October 7, 2001
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Our study of the "one anothers" of the Bible brings us to the need of the body of Christ to instruct ¡V or teach one another in the message of Christ.
Several weeks into the school year, a mom asked her first grader what he thought of school now that he was a seasoned pro. Oh, I love school, he said. It¡¦s great! Then, after a brief hesitation, he added, Well, except for one thing ... I don¡¦t really like it when Mrs. Decker tries to teach us stuff.(1)
Teaching assumes there is learning going on. A favorite story of mine is about the particular church denomination that believed in baptismal sanctification (the moment you are baptized, you are sanctified, and therefore perfect -- you won¡¦t ever sin again).
One winter an older man got convicted, and decided to join the group. It was winter time and he wanted to be baptized right away; but the creek was frozen over. Well, he had a great desire to be pure, so he convinced the deacons to baptize him.
They cut a hole in the ice, took the old fellow and dunked him in the hole, all the way, twice for good measure. As he came out the old man gushed, Oh; it¡¦s so wonderful. I¡¦m sanctified. I¡¦m so blessed; I don¡¦t even feel the cold. The head deacon said, Let¡¦s dunk him again, he¡¦s still lyin¡¦!
Paul wanted to teach the believers at Colosse how to live as Christians. In the first 15 verses of this chapter, Paul lists the Christian virtues and vices. He says, ¡§Avoid the vices -- live by the virtues."
It is important that new believers learn these; it is important that all believers are reminded of these. Why? Because the extent to which unbelievers will get a true impression of genuine Christianity is the extent to which we exhibit the virtues, and shun the vices. We are the world¡¦s open Bible.
Therefore, if you want to help the body witness to the world of the true and resurrected Christ, you must make certain there are some basic factors working. We do that by teaching, or edifying one another. The word ¡§edify¡¨ means to build-up!
How do we build, or teach one another? After listing the virtues and vices, Paul then told the folks what to do about them. Consider these three ways we teach one another¡K
From The Heart
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
Col 3:16a
SURRENDERED TO CHRIST
The word "dwell" means reside. Christ takes up residence in the believer¡¦s heart. Christian virtues are not developed by practice and putting on a facade -- they¡¦re a result of Christ dwelling richly, or effectively in your heart.
A teacher must teach from the heart, and in order to teach Christ from the heart, Christ must be living there. And, as Christ takes up residence in our heart, our residence is changed as well ¡V we become citizens of the Kingdom.
Some of you may remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff. He said when he first came to the United States from Russia he wasn¡¦t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice--you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country! (2)
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
I¡¦m certain that "change" is one of the least liked words in the language. It seems people despise having their routines interrupted about as much as a baby complains about having the formula in his bottle changed.
However, when it comes to teaching, you can only give out what you know. And you will only know Christ to the degree you have allowed Him free reign to change you into His image.
Does it hurt? Not really. You must simply trust that the Lord knows what He is doing.
A teacher teaches from the heart, and...
From the Head
in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
Col 3:16b
YOU CAN ONLY TEACH WHAT IS PERSONALLY LEARNED
Notice that there are three categories of learning mentioned by Paul. The Psalms (scripture), hymns (New Testament praise songs), spiritual songs (like our contemporary gospel songs), are the primary teaching vehicles.
Believers have always sung their faith. However, it is important to recognize that knowing Christ (Php 3.10) is the object of the music. Music is a means whereby we praise and honor the Lord; it is not an end.
The presentation of the music is secondary -- it is only in the communication of the gospel message that music is welcomed (or should be) by the congregation.
YOU CAN ONLY TEACH WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO KNOW
People learn differently. A good teacher will recognize the fundamental differences in how people learn and adapt accordingly. Helping the body of Christ remember the Christian virtues requires that you teach effectively.
„Y To some you will simply live it, and they will get the message.
„Y To some, it is necessary to speak out plainly, admonishing or warning.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt was president he got tired of smiling that big smile and saying the usual things at all those White House receptions. He sensed no one listened. So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was really paying attention to what he was saying.
As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said; I murdered my grandmother this morning. People would automatically respond with comments such as How lovely! or Just continue with your great work!
Nobody listened to what he was saying, except one foreign diplomat. When the president said, I murdered my grandmother this morning, the diplomat responded softly, I¡¦m sure she had it coming to her. (3)
Sometimes you have to be very plain in order to find out if you¡¦re getting through!
„Y In others, learning only takes place via making mistakes and suffering the consequences.
A student made a mistake of identification. He was in the college chapel for a required lecture. He looked at the order of service and groaned loudly. The middle-aged lady next to him asked what was the matter. The student replied, It¡¦s the preacher. He¡¦s my director of studies. I have to go to his lectures and he¡¦s the dullest man alive, utterly boring.
Oh, said the woman, Do you know who I am? The student looked at her and said he didn¡¦t. Well, said the woman, I¡¦m the preacher¡¦s wife!
The student said, And do you know who I am?
No, said the professor¡¦s wife. Hallelujah!, said the student, and ran out the door. (4)
We all make mistakes. If you are going to help the body learn and remember Christian virtues, teach from the heart, the head, and...
With Humility
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16c
THE PLACE OF GRACE IS THE HEART
It is important to remember that as Christians, we operate entirely by grace. We have nothing to offer the body of Christ apart from that which is first given to us. Humility should cradle everything we do.
A preacher told about [his] youngest daughter, Angi, [who] graduated from the university and started teaching in an area college. One day, she went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. The man who seated her asked, Are you a teacher? Surprised, Angi replied, Why yes, I am.
She enjoyed a warm feeling throughout the meal; she looked like a teacher! As she was leaving the restaurant, she asked the man, How did you know I was a teacher?
You have chalk dust on your seat, he replied. (5)
Humility teaches us that you can find, memorize and recite facts, but wisdom must come from God. If you are to help the body of Christ, grace must humble your heart.
A young boy of 4 went to "big church" for the first time on Palm Sunday. He heard of the suffering of Jesus, the cruelty of the soldiers and the mob. He listened with rapt attention as the cross was described, and he sobbed when the minister said Jesus died for him. And then the service was over. And the boy expected the people to go out in hushed awe.
This child, awed by the incredible gift of a king¡¦s son for him, was even more amazed when the people broke into chatter, laughter and talk of mundane, everyday things. Didn¡¦t they know? Hadn¡¦t they heard?
But, that is the point, isn¡¦t it? Grace in the heart will humble you. It will make you laugh after you¡¦ve cried for a while. That is....
THE PURPOSE OF GRACE -- TO HELP WITH LIFE
Humble people are helping people. Booker T. Washington was the renowned black educator, and an outstanding example of what grace looks like when the heart has been touched...
Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when a wealthy white woman stopped him. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her.
Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace.
A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady. The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the institute and apologized profusely.
It¡¦s perfectly all right, Madam, he replied. Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it¡¦s always a delight to do something for a friend.
She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.
How Shall I Begin To Teach?
Let me assure you that you do not need a Ph.D. after your name to be a Godly teacher in the Kingdom. Harry Ironside was a great pastor and expositor of the Word. He told of visiting a Godly man named Andrew Frazer who had come to southern California to recover from a serious illness. Though quite weak, he opened his worn Bible and began expounding the deep truths of God in a way that Ironside had never heard before.
Ironside was so moved by Frazer¡¦s words that he asked him, Where did you get these things? Could you tell me where I could find a book that would open them up to me? Did you learn them in some seminary or college?
The sickly man gave an answer that Ironside could not forget: My dear young man, I learned these things on my knees on the mud floor of a little sod cottage in the north of Ireland. There with my open Bible before me I used to kneel for hours at a time and ask the Spirit of God to reveal Christ to my soul and to open the Word to my heart. He taught me more on my knees on that mud floor than I ever could have learned in all the seminaries or colleges in the world. (6)
Friends, it is the same for us. God loves a contrite heart, a head that¡¦s teachable, and a spirit that¡¦s humble. Those are the things you need to teach one another.
1. Susan P. Moser, Pennsylvania. Today¡¦s Christian Woman, Vol.18, #5.
2. James Emery White, Rethinking the Church, Baker, 1997, p. 55-57
3. James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), 318.
4. David L. Roper, Judsonia, Arkansas, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."
5. H.G.B. Our Daily Bread
6. The Bible Illustrator, (Hiawatha, Ia, Parson¡¦s Technology, 1990) Idx 2872
