Definition
- Shaping – to influence something such as a belief or an opinion and make it develop in a particular way
- Next (young) Generation – young people of the same age
- Sound – sensible and likely to produce the right results
- Biblical – that which is written in the Bible
- Doctrine – a set of beliefs that form an important part of a religion
Influencing the belief and opinion of the younger generation with a set of beliefs and teachings which is written in the bible to enable them to develop in a way that will produce the right sensible result. Why the need for this? According to the scriptures,
“…have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come” (NKJV)
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (NKJV)
“3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things”
Need for Sound Doctrine to counter signs of Last Days
“1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
Perilous times and men are coming and even here. Such people show difficult and sinful times by self-centredly loving themselves, loving money, boastful and proud, scoffing God, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, consider as nothing the things that are sacred, no self-control, cruel, have no interest in pure good, betray friends, reckless, puffed up, loving pleasure rather than God, rejection of power to become Good etc… but there is destruction and misery in their path
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
Need for Sound Doctrine to counter Unbelieving Modern and Post Modern Doctrines
In today’s secular society;
- There is no absolute truth
- There is no moral absolute
- Whatever works for me is the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-26, 2 Timothy 4:3-4)
- Technology is deceiving many by inputting wrong mentalities/ reasoning – the power of the air Ephesians 2:2
- Scoffing at the Supreme Being 2 Timothy 3:1-5
- Tithing will not be relevant to the so-called “New Testament Christians”
Some of the reasons for false or diversity of doctrine includes denominationalism which is the division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations; prestige seeking leaders or preachers who want to impress important people (Acts 20:30, 3 John 9-10). People wickedly twist the bible around to suit one’s own self or personal doctrine. These are all signs of the last days. WE NEED A REVIVAL!
“Their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of man.”
“Ye transgress commandments of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Teaching for doctrines the commandments of God, that ye may keep your own tradition”
“Making the word of none effect through your tradition”
2 Timothy 4:3-4 – *read it under section definition*
“They that are learned and unstable wrest…the scriptures onto their own destruction”
URGENT NEED FOR CHANGE!
Although Hebrews 6:4 says that it is impossible to bring some back to the light, but we can learn and start taking actions to avoid more people getting lost in the world. 1 Timothy 4:6 tells us that the young need to be nourished properly by those in charge of them. The leaders need to have followed good training themselves and we need to fight for UNITY in the reasoning and mentality of what we teach.
What is it that we must do now? We need to nourish ourselves and people with the message of faith and good teaching we have followed (1 Timothy 4:6). We need to keep on checking the training we have received. We need to retrain ourselves for godliness, examine the aspects of the meaning of doctrine and ask, “what is taught – content” (Matthew 7:28). We can be unified in doctrine materials and contents through:
- Reiterating the elementary principles of Christ e.g. Doctrine of Baptisms, of laying on hands, of resurrection of the dead, of eternal judgement, etc
- Unity in material and topics. E.g. The Zeal materials for the younger age groups and the Sunday School Manual for the older youths and RCCG 52 Christian Basic Bible Lessons Outline.
- Support and teach with other materials e.g. edifying film clips, adverts, songs, drama skits, interactive discussions, etc.
The need to receive the Power of the Holy Spirit to become a child of God, Code of honour – Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:2-4, Obedience of Fellowship, Power of Unity, Serving, The implication of Submission and Rebellion to authority, Relationship, Tithing, The law of sowing and reaping and finances, About the Christian Heritage of UK and the need for revival, God is God of love and justice. The Word: Read the Word, Hear the Word, Think the Word, Speak the Word, Share the Word, Pray the Word, Do the Word.
The Act of Teaching – The Teaching Method
- Sound doctrine can be taught through any method in as much as the content is Biblical and the method is godly
- Don’t judge by the apparent foolishness of the method as God used the foolish things of this world to confuse the wise
- Use these methods to teach that Christ is the Power and the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:21-28)
- Mark 4:2 – “He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables” Eg parable of the sower
- A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or (sometimes) a normative principle. And this could include songs, edifying film clips, adverts, songs, drama skits, interactive discussions, etc.
- These prose and verse could be be sang, according to Deuteronomy 31:19-22.
- After Moses taught the song in Deuteronomy 32:1-43, in verses 45-47 he encouraged the people to teach the commandments to their offspring.
- The use of songs to teach the younger generation is actually from God who is the greatest authority on parenting methods.
- Educationally it has been proven that the most effective and engaging method to teach a child at the earliest stage of life is through rhymes, songs, etc. E.g. Twinkle, twinkle little star.
- As early as 4 months, a child responds to Twinkle twinkle little star, which means they
- can respond to the song/ rhyme “Jesus loves me this I now” by personalising it for them.
The Teacher and The Method
The relationship between the teacher/ leader and the student/ spiritual follower should take the format of “Knowing to care and Caring to know”. This is because the student will not care how much you know until they know how much you care. Remember to always liaise with the (spiritual) parents and (Sunday) school. Do not be judgemental for there are very little that judging people can solve. No 1; being judgemental to people as a Christian is a sin. But judging spirits and mentality is alright. For example, saying “That way of thinking is wrong”. You aren’t calling the person a wrong person but rather their reasoning or the spirit they want to adopt. Be open and ‘safe’. Make yourself approachable. Meet people where they are. For example, Apostle Paul used the unknown god of the unbelievers to introduce God and Christ. Be as casual as possible for because God’s Word meets us on all levels. e.g using the statement ‘Someone must be smiling on me from above’ can be used to introduce God of heaven. Know other people’s world and what they go through. (www – world word wise).
Continuous association such as discussion and debriefing is very important to bring about unity in doctrine (John 15:14-15). Filter wisely into peoples lives like you filter your search on Google and feed them the right word of God. Studying and researching other worlds is essential such as other religions, cults, doctrines and materials etc. But all this would not be possible to achieve at all if you do not remain in the spirit and covet the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit by watching and praying.
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