What steps can we take to teach others with biblical authority? Grasping the Weight of Matthew 7:29 “...for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” Why Authority Matters • Authority flows from God’s own Word, not from personality or position. • Jesus’ teaching was decisive, uncompromising, and rooted in Scripture itself. • We mirror His pattern when we teach what God has said rather than speculating about what He might have meant. Step 1: Saturate Your Heart with Scripture • Jeremiah 15:16 — “Your words were found, and I ate them…” • Acts 4:13 notes that the rulers “recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Time in the Word becomes time with the Author. • Practical takeaway: Read, memorize, and meditate until biblical truth overflows naturally in conversation. Step 2: Submit to the Text First • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — “All Scripture is God-breathed…” Let the Bible correct you before you correct anyone else. • James 1:22 urges us to be doers, not merely hearers. Obedience undergirds authority. Step 3: Teach Exactly What God Says • Nehemiah 8:8 — “They read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and giving the meaning…” • Give the plain sense of the passage. Avoid adding extra-biblical requirements or watering down hard truths. Step 4: Depend on the Spirit’s Power • 1 Corinthians 2:4 — “My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” • Pray for clarity, conviction, and courage before, during, and after you teach. Step 5: Model What You Teach • 1 Timothy 4:12 — “Set an example for the believers…” • Consistency between life and lesson builds credibility. Hypocrisy erodes authority faster than any doctrinal error. Step 6: Speak with Conviction, Not Arrogance • Titus 2:15 — “Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” • Authority is humble confidence in God’s Word, not self-exaltation. Tone matters; truth delivered in love draws people in. Step 7: Guard Accuracy through Careful Study • 2 Timothy 2:15 — “Present yourself approved… correctly handling the word of truth.” • Use context, original languages when possible, and cross-references to ensure faithful exposition. Step 8: Encourage Response and Obedience • Matthew 28:20 — “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” • Biblical authority seeks transformed lives, not mere information transfer. Step 9: Maintain Accountability • Proverbs 27:17 — “Iron sharpens iron…” • Invite mature believers to review your teaching. Correction protects both teacher and hearers. Step 10: Persevere in the Calling • Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not grow weary in doing good…” • Faithful, long-term consistency in these steps cultivates lasting authority, just as Jesus’ ministry consistently reflected divine truth. By following these scriptural steps, we align ourselves with the pattern of Christ, who spoke with a confidence rooted entirely in the Word of God and backed by a life that embodied it. |
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