I suspect that many of you have run into this situation in your own teaching ministry. It's not always easy. Sometimes you'll feel serious resistance to learning from you, the "new" kid. Sometimes you'll even HEAR it from them. Other times the problem is not with them, but with you -- you're nervous! "What could I possibly teach these people?"



First off, keep in mind that you can't "make" anyone want to listen to you. Don't try to be a jr. holy spirit. Let God do His part in their hearts.

Your responsibility is to be a good teacher, honoring Christ, and giving them every opportunity to learn. "As far as it depends upon you," Paul tells us in Romans 12, "be at peace with all people." So focus on the part of the relationship that you can control -- you.

As for what you should do...

Start with Scripture: go read 1 and 2 Timothy -- they're only a few pages. Read them imagining a very young pastor/teacher, in a difficult situation, hungrily devouring every word Paul writes for ideas and instruction and encouragement.

It's very important that you treat your elders with graciousness and respect. Be confident that the Lord will use you as His tool to help them learn and grow, but remember that each of these people is also in Christ. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ, not beneath you. (And you are not beneath them.)

It will help enormously if they observe your humility and teachability. Work from the Word of God itself, acknowledging that you, too, are on the discipleship path. You can easily acknowledge that they have greater life experience than you. But we all need to study the Word together, because the Christian life is lived out in community.

You may want to seek help in this matter from your pastor or minister. He or she may have some insights that will help you.

Finally, here's a FACT that always encourages me: the Word of God is a lot older than any of us. So we're all youngsters in the sight of the Lord and in light of eternity.

Try these approaches, bathe everything in prayer, and keep your focus on Christ. Remember that this situation is not an accident or random event -- the Lord has something in mind here for you to learn, and for them to learn. Everyone gets the opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!