The ultimate end of teaching biblical truth is spiritual transformation in the lives of the learners. Consider the following five principles to help you as you seek transformational teaching.
Principle 1: Use the Bible
The Bible reveals God's nature, His expectations of people, His plan for redeeming people, and His instructions for living according to His plan. The Bible is the authoritative guide for all of life and the textbook for spiritual transformation. The Bible leads people to know God, both intellectually and experientially. The historical accounts show God's involvement and intervention in people's lives. The ethical teachings show how people are to live in relationship with God and others. The eschatological portions of Scripture show their future in Him. No other religious studies, no matter how seemingly contemporary or relevant, are empowered by God's promise that His Word "will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it to do." (Isa. 55:11, HCSB®)
Principle 2: Depend on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is at work in God's world convicting people of sin and drawing them to God. The Spirit reveals spiritual truth and enables believers to understand this truth, discern its application to their lives, and become transformed people. The spiritual transformation of lives occurs only through the Spirit's power.
The Holy Spirit is active and essential in spiritual transformation as the Teacher, Guide, and Empowering Agent. While selected facets of secular educational theories are useful in Christian education, following those alone will not achieve spiritual transformation. Bible teaching for spiritual transformation begins with teachers who pray and depend on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Principle 3: Magnify Relationships with the Learners
The church is commissioned by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Spirit to teach people to know and understand God's Word, to challenge them to obey it, and to integrate it into their lives. Spiritual transformation through Bible teaching will occur in the fellowship of the church as people interact with each other in the presence of the Holy Spirit in groups that build relationships.
Principle 4: Hold Teachers and Other Leaders Accountable
At a minimum, teachers and other leaders need to be held accountable to the following:
- To model spiritual transformation. Spiritual transformation of learners begins with the personal spiritual transformation of the teacher. Every teacher is also a learner. The teacher is to follow Jesus' example who modeled all He wanted to communicate. Jesus said, "I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you." (John 13:15, HCSB) Bible teaching moves beyond words - teachers are to live what they teach. Teachers will communicate more by their lifestyle than by their words.
- To teach people God's Word. In the Great Commission, Jesus commissioned all believers to teach others to obey all that He said. Although the Holy Spirit gives special teaching gifts to some individuals within a church, any believer can be called to teach. The teacher is to teach for change. The role of the teacher is to create an environment and guide learning in ways that will facilitate the Holy Spirit's work and will encourage learners to be spiritually transformed. This includes recognizing learner's levels of learning and the ways in which learners learn best.
- To build people. Teachers are leaders. Every leader is responsible for living as an authentic witness of Jesus Christ. As a leader, the teacher is accountable for:
- building people by strengthening relationships with and among the group
- leading the lost to Christ
- seeing that people are cared for
- developing new leaders for service through the ministries of the church.
Principle 5: Learners Are Accountable
As teachers and leaders need to be held accountable, learners, too, need to be held accountable.
- For their spiritual transformation. Preschoolers, children, youth, and adults learn in different ways and on different levels. The learner should accept a growing responsibility for learning and living as a faithful follower of Christ. Individuals are responsible for continually allowing the Holy Spirit to transform them to become more like Jesus Christ. The learner's role is to study God's Word with a teachable heart and to obey the Spirit's leadership.
- For sharing their lives with others. Learners can teach other learners, especially by telling their stories of how God is working in their lives. Every believer is important for the effective work of the church and is responsible for involvement in worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry.
