(4). Jesus preaching never avoided controversy.
(5). Jesus’ instruction was practical.
(6). Jesus’ teaching was Scriptural.
(7). Jesus spoke about himself.
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• (1). A teacher tells this story in Readers Digest magazine.
• Performing Mozart should have been the highlight of my middle school chorus class.
• But after a few uninspired attempts, an exasperated student raised her hand and said,
• “Mrs. Willis, we want to sing music from our generation, not yours.”
• (2). A parent phoned her child’s school to complain,
• During a school swimming trip her child’s towel was stolen,
• The irate parent said,
• “What kind of young criminals are in class with my child?!”
• Calmly the teacher replied,
• “I’m sure it was taken accidentally, what does it look like?”
• The angry parent said.
• “It’s white, and it says Holiday Inn on it.”
• TRANSITION: Being a teacher is not always an easy thing!
• Whatever age group you are teaching, children, students or adults!
• This morning we are doing an overview on Jesus the teacher:
• Jesus never entered a classroom as we know a classroom.
• He never had a degree as we understand an educational degree,
• Yet all the world was his classroom.
• No degreed teacher did anything greater than what Jesus Christ did.
• He was truly and absolutely the Master Teacher and the greatest teacher of all time.
Ill:
• Now think for a minute about three Ancient Greek philosophers,
• Three men who have impacted our world.
• Socrates taught for forty years.
• Plato taught for fifty years.
• Aristotle taught for forty years,
• Now consider Jesus only taught for three years,
• Yet the impact of those three years,
• Transcends the impact left behind by the combined 130 years of teaching,
• From the three men considered the greatest philosophers of all ancient antiquity.
• Now you might be surprised to know,
• That only fifty or so days of Jesus ministry is recorded in all four gospels.
• Now that is not a lot,
• Think about it this way, just 50 out of 1095 days.
• And if you really want to do the maths,
• That is 0.046% of Jesus actual ministry is recorded.
• TRANSITION:
• Wow! What an impact those 50+ recorded days have had on history.
• The teaching of Jesus in incomparable, unique, unmatched and unrivalled.
Note:
• The reason Jesus came into the world was to die,
• He said so himself on numerous occasions.
e.g., Matthew chapter 10 verse 45.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
e.g., John chapter 10 verse 18.
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.””
But during his three years as an itinerant preacher,
• His main ministry was to teach and to preach.
• Now there is a difference between preaching and teaching,
• Although, some preachers teach and some teachers preach!
• Preaching – Is trying to affect a person’s thinking by appealing to a person’s heart.
• Teaching – Is trying to affect a person’s heart by appealing to their thinking.
• Jesus main ministry was to teach and to preach.
• The healing and miracles complimented his teaching,
• But they were always secondary to it.
• Jesus was a teacher who did miraculous things,
• He was not primarily a miracle worker who taught from time to time.
• The priority in his mission was to teach and to proclaim God's Word.
Example #1:
• Of the 90 times Jesus was addressed directly in the gospels,
• 60 times he was called Teacher.
• This was the word the crowds, the multitudes used when encountering him.
• And this was also how the disciples referred to him.
Example #2:
• And Jesus himself used the term regarding himself,
• “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.”
• (John chapter 13 verse 13).
Example #4:
• When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he said,
• “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God”.
• (John chapter 3 verse 2).
Example #5:
• In the greatest batch of his teaching the Sermon on the Mount.
• Found in Matthew chapters 5-7.
• The description Matthew uses is that Jesus "Taught them" (chapter 5 verse 2).
• e.g., There has to be an element of teaching in any effective sermon,
• Sermon needs teaching/content just like a gun needs bullets.
• Or a painter’s canvas needs paints!
• Now that might sound obvious to you who have been well taught,
• But believe me there are a lot of ‘meringue’ sermons out there.
• They are sweet and enjoyable and taste/sound nice,
• But they have no substance and will make no demands on the listener,
• And will not feed your soul, ten minutes later you will be hungry for something else!
Question: What made Jesus such an effective teacher?
Answer: Let me give you a few suggestions.
(1). Jesus spoke and taught openly.
Quote: John chapter 18 verses 20 and 20.
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.”
• You may think this is a strange point on which to start,
• But actually, it is very important!
• When Jesus taught, he did so openly and without hidden secrets,
• There were no private mysteries reserved only for the select few.
Ill:
• This is important because after the four gospels were written,
• Other gospels started to appear (about 100 years after).
• The source of these was false,
• They came from a group of false teachers called, Gnostics (silent G).
• And Gnosticism (pronounced NOS tuh siz um) was born.
• Gnosticism claimed there was hidden, secret, extra teaching from Jesus available,
• They had it and you didn’t!
• But if you come to them, they will share it with you!
ill.
• This is what Dan Brown in his book ‘The DaVinci Code’ played on in 2006 film,
• When he tried to kid the public that there were other secret gospels out there,
• That the established Church had suppressed and would not let you read them.
• Gnosticism had their own additional New Testament books.
• e.g., The Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene (also Philip & Judas).
• Now we know that these false gospels,
• Because they came into being a 100 plus years after Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• And they were rejected by the early Church for what they were, fictional writings.
• TRANSITION: in contrast to the Gnostics,
• When Jesus taught it was out in the open, no hidden mysteries, no secret knowledge.
• Everyone who wanted to hear could listen and receive from him.
Note:
• It may surprise you to know that the Gnosticism is still around today.
• Anyone who adds to the Bible, e.g., Mormons, Christian Science etc.
• Are modern day Gnostics, claiming to have a secret knowledge not given to you.
• e.g., If you witness to Moslems they will quote from the Gnostic gospels,
• Because Mohammed stole stories from them and included them in the Quran.
• According to the Qur'an,
• As a child Jesus created a clay bird which he blew into and brought to life.
• (Quran 3:49 & Quran 5:110)
• e.g., And I would say, be careful of SOME of those on Christian TV stations,
• Many talks about their direct hot line to heaven,
• Many of them talk as if God speaks to them in a unique way, unlike you.
• But he does not! He speaks to us all in the same ways.
Ill:
• Maybe that is why we should be like the Bereans.
• Accts chapter 17 verses 10-15.
• Who checked out any teaching for themselves through the Word of God.
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Ill:
• New Testament letters are always telling us to be on our guard,
• To test the spirits (see 1 John chapter 4 verses 1-6).
• Because there is no secret knowledge for the selected few.
(2). Jesus preached effectively.
• The teaching style of Jesus is varied.
• We have an expression ‘Horses for courses.
• Jesus spoke in a variety of different ways.
• Because he spoke to a variety of different people
• The teaching of Jesus was informative, logical,
• And supported by Old Testament evidence,
• It was well-illustrated and uniquely authoritative.
• i.e., Those great words from Matthew chapter 7 verse 28-29.
• “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
• i.e., John chapter 7 verse 46.
• When officers once were sent to arrest him,
• They returned to their superiors empty-handed, exclaiming:
• “No-one ever spokes like this man!”
Jesus used a variety of teaching methods to communicate the truth of God:
(a).
• Sermons (e.g., sermon on the mount)
• His teaching included – poetry, blessings, epigrams, exhortations, ethical pronouncements, practical instruction, eschatological sayings, legal pronouncements, graphic illustrations.
(b).
• Discourse/conversational dialog
• (e.g., John chapter 14)
• He used the dialogue method, sometimes posing questions himself.
• And sometimes responding to the questions of others.
(c).
• Parables (e.g., Mark chapter 4 verse 34) ill: time-bombs
• Living Bible: “He taught only by illustrations in his public teaching”
• J.B. Phillips: “He did not speak to them at all without using parables”
(d). He taught with spontaneity (ill: lesson from woman caught in adultery)
(e). He taught by example (ill: washing the disciples’ feet)
(f).
• Another way Jesus taught was through miracles.
• From the miracle he often taught a lesson (ill: John chapter 6 “Bread of life”)
(g). He taught with humour.
• There can be no doubt that as a teacher Jesus possessed a sense of humour,
• As is seen by the extraordinary exaggerations which he sometimes mentioned.
• e.g., The log in the eye (Matthew chapter 7 verse 3.),
• The comically absorbed man trying to remove a speck of dust with a log in his eye.
Ill:
• Jewish humour is more like Monty Python than a stand-up comedian.
• He incorporates humour by using hyperbole.
• (extravagant exaggeration, speaking of the impossible as if it were real)
• Similarly, a camel in a needle’s eye (Mark chapter 10 verse 25).
• Was surely not to be taken literally.
• To summarise his teaching:
• Jesus used a wonderful spectrum of forms of communication to convey his message.
• Jesus was certainly not dull,
• KJB: “The common people heard him gladly” (Matthew chapter 12 verse 37).
• Jesus was the master of illustration.
• Whether through a visual aid, enactment, or parable.
(3). Jesus preaching never avoided controversy.
Ill:
• When Hugh Latimer was made bishop of Worcester in the reign of Henry VIII,
• It was customary for the bishops to make presents to the king on New Year’s Day.
• He went with the other bishops to make the usual offerings,
• But instead of a purse of gold,
• He presented the king with a New Testament.
• One of the pages in that Testament had been folded down.
• It was at the passage which read, "... adulterers God will judge."
• Truth will always confront and conflict with error.
• That was true for Hugh Latimer, it was also true for Jesus and it will be true for us.
Controversy, disagreements, arguments mark out certain individuals in history.
• Quote: Lyman Beecher:
• “No great advance has been made in science, politics or religion without controversy.”
• There are some people who go about looking for trouble,
• But that was not Jesus’ way.
• However, controversy did follow Jesus in His years of teaching and preaching.
• That is inevitable, when you live for the truth,
• You are going to collide with falsehood.
The variety of issues that Jesus taught about were bound to cause controversy:
• i.e., What God is like (a Father - parable of the prodigal son);
• i.e., How to get right with God (giving forgiveness to ‘sinners’)
• i.e., Teaching on moral issues (The adulterous woman in John chapter 8).
• i.e., Teaching on traditional marriage (Matthew chapter 19 verses 1-12).
• i.e. Teaching on the Messiah (who he was and why he had come among them)
Controversy followed Jesus because the truth he taught kept colliding with error:
Ill:
• Imagine a man going one way down a motorway.
• When everyone else was on the same side of the motorway coming the other way.
• Sooner or later there is going to be a collision.
• Jesus went in the direction of truth, of facts and accuracy,
• The religious leaders were travelling the opposite way of tradition & preference.
• So, expect a collision!
(4). Jesus’ instruction was practical.
• TRANSITION: Jesus did not just speak words, he spoke ‘words of life’.
• ill: Peter’s response in John chapter 6 verse 68.
• Jesus did not speak that which was merely philosophical or theological,
• Devoid of any practical use.
• The parables of Jesus were not used to show off his story-telling ability.
• His debates did not merely provide a means of boasting for Jesus,
• But opposition to error.
• His miracles were not merely an exhibition of magical powers,
• But proved the validity of His words.
• His logic was utilized.
• Because God’s truth is rational and reasonable.
Jesus demanded a practical response from his hearers:
• ill: The Good Samarian – “Go and do likewise”.
• ill: The sermon on the mount ends with the two builders – wise & foolish.
• The incredible teaching of Jesus.
• Is actually do-able – that is it can be applied to an individual’s life!
• It is doable across cultures!
Quote: William A. Ward has said,
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”.
• Jesus Christ does all 4 and more.
• Hallelujah what a saviour!
(5). His teaching was Scriptural.
Question: what was the first recorded teaching of Jesus?
Answer:
• We read about it in Luke chapter 4 verses 16-21,
• Jesus picked up an Old Testament scroll,
• And read and preached from Isaiah chapter 61.
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The teaching of Jesus was littered with Old Testament references.
Jesus Cited Fourteen Different Old Testament Books
Jesus quoted 49 different Old Testament verses.
(not including the repeats of the same verses throughout the different books).
Ill:
• When dealing with the people of his day,
• Whether it was with the disciples or religious rulers,
• Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament as his authority.
• i.e., “Have you not read what God said to you,”
• (Matthew chapter 22 verse 31);
• i.e. ‘Have you never read, “‘“From the lips of children and infants you,
• Lord, have called forth your praise””.
• (Matthew chapter 21 verse 16, citing Psalm 8 verse 2);
• i.e. ‘Have you not read what David did?’
• (Matthew chapter 12 verse 3).
• These are just a few examples.
• Jesus quoted from it often from the Old Testament and he trusted it totally.
• His teaching was scriptural and so must be ours!
(6). Jesus spoke about himself.
Ill:
• A true story from infants’ (Kindergarten) school,
• Jimmy had trouble figuring out when to use I instead of me.
• Then one day, while creating a sentence in front of the first-grade class,
• Jimmy stood up and slow and thoughtfully said, “I … I … I shut the door.”
• He then looked around at the class,
• And realizing that he was right, he jumped up and down and shouted, “Me did it!”
• TRANSITION: “I” dominates the teaching of Jesus!
• He spoke about himself!
• That makes Jesus was unique as a preacher,
• Because he spoke about what other preaches can’t.
• Now as a preacher I might use an illustration about myself,
• But I would never dream of preaching a whole sermon about me.
• But Jesus did!
Ill:
• The one who could describe himself as ‘humble and meek.’
• (Matthew chapter 11 verse 29),
• Constantly spoke about himself,
• And that was not a problem, in fact the opposite is true,
• What might seem like two conflicting statements fit perfectly well together!
• TRANSITION: One of the major themes of Jesus is teaching is himself!
• He is often explaining who he was and what he came to do.
• And the “I am” statements of John’s gospel help us to understand that.
Note:
• The seven “I Am” statements all appear in the Gospel of John.
• In each, Jesus proclaims His essence:
• “I am the bread of life” (chapter 6 verse 35),
• “I am the light of the world” (chapter 8 verse 12),
• “I am the gate” (chapter 10 verse 7),
• “I am the good shepherd” (chapter 10 verses 11, 14),
• “I am the resurrection and the life" (chapter 11 verse 25),
• “I am the way, the truth and the life" (chapter 14 verse 6),
• “I am and the true vine” (chapter 15 verse 1).
Jesus is drawing his listeners back to their Old Testament with these sayings.
Ill:
• When Moses encountered God at the burning bush (Exodus chapter 3).
• He asked God his name,
• And God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
• Translated in your Bible as, ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’ or ‘LORD’.
• The name of I AM is how God chose to introduce himself,
• Becoming so sacred that in Judaism, the name is not to be spoken.
• Prior to this moment with Moses,
• The Israelites called their god Elohim or El – which is a title, not a personal name,
• Or they might use “El Shaddai”, often translated as God Almighty.
• But now they have a personal name for God.
• This name expresses his dominion over all things, the source of his power,
• And His eternal nature: I AM.
• He is the self-sufficient, self-sustaining God who was, who is, and who will be.
Then, centuries later, Jesus appears on the scene,
• And he uses the same name (I AM) again and again and again.
• e.g., John chapter 8 verse 58. Jesus said.
• “Very truly (Amen, Amen) I tell you,”
• Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Wow! What a statement!
• First, He is claiming to pre-exist Abraham,
• A feat rather difficult for any other man in history.
• Second, He is claiming for himself the Divine Name of God.
• And the Jewish people instantly understood that!
• Which is why they reacted to this statement by trying to stone him.
• As prescribed in Leviticus 24:15-16,
• They are well aware of this claim and to them it is blasphemy.
And if that wasn’t clear enough John records seven more claims of Jesus.
• DECLARATION #1:
• “I am the bread of life.” (chapter 6 verse 35).
• Jesus said this shortly after He had fed the five thousand plus people.
• He linked it to the story of the Children of Israel wanting Manna in the OT.
• (Exodus chapters 16&17).
• In the OT God provided food for their bodies.
• Jesus is claiming to provide food & satisfaction for their souls.
• DECLARATION #2:
• “I am the light of the world.” (chapter 8 verse 12)
• Once again, the context is important,
• Because Jesus made this statement during the Feast of Tabernacles.
• At this feast, a huge candelabra was lit in the women’s court of the temple.
• It reminded the Israelites of the pillar of fire,
• That guided their ancestors during the wilderness wanderings.
• In the OT God provided light to guide and protect his people.
• Jesus is claiming to provide light and guidance to all who follow him.
• DECLARATION #3 & 4 together:
• “I am the gate/door of the sheep.” (chapter 10 verse 7).
• “I am the good shepherd.” (chapter 10 verses 11, 14)
• Jesus is describing a very common picture in the first century,
• The job and the role of a shepherd.
• Jesus is going head-to-head with the Jewish religious readers,
• And he is declaring them to be unfit shepherds of the nation.
• But he goes on to say that he will give true care and protection to his people.
• The Jews knew that in Psalm 23, David referred to the Lord God as his shepherd,
• Jesus is again taking a divine title and applying it to himself.
• DECLARATION #5:
• “I am the resurrection and the life.” (chapter 14 verse 6)
• At a graveside, Jesus spoke hope to his grieving friends, Mary and Martha,
• After their brother, Lazarus, had died.
• Once again he is claiming only what God can do.
• Giving life is one of his attributes, his characteristics!
• e.g., Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 39.
• e.g., 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 6.
• Any Jew knew, especially the Jewish leaders.
• That God alone is the "Giver of life".
• DECLARATION #6:
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (chapter 14 verse 6)
• When the disciples were confused about Jesus’s statements about going away.
• That is returning back to heaven.
• Thomas asks for some clarity.
• Once again Jesus takes Old Testament analogies,
• And God’ s characteristics and applies them to himself.
For the sake of time, let me just take the first claim, The Way:
• e.g. God said to Moses to “Walk in all the way“ – i.e. God’s way!
• (Deuteronomy chapter 5 verses 32-33)
• e.g., God said to prophet Isaiah to “This is the way; walk in it." – i.e., God’s way!
• (Isaiah chapter 30 verses 21).
• e.g. It was the Psalmist's prayer in Psalm 27 verse 11:
• “Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path”. – i.e., God’s way!
• The Jews knew much about the way of God in which a man must walk.
• And Jesus is now declaring to be that way.
• And he calls for people to follow him,
• But he is also saying you only come to the Father his way!
• DECLARATION #7:
• “I am the true vine.” (chapter 15 verse 1)
• Jesus said this to His followers in the Upper Room,
• On the night of his arrest and impending death.
• The Old Testament contains many references to Israel as God’s vine
• (Psalm chapter 80 verse 8; Isaiah chapter 5 verses1-7; Ezekiel chapter 15).
• Jesus once again draws upon Old Testament imagery and names associated with God,
• And applies them to himself and his work.
In Conclusion:
• God revealed his name to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus chapter 3).
• And Jesus is a type of Moses,
• Because he came to deliver people from their sins and spiritual captivity.
• The apostle John in his gospel is demonstrating to his readers,
• That the “I AM” in the book of Exodus and the Old Testament,
• Is now physically standing in front of them.
• That is incredible but John takes it a step further,
• If people want, he can be their Shepherd, their Door to the Father,
• Their Life, their Vine, their Light, their Bread of Life, and their Truth!
• He’s the “I AM”—the God of the NOW!
• He is ready to be whatever we need Him to be in our lives.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=RbRc14p3lTq58pGkL4Gu4zauLGWbWunN
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/wTZfFcO3UXs
