JULY 1999 Have you ever asked yourself the following question: "Why do Sunday School Teachers teach?"  I have talked with many of them and I have come to find out that there are a number of reasons.

I believe it starts with duty.  These good people know that God chose to fit people for heaven by teaching them.  Although many things have been said negatively about duty, the Bible does not hesitate to mandate the teaching responsibility.  "And the things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)

Teaching thrives on the reward principle.   One of the greatest joys I've known in teaching is that of seeing a student obey the Gospel, or seeing a former student become a deacon or some other board member of the church.  To hear a former student preach a sermon makes it all worth while.   This is just like an invisible paycheck that keeps the teacher going back to the classroom again and again.

Teaching endures because of love. The teacher does not teach the class.  He/she teaches Johnny, Mary, Susie and Billy, who have immortal souls in a mortal body.  Once when Paul's motivation was called into question, he answered the charges against him by saying, "For Christ's love compels me..." (2 Corinthians 5:14)  That is what keeps the teacher in the classroom year after year faithful to the call of the Creator.

I thank the Lord for each on that has accepted the call to be on the front lines in the battle for truth.  I thank God for those who have been faithful in sharing the message that God loves the sinner and not the sin.   May we all take the time to say say THANK YOU to the teachers who have taken time out of their busy schedules to minister among us.

Until next month - God bless.

Pastor Bob