Preaching and Teaching

Monday, May 31, 2004

Dear family:

Time is so short, my fingers are becoming stiff and slower than ever. There are so many things I must share with you. Things that I know a father should share with his sons, a mother with her daughters and friends with their companions and peers. But time is short so shouldn't each of us make use of this time to tell our children and grandchildren the things we have learned that brought us to this place in our lives.

As I study the life of Christ as recorded by The Book of Mark I am continually faced with words of urgency. The word immediately is found 34 times in Mark referring to the things Christ did. He was obliviously not a procrastinator who would put off until tomorrow what should and/or must be done today. Those closest to Him knew the urgency with which His message both in word and deed should be shared. Our faith is founded not only on what Christ did but also on what He said.

Far too often we fail to understand the way and intent of what and when Jesus said the things He said. In the 2nd chapter of Mark we find an excellent example of His method and manner.

You will recall that Jesus had entered a home in Capernaum and immediately a crowd gathered outside.

Mark 2:2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. (NKJ)

I wanted to know why the translators chose to use the word "preached" in this particular instance. I wanted to know what Christ would preach. I preach Christ and Him crucified but what did He preach? What were those personal burning words from the lips of this man who has had such a profound impact on the world. In the 15^th verse of the preceding chapter Christ preached saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." And again in the 8^th chapter of Luke "Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God." (NKJ) He preached the word to them. He preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God! He preached the gospel (good news). He preached that a new day and a new age is here. He preached the good news that God was no longer confined to a building a mile away or in another country. He preached the good news that God was not contained in a trunk laced with gold and covered with cherubim's. He preached the good news that God has come to live in the hearts and minds of His individual creatures wherever they are. He preached that God has come to live in your heart and your mind.

I think it is important that we look at the word translated preach.

(laleo-)

1) to utter a voice or emit a sound

2) to speak

a) to use the tongue or the faculty of speech

b) to utter articulate sounds

3) to talk

4) to utter, to tell

5) to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts.

My children will have no difficulty understanding why I would say I tend to prefer #5. But if we examine two other definitions we discover that they are not as definitive in the positive as number 5. Look at #1. To utter a voice or emit a sound – my dog does that and without a doubt every politician has made it their life's most eloquent accomplishment. #2 is protected by the first amendment but it does not legislate that only substance should be spoken or uttered. It does not demand that offensive, insightful, deceptive or vain words should not be spoken. #s 3 and 4 mention nothing of quality. Most talk has much quantity and seldom even little quality but #5 embraces the most wonderful blessing ever given to man aside from salvation. Here is the God and creator of the universe in the form of man declaring His mind and disclosing His thoughts. Think about that! How I would have loved to have heard Him, but guess what?? He simply told them that the same words He was speaking to those present on that day will be spoken by Him throughout the rest of eternity. The best part of it is that it will be spoken in every language and understanding in a one-on-one setting between the individual and God. God is coming to live in the hearts and minds of His creatures and there to have a personal one-on-one relationship with them, right where they are 24/7.

Now the word preach is different from the word we translate as (teach). It is important that we understand the difference between the two because we have far more instances of Him teaching than preaching.

Mark 2:13

13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. (NKJ)

(didasko-)

1) to teach

a) to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses

b) to be a teacher

c) to discharge the office of a teacher, to conduct oneself as a teacher

2) to teach one

a) to impart instruction

b) instill doctrine into one

c) the thing taught or enjoined

d) to explain or to expound a thing

f) to teach one something

Christ not only preached the good news but with greater emphasis He taught those around Him how to have this one-on-one relationship with the God and creator of this universe. He is God in the form of a man (His Son) telling His created that He not only loved them but wanted to have a one-on-one relationship with them and He is still telling His creatures the same thing today. In fact He may be telling you right now, right where you are. "I brought you to this place so that I could speak to you through the writer of these words. Right here in these private moments, I want you to know that I love you. I want you to know that I'm here for you, to help you with the problems you have in your life. But most of all I want you to love me and spend time with me one-on-one starting right now."

If you just started or restarted that relationship with God I would be thrilled to be the first to know. I would also encourage you to go to the prayer page and ask those who pray over the requests listed there to include you in their prayers. There are literally hundreds who will be praying for you and with you at any given moment.

Love ya,

Dad

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