Every seasoned teacher knows that the best way to train students is to get them to train other students. Passing a test may show some competence in a field of study. Preparing lessons, reviewing content with others for tests and helping others master material is educational pedagogy on another level. Helping other people know what you have learned is significant knowledge integration. If we are not able to help others with content that has helped us, have we really been helped by such content?
If you have been moved by God during worship or through a sermon or teaching, is there someone you can share this experience with? Getting the message from your heart to another heart can bring greater change to your heart and may benefit someone who needs exactly what you have to share. Unfortunately many Christians think of devotional experiences or church meetings as entirely individual. I have “my quiet time” with “my personal Savior” and I make “my spiritual growth” a priority for “my spiritual maturity.” “God spoke to me through a sermon or worship service and I am learning so much.” This may be all well and good, but a “spiritual life” that does not “overflow” into the life of others is stunted and incomplete. The early disciples of Jesus shared much (Mark 3 & 6) even before they learned much (Mark 7-9).
A good question to ask yourself after a moving Sunday worship experience, sermon, or extensive Bible study is, “Who else could benefit from this?” This should not be the first question we have after sermons, worship or study. We should work long and hard on self-appropriating lessons from the Spirit. We should be removing “beams” from our own eyes much more than removing “specks” from the eyes of others (Matthew 7:1-5). But after application of God’s Word to ourselves, we would do well to consider others who might benefit from what we have learned.
First consider “prayer sharing” the lessons you are learning. As you worship and are moved by songs shared on a Sunday, you might pray the words of a moving song for someone you know who is in need. As you sing a song of worship, you might pray, “Dear Lord, let the words of this song be my prayer for my friend….” Often when I hear or remember a specific song, I pray the words and meaning of that song for a specific friend or family member. There may be a verse or a truth you hear in a sermon or lesson that is perfect for a struggling brother or sister in Christ. You can pray that verse or sermonic truth for that fellow believer. We should not make sermons or lessons all about other people and their needs, but God may bring someone to mind when hearing a sermon and prompt us to pray He will get the meaning of this message to that person in their need.
Second, keep a catalog or list of messages that encouraged you, to share with those you come across who are in need of encouragement or instruction. If someone is hurting and asking for advice or counsel, you might point them to sermons stored online that have helped you. Don’t send a sermon link unsolicited to someone. But if a friend asks you for help, advice or counsel, you might ask them if it would be okay for you to share a link to a sermon or to a book that helped you in this matter. If sharing a sermon seems like too much information, you might share how a phrase or thought from a sermon or song has helped you overcome discouragement, temptation or fear. Sharing a repeated or frequent saying from your pastor may be a way to help a friend in a difficult situation. Sharing a book, video or article may be very helpful to a friend in need. Sharing what has helped you may be part of the reason why experienced the difficulty in the first place. God often puts people in your path who have experienced hurts similar to yours. Sharing truth with others that you have found as healing may be the full flower of your own discipleship.
Third, look for opportunities to share what you have learned in teaching settings. If God has taught you much from a series of sermons or teachings, God may send you to people who need to hear this same information.
Be sure to share sources for your teaching. Give credit to whom credit is due. Plagiarism is not a Christian virtue. Sharing lessons that have helped you with people who have not had the benefit of attending your church or listening to your pastor would please even the most private of pastors. Inviting neighbors, co-workers, fellow students or people you meet to study the Bible with you, using materials from other gifted teachers can help “get the word out” to many who would never darken the door of a church. Invitations and requests for permission should govern invitations to such studies. We should avoid “forcing” content upon those who are not receptive. Getting the word of God out to those in need makes our devotional and spiritual life more purposeful and fulfilling.
Fourth, consider “sharing with others what you are sharing with others.” If you have opportunities to teach, serve, evangelize or encourage others with God’s Word, share stories of those interactions with other family members or friends that you may daily encounter. Casually sharing with family or friends that you are going on a mission trip or that you serve in a mission or school may pique the interest of these people in your life. People often care little about how regularly you attend church. But mention of how you volunteer your time or how much you enjoy serving others may stir intrigue or curiosity in those not so inclined. My neighbors have never asked me about what church I attend even though I leave my house at the same time every Sunday. But I have had many conversations with my neighbors about the meals shared at my home with international students. Some of my neighbors have even joined in the meals out of curiosity. Sharing about what your are sharing and inviting others to join you in such sharing can be a non-threatening way to acquaint others with what is going on spiritually in your life.
If what you are learning in church is not spilling over into the lives of others, are you not missing out on the full experience of your learning? The best way to learn is to teach. Pray that God will use your spiritual growth in the salvation and discipleship of others.