In Singapore, Teachers’ Day is usually celebrated on the last Friday of the 3rd term of school. This year, Teachers' Day will be celebrated on 30 August 2024. It will be a day where teachers (hopefully!) get a well-deserved break, as well as a day for students and their parents to honour the hard work that teachers put in.
As we are preparing to celebrate Teachers’ Day in our secular schools, let us not forget to honour our teachers of God’s word within the church as well, for teachers play a central role in Christianity. Jesus said in John 6:44-45 that:
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:44-45)
From this passage, we understand that to come to Jesus, who has promised us the resurrection at the last day (cf. John 11:25-26), we must first be “drawn towards Him” by the Father. But how does this process happen? Does God miraculously influence and guide the hearts of man? Reading on in the passage, we see Jesus quoting from the prophet Isaiah, who wrote that “all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54:13). Thus, the process of being drawn towards Jesus Christ involves teachers, who teach from God’s word about His will for mankind. As Paul said in the book of Romans:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:13-14)
As we observe Teachers’ Day, here are three things we can do for the teachers of the Bible within our midst:
Show Appreciation. Appreciate your teachers and tell them which parts of the class had the greatest impact on you! The teachers have spent long hours poring over God’s word and preparing themselves to teach. In fact, it is said that for every hour of a Bible class, 10 hours of preparation have gone into it. Appreciate and thank your teachers for their effort: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Pay Attention. Pay attention to your teachers during the lessons, for they are taking great care to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). We should put away distractions such as our phones. Take out our Bibles and notepads, and as the teacher is teaching, be attentive and inquisitive like the Bereans! “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
Make Application. I believe I speak for most teachers when I say that more than anything in the world, they want their students to not just have the “head knowledge”, but to show that the “heart” has been impacted through the lesson, thus moving their “hands” to do good work for Jesus. Continually ask yourselves – how can I apply what I have learned into action? As students, we must always be looking for ways to apply the lessons we have learned, and to grow. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Thank God for hardworking teachers who “speak as the oracles of God”! Show the teachers of God’s word some appreciation this Teachers’ Day.
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