How to Teach the Lessons of The Bible More Effectively

To teach the lessons of the bible could be both easy and difficult tasks: to be able to do so effectively, one requires certain tools at one’s disposal. You need tools that are both within yourself and the ones outside you to be able to present biblical truth in such a way as to convince your hearers that you are worthy to a teacher of God’s word.

In the first place, to teach is to show somebody how to do something so that they will be able to it themselves. Whatever you want to bring to the knowledge of your students or hearers must be something that you are able to do yourself.

1. Your personal lifestyle: Teaching the bible is not all about telling somebody what you cannot do yourself; it is not telling somebody to do what you have never practiced. It is telling somebody what you know you have been doing as spelt out in the word of God. You don’t have to be a hypocrite: you will only effectively teach the bible by the kind of lifestyle you lead.

You cannot be an effective teacher if you talk about not stealing and yet you steal. If you must tell your students not to be disobedient, you have to be willing to obey authorities yourself. If you come out to teach based on what you have been able to practice from the word of God, you would an effective teacher of the scripture.

2. Witness of the Holy Spirit: One other way to be able to teach the lessons of the bible more effectively is for you to depend on the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”.

Therefore, for you to be able to effectively teach the lessons of the bible, you need first of all to be taught all biblical truths by the Holy Spirit. It is when you have these truths that you will be able to pass them on to your students or listeners.

3. Biblical knowledge: You need also to acquire knowledge of the scriptures. You need to be taught by somebody who has been taught himself. One way to do this is to have a mentor – somebody who is versed in the word of God and can interpret scriptures correctly.

Another way you can also acquire knowledge of the scripture is for you to attend a bible school. You can do this as a full time student, part time student or through a distant learning programme. When you are adequately taught, it becomes easier for you to teach others effectively (2 Tim.2:15). You cannot teach and impart the right knowledge if you are ignorant yourself.

4. Good approach: Your approach to teaching would also determine whether your lessons would be effective or not. You should be ready to be gentle and make the lessons interesting to the person you are teaching. If you are harsh with your students, they will not find the lessons attractive. If the lessons are not attractive, it would be difficult for them to be effective.

Make the teaching an interactive one and you would get the attention of all your students. When you are able to get their attention, it becomes easier to get the lesson across to them.

The Role Women Play in Christian Society

Women have different roles to play in the Christian society. Like their male counterparts, their contributions are necessary for the growth and for the proper functioning of the Christian society.

The duties they perform cannot be overemphasized. During the period of Christ, in the apostolic era and in this very dispensation, they continue to play special roles to advance Christianity; though the duties have slightly changed within these periods.

Some of the special roles they play therefore include but are not limited to the following:
1. Pastoral support: It is significant to note that during Christ’s time, women played the roles of supporters (ministers) who were always around to provide special cares for the needs of the pastor (Christ) and his Apostles. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James; Joanna, etc. Women still take care of the pastors today. Some play this role as deaconesses.

2. Marriage counselors: One other role they play is that of a marriage counselor. The bible says the older women should teach the younger ones how to obey their husbands. Matured women who are versed in the word of God perform the duties of marriage counselors and help the younger ones to set their marriages in order, and help prevent marital conflicts and divorce.

What Does Eating of Meat Have to Do With Religion?

The issue of having to eat or not to eat meat by certain religions has been a major source of disagreement by their followers. It has also made some religions to see themselves as the ones approved of God; while others are looked down upon as inferior.

Forbidding of certain foods/meats was practiced in the Mosaic era, and it went on until it was abolished by God in the apostolic day, by divine order to Apostle Peter (Acts 10: 9-16). Just as the order to abstain from certain foods was divinely given through Moses, the abolition of the law of abstinence was also passed to Apostle Peter by divine instruction/revelation.

God had earlier instructed Moses that the people of Israel should abstain from the consumption of animals like Coney, hare, swine, weasel, mouse, tortoise, ferret, chameleon, lizard, snail, eagle, ossifrage, osprey, vulture, kite, raven, owl, cormorant, cuckoo, etc. He told them that anyone who ate them would be made unclean by them.

The people were also instructed not to eat the blood of animals as the life of the animal is in the blood (Deut.12:16, 23-25). Anyone who ate blood would be guilty and would be stoned to death (Lev.17:14). The people religiously obeyed these instructions.

But with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, certain portions of the Mosaic laws were modified (including abstinence from eating certain meats). God’s revelation to Apostle Peter made it clear that whatever God created and had made clean should no longer be called ‘unclean’.

However, today, some religions (even some Christian sects) still forbid their members from eating certain foods or meats which they term ‘unclean. Some religions are doing this by calling themselves Vegetarians. Others abstain from some foods during a particular period as part of their spiritual exercises.

However, Apostle Paul made it clear that the only reason a Christian should forbid any food is if it weakens the faith of his brother who is not yet strong in the faith. Otherwise no Christian is justified by abstaining from food or meat. Justification comes only by our faith in the redemption works of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus himself declared that it is not what goes into a man that condemns him; but that which comes out of him. It is not the food and meat that destroys the man but the evil thoughts emanating from his heart.

Nevertheless, the general consensus among the Apostles is that all should abstain from eating the blood of animals, strangled meat, fornication and idolatry. To ask a man to forbid certain foods would amount to laying a burden on such person.

Everything God has created should be received by faith when offered to you. We are to eat any food without questioning the source, or whether it has been offered to an idol. Abstaining from certain meats is to try to please to law or live by it. We understand that no one can please the law.

The law brings death, and living by the law makes one a slave to the requirements of the law. But putting our faith in the works of Christ brings life. We cannot earn salvation by strictly observing the law; salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus.