TEACHING and LEARNING

ECCLESIASTES

Effective teaching and learning means change

ONE CHURCH – Pinelands Baptist Church DIFFERENT CONGREGATIONS with each congregation having its own style / emphasis in four different areas: 1.Building community 2.Being missional 3.Developing a worship style appropriate to its sub-culture 4.Teaching and learning in appropriate ways

BUILDING COMMUNITY meaning to create an environment where people with broken hearts or who don’t fit our traditional Christian mould will feel loved and accepted

BEING MISSIONAL each one serving the purpose of God in our generation in our situation

WORSHIP is to consciously ascribe to God his worthiness Effort and Heart

Titus 2:1–12 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 [Teach] the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, [teach] the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self- controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self- controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. …

9 [Teach] slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted…. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation … teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

The aim of TEACHING in the church is to bring about change

Jonathan Jansen (What’s in a Ranking – IOL – 11 October 2013) What is more important? That you produce lots of research in science journals that is cited by your peers in Norway and Boston? Or that the knowledge you produced through research in your school of engineering solved problems of annual flooding in the squatter housing of Khayelitsha and KwaMashu?

Or that the applied research produced through your school of education actually made an impact on turning around disadvantaged schools in Orange Farm or Zwelitsha?

The aim of TEACHING in the church is to bring about change

If we’re willing to learn we’re saying: I WANT TO BE CHANGED

When we’re UNWILLING TO LEARN we’re actually saying WE DON’T WANT TO CHANGE

Ecclesiastes 12:13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

Colossians 1:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18 [To be] transformed into his likeness with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

There’s a big difference between TEACHING and LEARNING

TEACHING IS SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS DO IN DIFFERENT WAYS

“I was so pleased when I realised they understood my teachings on morals and principals. I had found my passion. I was going to make a difference, be a positive influence on children. I would be a teacher,” she said. Tani Jacobs: “He sketched my death certificate” - IOL – 12 October 2013

LEARNING IS EACH INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES

WE AS THE CLASSIC CONGREGATION NEED TO TRY TO FIND WAYS OF TEACHING THAT BRING ABOUT A DESIRE TO CHANGE IN OUR SUB-CULTURE

HOW CAN WE CREATE THE BEST TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SO THAT WE ALL CHANGE TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS?

SO WHAT?

1. The extent to which a university advances social cohesion and inclusion within the student body; The extent to which a church advances mutual discipling and acceptance of outsiders among themselves

2. The extent to which a university's research makes a developmental impact on the communities in which it is located; The extent to which a church’s study of the Scriptures impacts their influence on their community

3. The extent to which a university provides access and ensures success for first-generation university students; The extent to which a church welcomes and nurtures new believers

4. The extent to which a university creates a sense of civic-mindedness and public duty in every graduate; The extent to which a church is missionally involved in its community

5. The extent to which a university invests in teaching that deeply transforms student thinking; The extent to which a church commits itself to transforming minds and hearts and lives

6. The extent to which a university is open to, and supports, students from countries in the SADC region; The extent to which a church is open to, and lovingly accepting of all people – no matter how “different” they may be

7. The extent to which a university curriculum broadly educates students before training them in specific fields. The extent to which a church understands and lives out the love and grace of God before getting into petty disputes about differing opinions