Teaching What Aligns With Sound Doctrine

This past Saturday, I had the blessing of participating in a Bible Teacher Training at Harvest Fellowship Baptist Church, led by my friend, Dr. Ed Johnson. In addition to being an enriching time exploring techniques to ensure accurate teaching of God’s Word, it was also good to be among people belonging to the Family of God.

The three-hour seminar was divided into three hour-long parts, including lunch.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/tit.2.1.ESV

The first session, led by Pastor Kevin, focused on approach the Bible inductively to help us understand Scripture by closely examining the text before drawing conclusions and applying it. Through by following the three core steps of observation, interpretation, and application, we can ensure that we will handle God’s Word correctly and in accord with sound doctrine.

Family, you know that sometimes folks like to turn to the Bible to support their point rather than letting what God says in His Word drive our conclusions. It’s similar to praying for God to approve our will without first seeking His.

Pastor Ed led the next session, helping us understand the Interpretative Journey (J. Duvall) and identifying how to properly use hermeneutics (the science and art of deriving meaning from the biblical text), so that we are certain of what we are teaching.

The last session, also taught by Pastor Ed, focused on proper application of God’s Word, which included the principles laid out by the late Dr. Howard Hendricks.

In today’s contentious world, there is a lot of competing noise that we must contend with when it comes to matters of our Christian faith, including from pulpits and church classrooms. You and I are each accountable for what we teach and for who’s teaching we follow.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

James‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.1.ESV

Friends, we can flesh this out more in future posts, if you like. But for now, I want to leave you encouraged with the affirmation that God is good and working in your life, as He is in mine.

After a difficult season, I left Saturday’s seminar with a greater degree of clarity and confidence in the calling God has in my life.