Episode 4: Purpose of the Church, Part 3 – Teaching

What Does Jesus Say

Read Matthew 28:16-20

  • What are we commanded to teach?
  • How crucial is our own obedience in the things we teach?
  • Does our disobedience disqualify us from teaching? Why or why not?
  • Can we pick and choose what we teach?
  • What are some reasons people avoid certain teachings of the Bible?
  • What are some examples of only partially teaching what Jesus commanded?

Read 2 Timothy 4:1-4

  • Does this verse differentiate between teaching and preaching? 
  • Can you do one without doing the other?
  • What is the difference between many gathering around one teacher versus one surrounding themselves with many teachers?
  • Which is more abundant today: absolute truth or relative truth? Why?

Read Acts 2:42-47

  • Why did people devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching?
  • Why is it also important that they devoted themselves to fellowship?
  • Are these people locals that live in Jerusalem? (Acts 2:5)
  • What options did people have for learning the gospel at this time?
  • Does the command to teach involve things other than verbal communication? 
  • How do the sacrifices these people made show the heart of Jesus?

Read Ephesians 4:11-16

  • What are some common earthly ways to measure church growth? 
  • How do we differentiate a church growing “to become in every respect the mature body” from a church growing according to worldly standards? 

Bring it Home

Read John 15:18-27, 16:12-15

  • Does our talent for teaching or witnessing change the response to the message? Why or why not?
  • Does that make you feel more or less comfortable about teaching?
  • How does changing or omitting things from what is taught change the response to the message? 
  • Did Jesus teach everything to his disciples? Why?
  • What does this tell us about how we teach?
  • What is the difference between omitting something and waiting to teach it? What role does the Holy Spirit play in it?
  • Are there some biblical teachings you struggle to share with others? Why?
  • How can we pray for you?

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