A Jot from John
WHY?
Why did you accept a place as a teacher in your class? Was it because you wanted to feel important, and have a prominent place in the church work? Or did you become a teacher because you wanted to do some good work in the world. Hearts are hungry to find a place in carrying on God’s work. In Jesus’ day, “Then they said unto him, What shall we do that we might work the work of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29.) It is the opportunity of every teacher to help others to have a deeper faith – then that teacher is working the works of God.
WHO?
Who is responsible for the interest in Bible study? The teacher! Others may help in bringing students to class, parents may help at home by encouraging children to study, but the responsibility of class interest and enthusiasm is with the teacher.
The teacher has the responsibility of making each student feel he/she is having a part in a valuable work. Peter once said to Jesus “Lord, what will this man do?” Jesus said, “if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee: follow thou me.” The teacher made the student feel his individual responsibility.
WHAT?
What are you planting in your Bible class? Are you working for a steady growth, that will someday bear rich fruit for the world? This growth involves a carefully prepared soil, and good seed. If you work for a quick growth, using worldly means to stimulate interest and attendance we will have a mushroom growth with a short span of usefulness. Careful Bible teaching will involve long-term thinking along a child’s present and future needs. Jesus gave us nature’s plan – “. . .first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:28). Plant carefully and be sure to use the right seed!
HOW?
How are you going about your work of soul-winning through your Bible class? Do you have the true spirit of love for your students, and for their spiritual welfare? If you do not have it, your students sense the lack, and a barrier is raised between you that is hard to overcome. If you teach merely from a sense of duty, or because you have found some interesting sidelight to present on certain subjects, your efforts will be somewhat in vain.
Show your students that you love them, that you have high ideals for them of someday taking their place as faithful men and women in the Lord’s work and go about to teach them how to reach those goals by Bible knowledge and practice. If your own life is an example of courage and honor, you will find your students saying, “TEACHER, SAY ON!”
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
