“He is like a tree planted by streams of water”

This is a departure from our study in Romans, but as I read Colossians last evening I was struck by the importance of these verses for the growth and health of the church.  Note Paul’s instructions in Col 3:12-17

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

I was struck by many things in this text such as the way in which the gospel is supposed to effect EVERY aspect of our lives.  However, maybe it is because I have been a pastor now for a few months, I was struck by the command for every believer to teach and admonish other believers.  In our day and age I think that the church has by and large made a huge mistake concerning teaching.  Usually teaching is considered the realm of trained professionals who have a degree and who have learned the original language of the text.  Our churches usually possess the kind of mentality that there is a sharp distinction between the clergy and the laity.  When we look to the Scripture, we see that this distinction is incorrect.  Yes, there are those called as elders and deacons, but they are never viewed as separate or exalted within the church.  Rather, the church is seen in the New Testament as one organism with many parts.  No part of the organism is less valuable or less important than the other parts.

Now, with regards to teaching we see in this text that we are all called to teach each other.  This may not mean that we are all to publicly address the assembly, but we had better take this command seriously.  I will list a few implications that I believe we must implement if we are to be obedient to God.

First, we all must be humble enough to receive teaching from others.  No one among us, no matter how learned, is beyond learning more from the text.  Often the smallest among us, and the simplest minds among us, provide some of the most profound insight IF we are willing to listen to it.  So first and foremost, lets exemplify a spirit that is willing and even waiting to receive teaching from others.  Yes, this means the pastor (elder), deacons, ladies, young men and women; in other words, anyone receiving insight from the text who is willing to apply it.  Are we ready to learn what God has for us?  Are we ready to learn from each other as we study the Word?

Second, in order to be involved in teaching each other we must be involved in studying the Word.  Often I find that believers go through short periods of rapid growth followed by long periods of little or no growth.  We are often like plants that have a little fertilizer thrown on us every few years.  Well, think of how healthy we could be if we were feeding ourselves on the Word ALL the time.  And the implication here is, when we don’t study we not only deprive ourselves of spiritual growth, we deprive those church members we are supposed to be teaching.  Teaching is not just the responsibility of the pastor, it is the responsibility of every believer to every other believer.  We are supposed to be constantly building each other in love and in the knowledge of the Lord.  After all, the pastor only teaches publicly once or twice a week.  Think of how deficient our other educational pursuits would be if we only studied once or twice a week for approximately 30 minutes.  Learning and teaching of the Scriptures should be a constant pursuit by all of her members.  If and when we learn this, the health of the church will be greatly energized.