Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
Teaching Disciples: Part 2
“And yet another day has passed and I didn’t use algebra once….” This popular meme shows up occasionally in social media feeds. The underlying sentiment here is that maybe we should focus our high school curriculum on practical mathematics rather than abstract concepts.
Educator Kailen Stover is one teacher whose financial class students actually find useful. She shares some strategies she uses to help her students learn financial responsibility. She discovered that students’ practical needs typically fall into three main categories: living on their own, credit and credit cards, and taxes.
She begins by assigning students to go apartment hunting. They must personally tour the units they research (accompanied by an appropriate adult), and research the costs of moving in, including utilities and other monthly expenses. A major component of the assignment is to create a realistic monthly budget.
Stover then teaches them how to use credit while staying in their budget. She has also created a Jenga game where each block is an event that either raises or lowers their credit score. She wraps up this section by having the students discuss whether they really need a credit card or not.
And finally, taxes. Stover helps alleviate the fear of doing taxes by helping her students fill out W4 and 1040 forms, using simulations that the IRS has posted to teach tax concepts to students.
Stover’s ultimate goal in her financial management class is: “…to remind my students that they don’t have to be able to do everything. That’s why we have tax professionals, real estate agents, financial consultants, etc. If my students can recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and find resources as needed, I’ve done my job.”
Just as it is with mathematics, sometimes the lessons in the Bible can be somewhat abstract and are seemingly not applicable to today’s world.
Jesus’ parables often taught abstract ideas to the disciples that they would ponder for years to come. He also, however, gave them some very practical, common-sense lessons.
The disciples had to unlearn many false teachings promoted by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Their traditions on marriage and divorce, the role of children in society, leadership as a position of honor (rather than an opportunity to serve), wealth as a sign of God’s favor, and their practice of looking down on the poor and disadvantaged came from these teachers’ own corrupted interpretations of Jewish religion rather than from God’s word. Jesus had a monumental task to undo His disciples’ lifetimes of exposure to such lies.
There’s no mistaking Jesus’ intent when He instructs the rich young man to “go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21). And, “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43) is good counsel for any leader. These practical lessons may be hard for some to hear, but Jesus never said that the Christian life is easy.
For Reflection
Connecting: What is one lesson you learned in school that you still regularly apply to everyday life?
Sharing: Jesus teaches both practical and abstract concepts in Mark 10:17-31. What does this passage teach you about material wealth?
1. Managing wealth properly is a spiritual minefield—one wrong step and there goes one’s hope of eternity
2. If you see yourself as a steward of wealth, rather than an owner, it can be a true blessing to you and Christ’s mission
3. After hearing some of the sad tales of lottery winners, I don’t think I’d want the burden of instant wealth
4. Since I have a pretty good understanding of Christian principles for living, I’m sure I’d handle riches just fine
5. I’m still hung up on that whole “camel through the eye of a needle” thing. That just sounds painful to me
6. Other:
Applying: Consider the needs of your community, and the ministry gifts you see in your local congregation. Which outreach ministry do you see as best meeting those needs (considering your ability to provide that ministry): financial management, marriage and family enrichment, Christian leadership principles, or healthy living? What role could you personally fill in such a ministry?
Valuing: Read Matthew 19:29. Take time to reflect on what you have given up to follow Christ. Is it worth it? Will it be worth it someday?
~ Chuck Burkeen
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