Not Many Should Be Teachers

INTRO.- Teacher, teacher, who is the real teacher?

ILL.- William A. Ward (America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims) has said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

I don’t know about teachers but I certainly want to inspire as best I can in my preaching of God’s Word! I want to inspire, teach and motivate people! I have one big advantage over any school teacher. WHAT’S THAT? I use the Word of God as my text and that makes all the difference in the world.

I think it makes all the difference in all the great speeches that have ever been given, political or otherwise. There is nothing like quoting scripture and using scripture in order to speak to people. There is no power on earth like it.

ILL.- Charles Rann Kennedy, English playwrite, wrote: “There is great power in words. All the things that ever get done in the world, good or bad, are done by words.” Words are indeed power tools by which people accomplish much. But there is even greater power in the Word of God!

ILL.- One time an educated Chinese man was given a copy of the scriptures and was urged to read it carefully and thoughtfully. Some time later he came back to his friend, asking, “What is there about this Book that is so different? In all my reading of Chinese literature I have read many good precepts but never, until I read this Book, have I been trouble in my mind when I have done wrong. Now whenever I do wrong I am troubled. Why is this book different from all other books that I have read?”

Well, we know the answer to that question!

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

ILL.- G. M. Landis wrote: The Bible, like some foods and drinks, creates an appetite for itself. The more we know of its marvelous message, the more we want to know, for the sweeter does it become. (or it becomes sweeter with the passing of time) AMEN! Have you not found this to be true?!

I Peter 2:1-3 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Once you taste of the Lord and His Word you can’t help but want more! And, of course, by the power of His Word we are able to rid ourselves of sin and grow up in our salvation or mature in Christ. Scripture matures people like nothing else. This is why we all need to soak up the Word of God.

ILL.- Josh Billings (19th century writer and humorist. Best known next to Mark Twain) said: “ There’s a great power in words, if you don’t hitch too many of them together.” (all preachers and teachers need to learn that lesson). Sometimes less is best.

ILL.- A sense of intellectual excitement reigned in Morris R. Cohen’s classes at the University of Chicago. Professors, students and sometimes alumni turned out to see him perform. A friend objected after one of his public lectures, saying, “That was brilliant, but aren’t you afraid it was over their heads?”

“I aim it,” replied the professor, “where their heads ought to be.”

That could be but I try