Sunday School Resource: United in Doctrine

Doctrine is the revelation of scriptures given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as an unchangeable pattern for the New Testament church. Doctrine gives a sect identity as it portrays the basic fundamental beliefs of the religious organisation (Psalm 133: 1-3, Ephesians 4:11-15, Acts 2: 41-47). A change in doctrine will therefore produce a new sect or religious group. The universal church must have a unified doctrine. Heb 6: 1-2, 2Tim 3:16, Matt 22:33, Luke 4:32 Mark 1:27. WHY UNITY IN DOCTRINE?          To prevent corruptness. Tit 2:7          It is a means to control heretic revelations and teachings. 1Tim 4:16, Mk 1:27          To foster stability. 1Tim 6:20-21, Heb 13:9          To ensure faithfulness to the ancient land mark 1Tim 1:3-4, 2Tim 2:2          It is the root of our core value. 1Tim 4:13, 15-16, 2Tim 3:10          To preserve and ensure the continuity of the Christian faith to coming generation. 2Tim 2:2, Gen 18:18-19          To help believers grow in grace and in complete freedom from bondage, etc. Jn 8:32          To produce strong mature believers and to stop backsliding – Believers should be taught the hard fact of discipleship, discipline, it‟s the strong meat. Heb 5: 12-14; 2Tim 4:1-4; Eph 4:11-15 HOW TO BE UNITED IN DOCTRINE You must know the doctrine. Be an ardent scholar of the Word. Be sound in the knowledge of the Word. You cannot give out what you don‟t have. Be persuaded, convinced and unshakable regarding the truth of the Word (Matt 12:34; 2Tim 2:15; Ezra 7:6, 10; 1Tim 4:6). The greatest problem with teachers today is lack of sound knowledge of the Truth. To do proper teaching and interpretation of the Word, you MUST have proper understanding, equip yourself with study materials such as commentaries, Study Bibles, concordance, and Bible Dictionary of the word and places, etc. Make most of the teachers' preparatory meeting. It is held once a week (please request the phone line). It is a must for all teachers to attend; on no account should a teacher who did not attend the preparatory meeting be allowed to teach. The purpose of the teachers‟ preparatory meeting include:          To do a careful study and analysis of the lesson in view until the core of the lesson is understood by the teacher (who should first learn as a student)          To read and critically ascertain the correctness and relevance of every Bible quotation in the lesson.          To discuss and agree on the divergent views on a subject and reach a unified conclusions in line with the Scriptures.          Be united in your teaching and don‟t go on and teach your own views in your class.          On no account should teachers argue on a topic in the presence of people/students. All that should be sorted out during the preparatory meeting.          Teach the Word without compromise or apology, but with love, humility but firmness. Eph. 4:15, 25. Exalt Jesus in all your teaching. Let everyone know they need a saviour regardless of personal challenges, status, religion etc. John 3: 1-5, 14-15; Acts 8: 5, 27-35, Acts 9:20 (what are the attributes of Philip as a teacher and preacher demonstrated here?) Emphasise salient doctrines and spiritual experiences in your teaching. John 3:1-7; 4:19-24 – Salvation, Holiness, Holy Spirit baptism etc. Teach until your listener understands, for no learning has taken place till the students know what you are teaching. This can be achieved through various means, viz: Teach in plain simple terms, and not grand theological phrases. Use picture language that will make the truth come alive in living colour. Metaphors, parables, similes, etc. were used by Jesus in the gospels. Build on what the listener already know and believe. Jesus and the disciples never attacked others for their beliefs. They used their beliefs as a basis to help them understand the truth they were teaching (Acts 17:22-23). Relate/repeat your message when necessary. Be focused in achieving your objective. Students must go home with cogent lesson, i.e. forcefully convincing. Hence, you need thorough preparation so that you can discover the basic lesson taught in the lesson. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! This can never be over emphasized. Jesus prayed the whole night for just few hours teaching. Pastor E. A. Adeboye fasts and prays for weeks for few hours sermons/teachings. We are shaping lives and destinies through the Word. It‟s a sacred job. People‟s lives and eternity depends on the Word. RESULT          The Word will bear fruit and our labour in the teaching ministry will not be in vain.          The church will be at peace. Wrong doctrine brings disharmony and aggravation. Acts 15: 1-2, 22-23, 30-31.          Tremendous growth. Acts 5:11-16; 19; 9-10; 6:27-28.          The church will be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Eph 5:27.          The doctrine of Christ will be preserved for coming generation. CONCLUSION True believers must be unwavering in the practice of the doctrine they accepted. This is why removing the ancient church landmark is a gross abuse of the call to teach and lead in the body of Christ. Any deviation from sound doctrine in the church is an end time spirit. Watch out! 2Tim 2:13; John 17:16; 2Tim 4:1-3.