for our purposes, we're going to divide this into two parts. within and without the church.
i would argue that the bible tends to use the word 'preaching' when we are proclaiming the gospel to the world,
and 'teaching' when we are speaking within the church.
an fyi...lots of folks would argue with that (for them, preaching is dynamic proclamation to a crowd. teaching
is the imparting of data, etc. i don't buy it, and i think the bible's use of the terms is...as above.)
please note that both of these are considered central to the life of the christian.
preaching
in a word, proclaiming the good news of jesus christ to the world.
this is the job of every believer.
we looked at the importance of knowledge 2 weeks ago. there is a rather obvious link between knowledge and proclamation.
we'll re-look at rom 10:8-17 and the link between knowledge, and our proclamation of it.
8. But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the
word of faith which we are preaching,
9. that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved;
10. for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches
for all who call on Him;
13. for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
14. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they
have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15. How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE
WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS !"
16. However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT ?"
17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
starting with matt 28:18
18. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
you could argue that this would only be true of the apostles...but
- in the nt, it's not just the apostles who share the gospel (see philip)
- if that were so, xtianity would have a 1 generation life span. at most.
so let's not be silly, in that way at least.
1 pet 3:14-16
14. But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND
DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense
to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16. and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered,
those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
i'll grant you that this is reactive, not proactive - when persecuted, be able to express your hope
in christ and heaven.
but it is applied to all...
so, hopefully we see this as part of the privilage of bearing the name of christ.
vaguely related, but straight awesome, eph 6:18-20, paul's request for prayer regarding evangelism.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert
with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make
known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
teaching
paul's charge to timothy to teach (1 tim 4:6-16)
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly
nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself
for the purpose of godliness;
8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it
holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the
Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 Prescribe and teach these things.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity,
show yourself an example of those who believe.
13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance
with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this
you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
i'm reading that because i really like it, and because it gives a picture for the charge to teach.
as with knowledge, acts 2:41,42 shows the importance of teaching. and teaching from authority...
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
this teaching is to be handed down - 2 tim 2:2
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful
men who will be able to teach others also.
finally...there is a lot of teaching in the bible about avoiding false teaching. 2 john, 3 john, jude, etc
rather, we are to hold fast to the teaching of the apostles as it has been handed down.
2 thess 2:15
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
final thoughts
- teaching isn't always 'new data'. often it's just true data/knowledge that should be repeated.
- it can be exhortational, encouraging, etc; all the things you see in the bible.
- arguably men only? 1 tim 2:11
- you should be nervous to do it. james 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that
as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
confession
just a note. confession is also speaking of truth - it's acknowleding the truth about ourselves.
james 5:13-16
13. Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
14. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15. and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise
him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be
healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
1 tim 1:15-17
15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
16. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate
His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
17. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
something we do now:
col 3:16
16. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
psalms of praise
145 is a representative sample
honestly, part of the response to knowledge is praise.
something we will do in heaven:
part of god's ultimate purpose: phil 2:5-11
5. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10. so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
part of heaven
rev 4
1. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard,
like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
2. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the
throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in
white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
5. Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of
fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
6. and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around
the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
7. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face
like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within;
and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS
AND WHO IS TO COME."
9. And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him
who lives forever and ever,
10. the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives
forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11. "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
rev 19:1-9
1. After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven,
saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
2. BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot
who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER."
3. And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER."
4. And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God
who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"
5. And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His
bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great."
6. Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of
many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the
Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the
Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
8. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the
fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9. Then he *said to me, "Write, `Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage
supper of the Lamb.' " And he *said to me, "These are true words of God."