“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)
This verse is such a great reminder for those of us who are in any kind of leadership role as a Christian.
- Study.
- Do.
- Teach
Study. We study the Bible to hear from God and deepen our own faith. If the only study that we do is to prepare for Sunday’s message or for teaching in our small group we are missing out on so much. All of our preaching and teaching should from the overflow of what we are learning in our personal study. It should go without saying that we need to set aside time to read, study, and meditate in the Scriptures.
Do. May God protect us from getting so caught up in “the Ministry,” that we forget what it is to be a Christian. Our lives should reflect that we are followers of Jesus, not that we are a pastor, a leader, or a volunteer at a certain church. May we reflect the love of Christ in the restaurant, cafe, gym, grocery store, or wherever else we find ourselves. There is something very powerful and very spiritual in taking the time to share our faith or even just sharing a word of encouragement.
Teach. This takes us back to the Great Commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Paul told Timothy that the Lord’s servant must be able to teach. Clearly, there is a spiritual gift that is related to teaching. That does not mean, however, that only those with that gift can teach. We are all called to teach and make disciples.
We must also never forget that the goal of our teaching is transformation. Paul told the Corinthians that “while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.” (1 Cor. 8:1) We never want to just expand the knowledge of our audience. Instead, we teach things that are going to help them become more like Christ and to be more effective in his service.
Which of these three areas do you struggle with the most?
David and Annie are serving the Lord in the US, Africa, South America, and India. They are training leaders and helping build great local churches. Would you consider supporting their work? They would love to have you on their team! Just click here to get involved. Thanks so much!
