Teaching Others

^"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food..." (Hebrews 5:12)

Once we have entered into salvation with God through Christ, we still have accountability to him for our growth. Here, the writer of this letter is exhorting these Christians about their lack of personal growth. Specifically, he is pointing out their lack of understanding of doctrine. They should be solid in their understanding of the basic principles of theology. They should be teaching others. But, instead, they are still just listening to teachers and are unable to explain things to others.

Because of this, they are not effective in the service God wants them to do. They need, once again, to hear the basic principles but this time they need to do some work and get to the point where they can begin teaching others.

1. Have you ever explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ to someone?

2. How would you apply what you learn each week to someone who doesn't seem to understand the Gospel? Think of two people you've encountered recently to whom you could explain some aspect of God. What would you say?

3. Does this passage describe you? How can you begin growing so that you know these basic principles well enough to explain them? By this time next year, will this still be true of you?

-- Charlie