Please send questions and comments to:
office@westark.org
The teacher must speak to the heart of man. The heart includes the intellect; it thinks (Proverbs 23:7), it understands (Proverbs 8:5), and it believes (Romans 10:10). The heart includes not only the intellect but the emotions. The heart desires (Romans 10:1), loves (Matthew 22:37), and trusts (Proverbs 3:5). The heart also includes the will. The will is that part of the heart where decisions are made. The heart intends (Hebrews 4:12), purposes (II Corinthians 9:7) and obeys (Romans 6:17).
First, a good teacher presents the facts of the gospel as well as its promises and warnings in order to enlighten and give understanding. A good teacher must first appeal to man's intellect. Second, a good teacher appeals to man's emotions. He shows him the horrors of sin, what sin has done, what it is doing and what it will do. A teacher must also speak from a heart of love. He must tell his student of the love of Christ and the mercies of God (John 12:32). Thirdly, the teacher must be persuasive. As a teacher you have appealed to his intellect, you have educated him about Christ and the gospel and you have appealed to his emotions. Now, you must be persuasive. You must bring his will into action in obeying the gospel. Fear, love and the promises of God are all factors in bringing man to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Remember, man's heart is made up of intellect, emotions and a will. A teacher must appeal to the whole heart before man will respond. Acts chapter two is a good example. First, Peter appealed to the intellect by educating the multitude with the facts of the gospel, then he appealed to their emotions by saying, "You have crucified and slain the Son of God." Next, he appealed to their will by saying, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... and with many other words did he testify and exhort saying save yourselves ..." First, the intellect, second, the emotions, and third, the will. It is only through the intellect and the emotions that you can reach the will. Unless the will is changed, the individual will perish (Luke 13:3).
Please send questions and comments to:
office@westark.org
Link to:
Roy Dunavin's Home Page
Link to:
West-Ark Church of Christ
