I am in an unusual situation. I teach a regular Sunday School class, teach on Wednesday nights, and preach in local churches as a fill-in or, sometimes, as an interim pastor. What this means is that I preach or teach a lot, in addition to my law practice.
Suddenly, I have two weeks off. My church merges all the adult Sunday school classes for the month of July and hired someone to come in and teach them, so no Sunday school the next two weeks. I preached the last four weeks (at various places), but have nothing scheduled for preaching until August 7. So, two Sundays without teaching or preaching.
Doesn't sound like much, but it is really odd to go through a week or two with no thoughts of teaching or preaching. Actually, I miss both the anticipation and preparation for speaking the word to groups.
This is one of the signs of a teacher, that he loves to teach. I am always nervous when a teacher says that he "would rather not teach" or that he needs a break every three weeks or so. I do not know how God can gift someone to teach and yet have him not like to teach.
Trouble, of course, is that we have many teachers who are not gifted to teach. They do not really enjoy teaching (although they like helping people). They teach out of a sense of need (someone has to do it) or importunity (they were talked into doing it) or some other motive that is not teaching.
As churches, we have created a system in which non-teachers are forced to "teach." I remember an education minister some years ago telling me that "you do not need the gift of teaching to be a teacher in our church." I wondered how he would feel if a person claimed to heal without the gift of healing.
But, we have decided, too often, that it is more important to have "small classes" (where we think fellowship is more likely) than "good teachers" (where learning would be more likely).
Anyway, I have two free Sundays, to visit another church or just go to my church and be a member, not a teacher, for a day.
Of course, I do still have to be ready to begin Ephesians in August. Back to work!
Suddenly, I have two weeks off. My church merges all the adult Sunday school classes for the month of July and hired someone to come in and teach them, so no Sunday school the next two weeks. I preached the last four weeks (at various places), but have nothing scheduled for preaching until August 7. So, two Sundays without teaching or preaching.
Doesn't sound like much, but it is really odd to go through a week or two with no thoughts of teaching or preaching. Actually, I miss both the anticipation and preparation for speaking the word to groups.
This is one of the signs of a teacher, that he loves to teach. I am always nervous when a teacher says that he "would rather not teach" or that he needs a break every three weeks or so. I do not know how God can gift someone to teach and yet have him not like to teach.
Trouble, of course, is that we have many teachers who are not gifted to teach. They do not really enjoy teaching (although they like helping people). They teach out of a sense of need (someone has to do it) or importunity (they were talked into doing it) or some other motive that is not teaching.
As churches, we have created a system in which non-teachers are forced to "teach." I remember an education minister some years ago telling me that "you do not need the gift of teaching to be a teacher in our church." I wondered how he would feel if a person claimed to heal without the gift of healing.
But, we have decided, too often, that it is more important to have "small classes" (where we think fellowship is more likely) than "good teachers" (where learning would be more likely).
Anyway, I have two free Sundays, to visit another church or just go to my church and be a member, not a teacher, for a day.
Of course, I do still have to be ready to begin Ephesians in August. Back to work!