Cowboy Boots, Christ, and a Seminarian
Do you pray for those who will teach us? | Random Thoughts | Jesus Christ | Christianity
Road Trip Adventure Leads to Christ
The past few days, we went on a wander out of town for a brief birthday celebration.
One of the fun events we had was a visit to a store called Tecovas. The company sells western wear and cowboy boots. When Tecovas runs their sales, you can get great deals on well-made boots that will last a very long time.
We entered the store and two young guys warmly greeted us, Caleb and Christian. Caleb helped me, but they were out of my size in the boot that interested me, so I went over to where my husband sat with the young sales guy helping him, Christian. When I saw the “more dressy” cowboy boots on husband’s feet, I blurted out, “Oh, those are nice enough to wear to church.”
Christian turned to me and asked, “Where do you go to church?”
Well, that simple question opened wide the doors of conversation. Seated among cowboy boots. As Christ followers. With a seminarian named Christian.
Turns out both he and Caleb are seminarians at a college in our state that I know about and receive emails from occasionally. The hubs and I had a delightful conversation with Christian, and I felt touched by his excitement and dedication to his graduate-level studies. Then, his young wife walked into the store, we chatted, and I gave them our contact information.
Why It’s Important to Pray for Bible Teachers
After my birthday dude’s purchase, as we drove away from the store I pondered Christian’s journey, and this verse popped into my thoughts:
James 3:1 (BSB)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
[Read the verse in other translations]
James asserts that the judgment of teachers will be especially strict because greater responsibility rests on them: They teach God’s word to others
(Matt 12:36; 18:6).
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jas 3:1.
Matthew 12:36 (BSB)
36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Apparently, many desired to teach, possibly because of the authority and prestige that accompanied the role. The New Testament lists teachers, apostles, and prophets as important roles in the early church (Acts 13:1; Eph 4:11). Unqualified teachers appears to have been a critical issue in the early church
(1 John 3:7; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 Tim 6:3; 2 Tim 4:3).
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jas 3:1.
2 Timothy 4:3-5 (BSB)
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Will you join us in prayer for Caleb and Christian? Will you select time in your schedule to pray for the Bible teachers in your local community? And for their families who love and support them?
Maranatha, come (again) Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.
And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.
Conversation & Community
Your Turn
Are you, or have you been, a seminary student or a Bible teacher to a small or large group? If yes, what are your thoughts about James 3:1?
Everyone: What are your thoughts about this post in general?
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GOD bless you, Mark and Jenise.
"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 BSB
Father in Heaven, Your Spirit moves us to pray for Caleb and Christian. Send them both with boldness to preach the good news of Salvation, we ask. Give them the courage to go wherever You have intended. Help them to teach Your word with boldness, rightly dividing every word so that all who hear can understand the message clearly. Remind them of the simplicity of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried and rose again, that,
"Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 BSB
Thank You, LORD, for making all of us Your ambassadors, living testimonies of how You changed our lives, making us new, born again, born from above with a new life that will last forever.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 BSB "17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
GOD bless you all!
What He's Done | Maranatha! Music, Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Znx5W8byk
That is awesome! Yes, I immediately said a prayer for them and all who would teach His holy word! Have a blessed Sunday yourself, and happy belated birthday!