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Written by Lindsay Richardson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Tennessee
Jesus teaches us through His actions, words, and experiences.
He uses a variety of methods to reach His people— in tangible ways that we can understand as well. Here are some of His teaching styles:
- Parables/illustrations
- Storytelling/teachable moments
- Performing miracles/healing
- Speaking to crowds
- Reciting scripture
- Teaching us how to pray/through prayer
- Leading by example and actions
- Asking questions
- From experiences/hands-on
- Repetition
Using parables. Jesus would use stories to help illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The depiction of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is an amazing story of redemption. A son left home and squandered all his inheritance, sinning against his father. In verse 24, the father is filled with compassion when he sees his son returning. “’ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” (NIV) Jesus told this parable to teach us that God’s love is endless and unconditional. It is never too late to turn from our sinful ways and come back to the Father.
Teachable moments. Jesus and His disciples were on a boat when a storm came. Jesus was asleep. Jesus used this opportunity to teach a lesson about putting their FULL trust in Him.
The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4: 38b-41)
Speaking to crowds. One of the most famous sermons of all time happened on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It is referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount.” At this time Jesus used the opportunity to speak to a large crowd that had gathered to hear Him teach many things, including what are known as the Beatitudes (Matt. 5-7).
Performing miracles. In Matthew 14, we see how He performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This miracle became a teachable moment as well for the disciples, as they were able to feed all of the hungry people (from just five loaves of bread and two fish).
Teaching how to pray. Jesus also taught His people how to pray. In Matthew 6, He tells us how to pray… and the Lord’s Prayer is widely prayed and recited by millions all over the world to this day.
Leading by example. Jesus was baptized by John. He paved the way and led by example for us; His baptism also signifying the start of His earthly ministry that would eventually lead to His death on the cross. At the moment of His baptism, the heavens were opened and God’s voice proclaimed, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17b).
Asking questions. Often throughout scripture Jesus would answer a question with a question. At times, He would also present a question in the form of a challenge, or a question to add emphasis to make His point. “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matt. 6:30) Also we find in Mark, “Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” (Mark 2:9)
Each of us is unique and we each have different learning styles. Jesus taught everyone in such a wide array of styles to make sure everyone that was able could hear, see, and understand Him. May we have the eyes to see, and the ears to hear!
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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
“Here am I, send me!” (Is. 6:8)
Stubborn, independent, and strong-willed have described me since early childhood. Facing a challenging character quality in her daughter, my mom remembers hearing a helpful interpretation of “Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Prov. 22:6) during her child-raising years. Instead of the continual frustration of squelching the strong will of four daughters, find out the way each of them should go and point them in a Kingdom direction. Or, “Train up a child in the way SHE should go…” (emphasis added).
If Michelle was going to be stubborn, may she stubbornly cling to God’s Word. If her way was independent, may it be as an independent follower of Christ, especially when those around her were not following Him. If she should continue her strong-willed spirit, may her will align with God’s will and uncompromisingly obey Him.
Stubborn independence can also be used to describe pioneers. Uncharted territory must be discovered by those willing to go where others haven’t or won’t. In missions and in ministry, I have always felt called to go where others were less willing or able to go. When I first felt called into full-time missions, God was leading me to help establish a congregation in north Bogotá.
“Here am I, send me!”
The doors in Colombia were beginning to open as a safer place for North Americans to live, while many still feared the horror stories of kidnappings. North Bogotá was the direction in which the capital city was expanding. Yet there were still many doubts, especially about sending a single woman to serve there.
When I shared with my parents my desire to go and to serve in Colombia, as my Christian brother and sister they affirmed that they honored my desire to answer His call… Who were they to argue with the same God they served? Additionally, my mom said, “As your Christian sister, I support you and am proud of you. But as your mom, Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! (I’m scared!)”
I appreciated her honesty. And I continued to pray for wisdom in answering that call. God allowed me to hold onto that dream, the seed He had planted. I was able to be a part of the North Bogotá congregation’s first meeting in March 2000, their one-year anniversary in 2001, and continual visits three to four times a year through late 2006.
By early 2000, when I first started visiting Bogotá, I had already been to Venezuela several times, where the political situation was deteriorating (opposite of Colombia where things were growing and strengthening). In 1999, I had also begun work with a new congregation being established in Cozumel, México. Phil and Donna Waldron were the on-the-ground missionaries invested in the work there. I coordinated campaign groups from Harding University and the North Atlanta Church of Christ, where I worked at the time.
There was always a long list of those interested in partnering with the work there in Cozumel. Some of you may remember that it was in Cozumel that I first learned to drive a stick shift because that was the only way to get to a Bible study (story in Ch. 11 of One Single Reason: Conversations with Single Women).
Even though the opportunities in Cozumel grew and I felt qualified to serve there, I felt more called to go where others were less likely to go. Having already achieved a certain mastery level of Spanish, being dark haired with dark eyes, I could blend more easily into the variety of skin colors, even as fair skinned as mine, found in Venezuela and Colombia.
“Here am I, send me!”
The pioneering spirit God gave me as an oldest child, through my innate stubbornness, independence, and strong will, allowed me to answer that call. God used the passion He gave me for languages to develop a very natural Venezuelan accent.
And now, as I strive to learn Portuguese, I wonder how God will equip me, as He did Isaiah, because of a willing spirit to serve. God excels in equipping the called instead of calling the equipped. That way, He gets all the glory.
Iron Rose Sister Ministries began because God revealed a tremendous need, stepping into an area of ministry that no one else was addressing. Women long to be in authentic relationships, but often lack the tools to do so. We exist to equip women to connect to God and to one another more deeply.
I have taught and learned in more diverse contexts that I would’ve ever asked or imagined. But God… I love that phrase! But God, in His infinite wisdom, longs to teach us in places that others may have never chosen to learn. Yet when we meet Him there, when we answer His call, He is waiting to reveal His truths in deeper and broader ways,
Where will you be open to letting God use you to teach or to learn today?
Remember to answer, “Here am I, send me!”