How on Earth Does He Want Us To Learn?

Eph 4:11-13  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. NIV

Like any good boss, Jesus wants us to know what He wants done and what the purpose is for doing it.

Even in a game like baseball, those who are in charge want certain things done by certain people in a particular way. When the members of the team practice hard and each does his part as well possible, even the Red Sox can win the World Series, and win it more than once.

In a pro baseball team the manager is the boss. He tells the players and coaches what to do so they can become prepared as a team to win games, and hopefully get to play in and win the World Series.

The coaches on the team are essential because they help the players learn to improve such skills as batting and pitching.

In the church Jesus has chosen certain individuals to "coach" His team for purposes far more important than winning games.

The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers that He has chosen are called to prepare God's people for acts of service. Why? So the Body of Christ can be build up.

To what extent does our Manager want us to be built up? He wants us to be built up until we reach the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

We have the writings of apostles and prophets gathered together in a book we call the Bible. We have evangelists to carry Christ's words to people who never heard them before. And we have pastors and teachers in our local churches to help us learn what God wants us to learn so we can do what He wants us to do.

If  members of a baseball team don't do what the manager and his coaches tell them, they will likely find themselves sitting on the bench rather than participating in the games. They can even be kicked off the team.

 Members of the Body of Christ need to take the time to learn from and be "coached" by those Jesus has appointed to teach us.

Those who have been called to evangelize, pastor, and teach aren't off the hook. They need to both learn what God wants them to learn, apply it in their lives, and teach others in whatever ways are available to them.

There are some who can lead Bible study groups. There are some who can have a blog about Biblical matters. God wants all of us to learn more and some of us to teach what we're learning to others.

I certainly still need to learn more. That's why I attend church services and adult Sunday school, listen to Christian radio programs, read, study, and will host in my apartment a Bible study that will be led by our Sunday school superintendent starting this coming Saturday afternoon.

If you're not part of a Bible study group and are not attending a Sunday school class, I hope you will seriously consider joining one. If you live south of Boston, MA, you are welcome to join our Bible study group or attend Sunday school at Brookville Baptist church in Holbrook.