Teacher: The Henrietta Mears Story
Written by Marcus Brotherton
Comments: Lessons we can learn from the “woman teacher behind every many successful men/women of God”, eg. Bill Bright who started Campus Crusade. Very inspiring and a must-read not only for teachers, but those involved in any other ministries.
Lessons for me to remember: (1) “Start where you are, as you are, in serving the Lord.” (2) Teach the Word clearly and correctly, to the end that people may come to know Christ as Saviour and Lord to grow spiritually, faithful in every good work. (3) Faith and despair can’t remain in the same heart, take your choice – trust God or worry…you can’t do both! (4) Nothing less than our best for Christ, and nothing more than God’s complete adequacy for our inadequacy! (5) Henrietta saw her mother on her knees in prayer for an hour daily and determined to follow her mother’s example. Our spiritual legacy would not go unnoticed! (6) It’s impt to have a place for every age in our SS, and a program for ever age. (7) To receive the power of Christ, simply submit to Christ and allow Him to control me. (8) The early roles we have played or now play are lessons that form the foundation of what is to come. (9) God will lead me and me the desire in my heart for the one place He wants me to fill. (10) Striving to find the Lord’s will – always wondering in which direction to turn – is perhaps the wrong emphasis. Knowing God’s will is literally a matter of yielding ourselves to Christ and thinking God’s thoughts after Him. (11) Our concern should be quality. Size comes as a result! (12) Make effort to learn more about my students. No teacher who was willing to invest time and effort in his class was not successful. (13) Good curriculum can make or break a ministry. (14) Teach chronologically to avoid confusing students. Avoid the “grasshopper method” of Bible study. (15) Ministry to people is the business of changing lives, but we don’t do the changing, God does. (16) Faith needs to be the core of every decision, every move, every assessment, every choice associated with ministry. Faith leads to strategy! (17) Psalm 16:8 – set the Lord always before us. (18) God is looking for men and women of total commitment. We must be “expendables” for Christ. (19) Success is not about us. The goal should always be about changed hearts – whose and how many, is up to the Holy Spirit. (20) Life can be measured by faithfulness in using the gifts you’ve been given – starting strong where you’re at, persevering in the race no matter what challenges, arriving at the end of life still walking wholeheartedly, steadfastly, resolutely and unswervingly with the Lord. (21) Aim to win everybody we meet to Christ! (22) Resolve to make ourselves accessible to anyone who wants to talk about deep matters and never express disappointment with anyone – i’m trying! (23) Aim to pray continually for wisdom (24) Resolve to run with perseverance the race marked our for us, and never fail Christ (25) i don’t have to be great. i can pass on to another the Lord Jesus Christ, and He, will make that person whom He wishes him or her to be. (26) Step out of the box, break the mold and follow Christ. (27) Reach a balance between accepting the limitations of my life while neither ignoring nor downplaying my strengths. (28) Commiting my life wholeheartedly to Christ – to know Christ and to make Him known – should be my most impt legacy!
