What Every Teacher Needs: Personal Character

There are at least four areas in which every teacher needs to keep growing. We need to grow in the Word, in our people skills and in our communication skills. Today, we focus on the fourth area—the need to keep growing in personal character.

In spite of what politicians and media types might say, we all know that character really does matter, especially as it relates to church leaders. As Sunday School teachers, we know that what we teach is critically important. We also know that we teach with more than our words alone. The character of our lives teaches so much and goes beyond an hour on Sunday morning. So how do we make sure we keep growing in the area of our character? Here are some thoughts.

First, character is developed as we spend consistent, personal time alone with God. In Mark 1:35 we see the example of Jesus spending His “quiet time” with God. Following that time alone with the Father, Jesus made critical decisions, faced major spiritual battles and ministered to people in need. As a Sunday School Teacher, you are also making decisions on the direction you will take with your lesson, you are fighting spiritual battles, and you are ministering to people. If Jesus needed time alone with the Father as He started His day, it is quite apparent that we do as well. In the process of spending this time with God, we grow in our spiritual character.

Second, spiritual character is developed through personal surrender to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Those nine qualities look a lot like the qualities we identify with Christian character. It is clear that the Spirit of God indwelling each believer produces this kind of fruit; so, in order for us to bear this kind of fruit, we must live in surrender to His control, enablement and influence.

Third, spiritual character is developed as we grow through the trials of life. We all know that “God uses all things together” for the good of those who love Him. At least part of that “good” is that we are “conformed to the image of His Son.” (See Romans 8:28-29) God uses even the sorrowful and difficult experiences of life to grow us and shape our character as He chips away those things that are unlike His Son. Our response to Him in those situations is to cooperate with His process of molding us into the image of Christ in our character. God is much more interested in our personal character than He is our personal comfort. At times He will sacrifice our comfort to strengthen our faith and our character.

Forth, Spiritual Character is developed as we deliberately study and seek to apply character qualities to our lives. One thing we can do is study the lives of those in the Bible who displayed the character traits we desire in our lives. For example, if I need to grow in the area of encouragement, I can study the life of Barnabas in the Bible. If I need to grow in the area of forgiveness, I can study the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. If I need to grow in boldness, I can study the life of Peter after the Holy Spirit comes in power in Acts 2. I can also read the biographies of great Christians to help me learn certain character traits. For example, Billy Graham’s life teaches volumes about integrity and humility and there are several biographies I can read. As I read about the life of Lottie Moon, I learn about conviction and loving, personal sacrifice for the gospel. This kind of deliberate study can help us on our way to character development and allows us to be proactive in our pursuit of holiness and godliness.

Leaving a Legacy

I write this article after a long night at the hospital. Our fourth grandson was born early this morning (Monday) at around 3:30 AM. Being the sentimental sap that I am, I can’t help but to reflect a little. My wife and and I have been blessed with five sons and a daughter whom we love and cherish. Now we have seen our influence extend to a new generation of grandsons. We are truly blessed of God. But it makes me ask, “What about our spiritual children and grandchildren? Are we leaving a spiritual legacy? Are the people I have led to Christ living for Him faithfully? Are they growing and maturing and touching other lives for Christ?”

Of course there is a limit to anyone’s influence. People do, after all, have the ability to turn their backs on the Lord and they may choose a path totally opposite of what we have taught and modeled for them. But how do we increase the chances of success for those who come behind us?

The first key is to consistently live out our convictions and to be an example of the life choices we teach. Clearly, if our lives are inconsistent with our teaching we will have little influence upon those who come behind us. Hypocrisy will cancel out the best teaching. Recently we have heard of a famous sports figure who has been involved in adultery. Not only will he lose millions of dollars he once made endorsing everything from Buicks to Gatorade; he has lost the respect of millions of people. His influence has been severely diminished due to his poor lifestyle choices. For those involved in teaching ministry, the lesson is clear. We cannot leave an effective legacy for Christ through our teaching alone.

Another key is genuine love for others. As we study real love from 1 Corinthians 13, it is clear that biblical love is much more than a sentimental emotion. Real love involves demonstrating kindness and courtesy to others. Genuine love shows up in our generosity toward others and in the way we encourage the people around us. Love is the opposite of the apathetic teacher who refuses to be involved in the lives of her students. People are flawed, but love covers a multitude of sin. People are insecure and need to be valued and affirmed, and love steps up to focus on the needs of others rather than self. May God help us grow in biblical love.

Biblical teaching and training also has significant influence. Contemporary self-help teachings based on humanistic ideas and pop-psychology seem to change every three or four years, but God’s Word is eternal. When we teach the life-changing principles of the Bible to others, we are unleashing the living power of the very Word of God. That is a powerful way to influence lives. There is amazing potential in just one Bible lesson or sermon. People have literally made life-altering decisions because of one Sunday School lesson that God used to speak powerfully into their lives. Many times we teach in more informal ways through casual conversations or simply sharing an insight to a friend over a cup of coffee. As we share biblical thoughts and insights, our influence grows and our life-message leaves a legacy of truth that can be passed on to others long after God calls us home.