The Christian Teacher’s Integrity

The Christian Teacher’s Integrity—James 3:1-18

Attention:

The teachers we remember:

Elementary School:

Mrs. Kluttz—1st grade

Mrs. Smeltzer—2nd grade

Mrs. Elaine Kluttz—4th grade

These all expressed such love for us. They cared about our hurts & wanted us to succeed. In a way, these were sort of an extension of family.

High School:

Mr. Jerry Peck—12th grade—Expected much from his students, knowing he was preparing us for college.

College: My major was Biology

Dr. Wayne Robertson—Biology professor

Dr. Manly—Botany professor

Dr. Redman—Chemistry professor

These all had true teacher tendencies—Real concern for our grasp of the subjects at hand & our future.

Seminary:

Dr. Gary Galeotti—Professor of OT—Made the books of Jeremiah & Ezekiel come alive!—Made the OT in general approachable & preachable. His classes were like worship & his exams were a real bear thru which we learned a great deal. I have a tremendous respect for him.

Dr. Wayne McDill—Preaching Professor—Got us over our fears & bumbles in the pulpit & replaced them with great confidence.

Drs. Reid &Andrews—Biblical languages professors. Expected nothing less than the best, thus gave us an ability to handle the original languages of the Bible though we were not language scholars.

Dr. Maurice Robinson—Huge body of knowledge & wisdom regarding the text of the Bible. Like a walking encyclopedia. Quirky but highly respected by all.

Dr. Daniel Akin—Christianity Professor(now president of the Seminary)—Gave us confidence in the realm of apologetics, dealing with some of the difficulties already present in our own minds & those which we hadn’t even thought of yet!

Dr. Paige Patterson—President of the Seminary—Authoritatively & unapologetically looked to the Bible as God’s word & expected that of every staff member across the board.

All of these wanted their students to have what they had.

Need:

As a teacher what am I really responsible for? It must be more than curriculum, more than just shelling out information. Is this a job or a calling? Am I really a change agent for others?

James highlighted the grave responsibility of the Christian teacher’s integrity.

Inconsistencies may exist which can undermine the Christian teacher’s integrity.

What inconsistencies can undermine the teacher’s integrity?

4 Inconsistencies undermining the Christian teacher’s integrity.

1—The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...

NUMBER(:1)

Explanation: (:1)

:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

Again(1:2, 16, 19; 2:1, 5,14) James endears himself to his audience. He has a true concern for their well-being. Here he is encouraging them to exercise their giftedness in the Spirit rather than setting their hearts on something they have determined themselves.

Teaching is a gift & is given specifically to those chosen of God for it. It is neither for merely anyone, nor is it a gift which is to be had by the “many”(majority) of a congregation.

2Cor. 10:18—“For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”

Heb. 5:12-6:1—“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; & you have come to need milk & not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good & evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works & of faith toward God,”

“The pretense of knowledge adds to the teacher’s responsibility & condemnation.”—RWP

2Tim. 2:14-16—“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane & idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”

2Pet. 1:10-11—“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call & election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”

1Tim. 4:6—“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith & of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”

Mat. 13:52—“Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new & old.””

Jn. 21:15-17—“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”