First, an admission: I am a very difficult consumer in every way. I am always on the lookout for evidence of poor consumer service, in stores, medical offices, pretty much everywhere.

And this is especially true in classrooms. I’m very hard on teachers, finding fault with just about everything they do. In all the years I spent in schools of various kinds, very few teachers ever met my frequently unrealistic expectations for their work.

Because of that fault in me, I ask myself if I would even have submitted to the teaching ministry of Jesus, had I met him during his earthly ministry.

Jesus used many different techniques as a teacher: he used the rabbis’ method of answering questions with questions, he offered explanation, he challenged his followers’ biases and pre-conceived ideas. But mostly, Jesus taught by simply keeping the disciples with him. He had them follow as he went from place to place, and they heard what he said, and saw what he did.

He taught them about the kingdom of God more than any other way, by letting them see it in action, letting it sink into their minds and hearts, so that when they were called upon to put their learning into action, they had all they needed to continue the healing and prophetic missions that Jesus began among them.

They became the same kind of teachers, moving out into the world to let everyone see what possibilities there are in a life lived in God’s grace, grace poured out by Christ.

Those who follow Christ today have to think about this. While some are given a special spiritual gift of teaching, it is integral to following Christ to teach others about following him, and invite them to do so. And Jesus himself gives us the method. We may not consider ourselves well versed in the Bible, or we may be aghast at the idea of speaking in public, or we may not think of ourselves as a model for another person to follow. But Jesus has given us the way to continue his work.

Our lives can be the lesson that others can respond to. As our neighbors see us responding to God’s grace, sharing what it means to be in God’s kingdom, and reaching out to help heal the hurts and struggles they face, we are doing the same kind of teaching that Jesus himself preferred, and letting others know that “ the kingdom of God is among you.” The little things of every day, the steps that we take to make life better for others, are our lessons in how to draw closer to God and let God more fully into each and every life.

And that is the kind of teaching that even I could approve.

¦ Local clergy wishing to write should contact Lois Hart at lhart@gwi.net.

Lay ministers as well as ordained clergy may contribute.

NEIL E. GASTONGUAY is pastor of Bath United Methodist Church in Bath and a member of the Order of St. Luke.

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