PASSING THE FAITH ALONG
2 Timothy 2:2
And the things you have HEARD me say in the presence of many witnesses ENTRUST to
reliable men who will also be qualified to TEACH others.(2 Timothy 2:2) (NIV)
Progressive Steps of Education:
Step 3 - OTHERS
Step 2 - STUDENT
Step 1 - TEACHER
Greek Concept of Learning Hebrew Concept of Learning
People Do What People HEAR People Do What People SEE
Jesus’ IDEA of Education
I - INSTRUCTION
D - DEMONSTRATION
E - EXPOSURE
A - ACCOUNTABILITY
How to Become a Great Educator
I. Know Your STUFF!
You cannot give what you do not have!
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first LIVED in your grandmother Lois and in
your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5) (NIV)
II. Know The Ones You Are STUFFING!
Be a Lid-lifter! I am told that there is a specific way to train fleas for a flea circus. Why anyone
would want to be a flea trainer is beyond me, but I am told that all one really needs is a jar with
a lid. Once one has successfully caught one’s fleas (well, maybe not one’s own fleas!) and put
the lid on the jar, all one has to do is watch them jump. The fleas instinctively will jump high
enough to hit their flea brains against the lid. Before long they will realize that jumping so high
hurts, so the fleas begin taking shorter jumps. It no longer hurts because they aren’t jumping
high enough to hit the roof! After the trainer sees that the fleas are no longer jumping high
enough to hit their heads, the lid can be removed. Now the fleas will no longer jump high
because jumping high hurts.
In the same way, those we are stuffing learn how high the lid is. Our students learn that jumping
“so” high can have painful repercussions. They learn where the limits are and never go beyond
those imposed limits, whether the limits be self-inflicted or forces upon them by past experience.
Our job as educators is to be lid-lifters to our students. We need to not only take the lid off but
also set our students free from the “jars” that surround them. To set people free, one must know
how they are bound. Student’s learn best from teachers who not only have “been there” but
who also are “now here” where they are.
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to TEACH,
not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently INSTRUCT,
in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,
who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)
III. STUFF Elegantly!
Teach with PASSION - Be CARING!
Teach with PATIENCE - Be CAREFUL!
Teach with PIZZAZZ - Be CREATIVE!
Teach with PRAYER - Be CHRISTLIKE!
