ODJ: who are you?
The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures (vv.11-12). READ: Titus 2:11-14 Who are you? Who, who, who, who?” These opening lyrics of a classic pop song are more than just lines from a catchy tune. The lyrics actually raise [...]
Kingdom Pieties: Praying
By Lydia Lee Growing up in church, my friends and I used to do the naughtiest things during service. We would time our pastor when he prayed, anticipating if he would break last week’s record! We even ranked those who prayed from the pulpit! And the reigning champion with a record of 9 minutes and [...]
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Loading ...ODB: the teacher as a midwife
September 25, 2009
READ: Galatians 4:12-20
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. —Galatians 4:19
The mother of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was a midwife. So Socrates grew up observing that she assisted women in bringing new life into the world. This experience later influenced his teaching method. Socrates said, “My art of midwifery is in general like theirs; the only difference is that my patients are men, not women, and my concern is not with the body but with the soul that is in travail of birth.”
Instead of just passing information on to his students, Socrates used the sometimes painful process of asking probing questions to help them arrive at their own conclusions. Teaching them to think seemed at times like the travail of childbirth.
Paul expressed a similar idea in discipling believers in the faith when he said, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). Paul was concerned that each believer grow to spiritual maturity in Christlikeness (Eph. 4:13).
Becoming like Christ is a lifelong experience; therefore, we need patience with others and ourselves. All of us will have challenges and disappointments along the way. But if we put our trust in Him, we’ll grow spiritually and have character qualities that will radiate new life. — Dennis Fisher
Conversion is the miracle of a moment; maturing takes a lifetime.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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