Be Transparent, So Others Can Learn

Bible teachers are leaders in the Church, so we're called to be examples to others.

If you teach for life application (and not just fact- stuffed heads), then there will be plenty of opportunities to talk about mistakes people have made. The Bible is brimming with mistakes and mis-steps and can-you-believe-the-Israelites-did-that-AGAIN! stories -- which help us understand God's amazing Grace.

And I believe Bible teachers are called to be transparent about mistakes we've made, too.

Sharing our mistakes, large and small, helps other avoid them. My children and my friends do not have to repeat the same mistakes that I've made. Really! Jesus did not have to sin in order to know sin is wrong. Every generation must learn some of the same lessons, but they do not need to make the same mistakes to learn those lessons.

As you share about mistakes, don't forget to tell the important part of the story -- God's power in correcting you, transforming situations, His abundant mercy and love. It's not surprising that we goof up. The beautiful part of your story is God's faithfulness. That's always fresh new!