Christ: The Perfect Teacher

So I overheard a girl at BYU talking to her friends about her new calling as a Gospel Principles Teacher in church... not that I was meaning to eavesdrop or anything... but it caught my attention when she said, "I don't know how I can just talk about gospel principles for an hour...".  Her friend said, "Well just ask a lot of questions and hope people talk."

I thought to myself, "How often do I just talk AT others when I teach?  Do I help others to become AGENTS to ACT, or are they acted upon by my words?"

I think the simple phrase WWJD is sometimes overlooked when we look at TEACHING.

Often, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we grow up learning WHAT Christ taught, but not as often do we reflect on HOW he taught.  If we could understand that, we would have more converted youth and adults from the impact of parents, Sunday school teachers, YM/YW leaders, etc.


So... I decided to look at different Mediums that could help me understand "How was Jesus Christ the Master Teacher?"

“In the home, the school, or the house of God, there is one teacher whose life overshadows all others. He taught of life and death, of duty and destiny. He lived not to be served, but to serve; not to receive, but to give; not to save his life, but to sacrifice it for others. He described a love more beautiful than lust, a poverty richer than treasure. It was said of this teacher that he taught with authority and not as did the scribes. I speak of the Master Teacher, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. When dedicated teachers respond to his gentle invitation, ‘Come learn of me,’ they learn, but they also become partakers of his divine power.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

“A gospel teacher will never be satisfied with just delivering a message or preaching a sermon. A superior gospel teacher wants to assist in the Lord’s work to bring eternal life to His children” - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

On LDS.org, PREACH is defined as "To give a message that provides a better understanding of a gospel principle or doctrine."  We cannot just teach but we must PREACH in this way, that it may lead others to live the Doctrine of Christ and CHANGE.  

A Great Gospel Teacher is more than a dispenser of information.  They are their to invite and help others to come unto Christ.

When it comes to TEACHING, let us all try to talk less, and help others EXPERIENCE more.