THE MODEL TEACHER

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 21, 1881

THE MODEL TEACHER.

In seeking after our models or examples to copy, we need not, like the artist, go to Italy in order to copy the great masters; for the great Master of teaching—Christ, our model Teacher and the teacher's Model—is always before us, and his example is perfect. He is "the Teacher come from God." "He spake as never man spake." Let us notice some characteristics of his teaching:—

1. He was very instructive. He knew what was in man, and just how to meet his wants. If our words do not instruct, they "are simply impertinent." Do our "lips teach knowledge?"

2. He was beautifully simple,—child-like, but never childish; so clear that all could understand. So our words should be few, well-chosen, simple, and adapted, softly and deliberately expressed.

3. His teaching was highly illustrative. So should ours be. He gathered from all the common surroundings of life. The tiny sparrow was made to illustrate his care; he pointed the magi to the stars; the fishermen were to be fishers of men; he taught a lesson to the merchantman from the goodly pearl; the water-bearer was offered the water of life; while the wheat, the grain, the tares, the chaff, the vine, the tree, the field, and almost every object, taught the husbandman amid his daily toil. Heaven itself is represented by earthly things, and objects the most valued—by "songs," "arches," "harps of gold," "rivers clear as crystal," "rivers of pleasure," "pearly gates," "precious rubies and stones," etc. His illustrations always threw light upon truth—never displaced it, as ours sometimes do. They were drawn from every-day life, and so well adapted that they were joyfully received by the candid inquirer. Let all Sabbath-school teachers herein copy the Master. Apt illustrations render truth more permanent; for it is well said, that the "simile, the anecdote, the fable, is sure to be remembered, and the sentiment to which it was linked is sure to go with it."

4. His teaching was, also, sublimely courageous. "He spake as one having authority." His confidence in God and his truth raised him above fear and doubt.

5. His teaching was singularly adapted. It always reached the heart and life.

6. His teaching was mingled with prayer. He went out to teach; he retired to pray. Let all teachers imitate his example.

7. His teaching was closely applied. Let our teaching, also, be carried home to the every-day life of the children, and applied closely, particularly, personally, and privately to specific errors and sins; for we never should allow ourselves for a moment to doubt that there is no infirmity in manner or purpose, in habit, temper, or character, amongst our children, which the Sabbath-school, with its divine text-book, is not abundantly competent to reach and remove.—S. S. Index.