(JESUS CHRIST: THE MASTER TEACHER)

The WWJD movement is perhaps one of the most popular and positive trends to be embraced by Christian youth in a long time. The idea came from the 1897 book In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon. In the book, members of a congregation accepted for one year the challenge of their pastor to consider in every part of their lives the question--WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? The results in the church and community were nothing short of

miraculous. The same results are being seen in the lives of youth who sincerely have accepted this same challenge today. Yet, if Christian education is to be the effective, life-changing force that God intended it to be, the church must adopt the WWJD challenge and apply it to the educational ministries of the church.

First, church leaders and workers must understand what Christian education is according to Scripture, and how/where it occurs within the church. Then we must view Jesus as the model Master Teacher and seek to follow His examples in the application of the Word of God. Christian education is the effective communication of God's Word to people. One of the last commands given by Jesus to his followers before He ascended to heaven was to "go into all the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19,20a). Jesus declares to us plainly the two aspects of Christian education. Christian education involves Christians effectively sharing the Word of God with unbelievers in such a way that unbelievers understand the plan of salvation, God's love, and their need of Christ. The end result is that people hear, understand, and are saved (Matthew 13:23; Romans 10:14). Secondly, Jesus points out that Christian education involves teaching people once they become Christians. This aspect of Christian education is what we commonly refer to as discipleship of believers. This aspect is ongoing and never ending in the life of a Christian.

Christian education occurs within every dimension of the various ministries and activities of the living, growing church. Christian education begins in the pulpit. A leading Pentecostal pioneer, Bishop J. H. King once said that preaching is the highest form of teaching. Pastors hold awesome power in the pulpit. They are communicators of God and His message to people. All pastors teach within their anointed preaching as they interpret and apply God's Word. It is commonly held by most Bible scholars that the words "pastor, teacher" in Ephesians 4:11 should be understood together as pastor-teacher. The pastor is involved with Christian education outside of the pulpit as well. A pastor is communicating God's love and His Word whenever he counsels, visits, or simply appears at a church or community function with an encouraging word for an individual. This is Christian education in action. The pastor as a Christian educator also must disciple, train, motivate, and encourage Christians as they also endeavor to carry out their role in Christian education in the ministries and activities of the church. This also is ongoing and never ending.

Christian education flows throughout the various ministries of the church. It occurs within the Sunday School. In light of the ever increasing number of people who do not attend Sunday School and even its dismantling by some churches, we should see Sunday School as a golden opportunity to communicate God's Word to people. Sunday School is still perhaps the best regular, structured means for reaching people. Christian education occurs also within youth ministry as dedicated workers attempt to capture the attention of youth and point them to a saving, loving God who can make something wonderful and beautiful from their lives. Youth ministry is also a direct and age-appropriate way to disciple and train our youth for ministry NOW in the church. Royal Rangers and Missionettes are excellent ministries in which Matthew 28:19, 20 can be fulfilled. One pastor said that these two ministries alone had helped his church to evangelize and disciple twenty new families into his church within three years! Women's

Ministries and the Brotherhood again are great vehicles for communicating God and His Word. While these two groups may not see themselves as Christian education ministries, they indeed teach, reach, and disciple men and women. Christian education even occurs within the music program of a church. As worship leaders and choir directors lead congregations to sing and worship God in music and song week after week, God and His Word are communicated, experienced, and confirmed. As choirs and various singing groups in the local church plan, practice, and minister to the congregation, Christian education takes place. Other ministries within the local church such as prison and nursing home ministries, Christian schools, Christian daycare, Singles Ministries, and Senior Citizen ministries again are means to communicate God and

his Word to his people. Christians are involved in Christian education as they witness to unbelievers and encourage or guide other Christians on the job or in their neighborhood. In reality ALL Christians have been called to be Christian educators in one form or another. Christian education will only be effective when leaders and workers in the local church see Jesus as the Master Teacher and practice his efforts and techniques within their efforts.

JESUS WAS THE MASTER TEACHER BECAUSE:

1) HE KNEW THE WORD OF GOD. Indeed Jesus was and is the Word made flesh who dwelled among us (John 1:l4). He is the absolute, living representation of the message of the Father to the world. When Phillip wanted to see the Father, Jesus stated that anyone ho had seen Jesus had seen the Father. Yet on earth Jesus studied and knew the Word of God. Each Hebrew male had to study and know the first five books of the Old Testament by the time he was 13 years old. Further study of the Old Testament was required by for all Hebrew men.Jesus knew the Word, and he therefore could declare, interpret, and apply the Word to those around him. Jesus was a Master Teacher because he taught what he knew. A Christian educator CANNOT teach what he/she does not know. Therefore, the Word must be read, studied, interpreted, and applied constantly to our lives. Then we can communicate God and His Word to others. Let's follow the WWJD guideline. It is not enough to "just look over the lesson."

2) HE WAS ANOINTED BY THE HOLY GHOST. When Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount, the people were astonished at his doctrine (teaching) "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:28,29). Authority comes when individuals absolutely know their subject matter and have some type of unction or divine

motivation which prompts their words or actions. Jesus knew the Word. And Jesus WAS ANOINTED because he was full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1). Our unction or anointing also comes from the Holy Spirit. Therefore every Christian should be filled with the Holy

Spirit and fire as recorded in Acts 2. As Christians become involved in Christian education, in whatever form, they should prayerfully seek God's anointing and open their hearts to it. As they communicate God and the Word, the anointing will come, and so will the authority. Again, let us follow the WWJD principle.

3) HE USED STORIES TO COMMUNICATE OR ILLUSTRATE TRUTH. Jesus continually used parables and stories to communicate and illustrate God and His Word to the people. Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate and teach about loving one's neighbor. He used the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and the prodigal son to communicate God's message about being lost and the joy of being found. The parables of the pounds and the talents taught faithfulness in using one's abilities wisely. The parable of the ten virgins was used to convey preparedness for Jesus's return. People throughout history have learned great lessons from stories and personal narration. They were able to identify with others in the stories and their experiences in those stories. Christian educators should use stories from personal experience or from various Christian magazines such as Guidepost. These stories can often serve as springboards to communicate God and His Word. And also, people remember good stories. Let us adhere to the WWJD principle.

4) HE USED VISUALS AND OBJECTS EASILY REMEMBERED BY PEOPLE. When Jesus wanted to answer the question of taxation and teach God's Word on the matter, he used a Roman coin bearing the image of Caesar. "Render therefore unto Caesar those things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's" (Matthew 22:21). Jesus used birds and flowers to teach people about God's care and provision. It is said that Jesus and his disciples were near the site of an ancient pagan temple when he asked his disciples who people thought he was. Tradition says that later Jesus pointed to the gates of this pagan temple when he said "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16: 18). What an object lesson! What a visual! Jesus fed the 5000 with bread and fish. The next day he declared "I am that bread of life" in that great lesson about the cost of following him (John 6:48). Jesus used a field of ripened wheat to demonstrate the abundance of spiritual harvest and to illustrate the need for workers within that harvest. He used wind to better help Nicodemus understand the supernatural nature of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. Light and salt were used to illustrate a Christian's effectiveness in the world. Jesus picked up a child to teach his disciples the true nature of greatness in the kingdom of God. Multitudes of examples

of Jesus using visuals and/or objects are found throughout the Gospels. Jesus wanted people to associate life-changing principles from God's Word with common ordinary objects. Jesus wanted people o remember. He used the visual to communicate the spiritual. Most people learn best and remember more through visual and/or object presentations. Even though objects/visuals generally are used with children and youth, they are most neglected among our adult groups. Christian educators must use pictures, drawings, posters, objects, displays, maps, diagrams, photographs to communicate the spiritual. How can we do less? Let us follow the WWJD principle.

5) HE CONNECTED THE KNOWN WITH THE UNKNOWN. Jesus instructed people by first beginning with their present knowledge of God and/or their relationship with God. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at The well, he did not begin his conversation by presenting a seminar on what the Bible says about proper marital relationships. He captured her attention by asking her for a drink from the well. Once he had her attention, he offered her a drink of the living water. He began where she was--she needed that living water. Throughout this account of John 4, Jesus built upon her present spiritual knowledge and lovingly redirected it toward ultimate truth--Jesus himself. "The woman then left her water pot, and went her way to the city, and saith to the men, come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did, is not this Christ?" (John 4:28,29). At the late night meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus did not begin the conversation by offering a multitude of texts trying to prove anything. Jesus began at Nicodemus's level of understanding when Jesus said "verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Nicodemus knew that Jesus was sent by God. He had great knowledge from years of studying about the kingdom of God. Yet he lacked one important element-knowing how to enter the kingdom of God. A good Christian educator will instruct by beginning at a person's current level of understanding and his current relationship with God. From here patient and loving guidance and instruction must spring as line upon line and precept upon precept is laid. Again, let us follow the WWJD standard.

6) HE USED ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES. It has been said that Jesus had all the available resources of heaven and earth at his disposal as he fulfilled his ministry. As Christian educators, we too have heavenly resources. We have God's Word, God's guidance, the anointing and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, prayer, and a living

relationship with a living God. Yet we also need earthly resources to assist us in communicating God and His Word. If we genuinely believe that the successful communication of God's word is our God given goal, we must not be reluctant to seek out any and all resources that will allow us to accomplish this goal. It is arrogant

and foolhardy to do so. For example, the teacher or instructor guides which usually accompanies most types of curriculum is filled with excellent helps, ideas, and suggestions for getting the job done. Commentaries, Bible dictionaries, atlases, other accurate

translations of the Bible, topical Bibles, Bible handbooks, and complete Bible concordances are just a FEW of the resources that a serious Christian educator can use. Many books are now inexpensively priced and make great additions to one's personal library. All are available for use at most public libraries as well. Resource material now can be obtained from computer programs and even the Internet. Let us use all available tools to carry out the most important work in the world. Let us follow the WWJD principle.

7) HE ACTIVELY INVOLVED PEOPLE. There were three groups of followers who Jesus was constantly teaching. The seventy, the twelve, and the three (Peter, James, John). Jesus knew that true learning ONLY occurs when people practically act upon what they have learned. Jesus sent out the seventy in groups of two in order for them to put into practice what they had learned. They returned rejoicing because what Jesus had taught had worked. "Even the demons are subject unto us through thy name," they cried (Luke 10:17). They had learned something. We learn by DOING. After teaching about the true nature of the glory of God, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the Mount of Transfiguration. There they saw, they heard, and they experienced just a small part of the glory of God. So great was this learning experience that years later Peter would write about this experience in his second epistle (2 Peter 1:16-18). Involvement must be present if Christian education is to occur. Service and ministry projects for both young and old are excellent ways to involve people in the principles that they have studied in a Christian education setting. Involving new converts within the various ministries of the church definitely promotes true learning and discipleship. Again, let us follow the WWJD principle.

If we are serious about Christian education, we must truly understand its two aspects as stated by Jesus in Matthew 28:19,20. The church must teach to win, and teach to send. We must be willing to see Christian education as ongoing in all aspects of ministry within the church. Everyone is involved. By its nature and purpose, every Christian is a Christian educator in one form or another. Finally we must see Jesus as our model Master Teacher and seek to effectively communicate God and His Word using methods and principles that Jesus used. We must follow the WWJD guide in our efforts. People are still waiting to hear, to believe, and to receive. Are we willing to do what it takes for this to happen? We can. WWJD? WWJD? WWJD?

REV. DANNY K. JONES, General Christian Education Director, CHC

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