The explosive influence of teaching is clearly attested in the earthly ministry of Jesus--the Master Teacher.

Jesus the Master Teacher
Jesus used teaching effectively for reaching people from all walks of life. He taught to present Himself as Immanuel--the Word made flesh. Using rich imagery, He pointed to Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

A parent, upon inquiring from a psychologist about the most effective style of training children, was told, "Example, example, and example." This was Jesus' main method of instruction. His lifestyle was central to His effectiveness. Ellen White writes: "The officers who were sent to Jesus came back with the report that never man spoke as He spoke. But the reason for this was that never man lived as He lived. Had His life been other than it was, He could not have spoken as He did. His words bore with them a convincing power, because they came from a heart pure and holy, full of love and sympathy, benevolence and truth" (The Ministry of Healing, p. 469).

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the teaching methods of Jesus were tailored to fit the needs of each group, person, or situation. Full of love, Jesus always devised creative ways to meet the needs of every person.

Indwelled and empowered by the same Spirit, we too will devise creative ways to teach others about the power that has marvelously transformed us.

Venues and Avenues of Teaching
To prepare for the imminent return of Christ, venues and avenues such as homes, schools, and churches have been divinely appointed.

1. Homes. The child's first school is the home. Therefore, parents must train their children when they are young and impressionable. Ellen White reminds us: "Parents, your own home is the first field in which you are called to labor. . . . God will hold you responsible for this work which He has left in your hands" (The Adventist Home, p. 200).

Training our children to love God is a life and death undertaking, because it pits us against Satan, who knows the invincible power residing in children trained in truth! The apostle John underscored this in 1 John 2:14: "I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (NASB).

To protect and extend his turf, Satan, with great cunning, is busy attempting to snatch our children. He wants them to join his ragtag army that wages guerrilla warfare against us, the church of the living God.

His flaming arrows may have hit their mark and pierced our hearts with sorrow and inconsolable grief as we regretfully contemplate the plight of our backslidden children. Feeling like helpless, battered victims, we may have given up fighting for the souls of our children! We may be drowning in self-pity, as rivulets of tears stream from our eyes while we mourn the wreckage of our fondest dreams for our children shattered by the enemy.

Fellow struggling, sorrowing parents, let's arise now from the mourner's couch and claim these promises in the name of Jesus! First, here is a text from 1 John 4:4: "You are from God . . . and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (NASB).

Matthew 16:18, 19 tells us, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

And finally, Revelation 12:11: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (NIV).

Let's decide now to battle the kingdom of darkness inch by inch to reclaim our children! Let's fight, assured of victory through the blood of the Lamb. Using the keys given us by Jesus, let's open the prison doors of hell and unchain our children from the shackles of Satan. Dressed in God's full armor, let's intercede for the salvation of our children, clinging to God's promise in Isaiah 60:4, 5: "Lift up your eyes and look about you: all assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy" (NIV).

2. Schools. God continues to use our schools to train workers to perform great feats for Him. We thank God for our many dedicated teachers, with high academic achievements, who help our young people know the Lord Jesus--whom to know is eternal life.

Fellow teachers, we could be geniuses in this world but illiterate in real wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord. Therefore, I ask:

3. Church. Through the various spiritual gifts, including teaching, as listed in Ephesians 4:11, God raised the church to be:

Leaders, have we empowered our members to point others to Jesus as the authentic answer to life's deepest questions through teaching?

My Appeal
Using the divinely appointed venue and avenues to teach, let us fulfill the threefold mission of our church--exalting the Savior, equipping the saints, and evangelizing the sinners. May all transformed teachers hear the grand invitation on that day: "Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:23, NIV).