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In the Part One, we wondered how Jesus Christ could teach His disciples so that they could remember what He had taught them, and write them or recount His words for others to write them into books after many years.
It is believed that the Gospel books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written between 50 and 60 years after Christ Jesus had ascended to heaven. If people could still remember the words of Jesus and write them into books after these years, then, the Lord was imbued with unique teaching skills.
What about the earliest apostles? How did they teach for believers to understand, retain and remember what they were taught thereby enabling them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ?
There is no doubt that Jesus Christ and the earliest apostles avoided speaking quickly and noisily. They took their time to speak slowly but loudly, making sure that people clearly heard and understood them.
Another important teaching skill they obviously used was repetition of their messages. Repetition of messages is not a demonstration of laziness or weakness, but a necessary skill to enhance comprehension, retention, remembrance and application of God’s Word or ideas.
However, today, most of us church leaders, who have the opportunity to teach God’s Word, rush it. We bombard our church members with many messages they hardly understand and apply to their lives.
Some do not even teach at all. They just tell stories about Abraham, Job, David, Isaac and others to motivate people. Others teach new topics every day which eventually confuses the people. They have no regard for repetition of messages.
But Paul said, “To WRITE THE SAME THINGS to you is not irksome to me, but is safe for you” (Philippians 3:1, emphasis mine). You see, Paul was not bothered about writing same messages or repeating a message to Christian believers. He understood the power of repetition of teachings.
Moreover, Peter wrote, “l will not be negligent to REMIND you always of these things, THOUGH YOU KNOW and are ESTABLISHED in the present truth.(2 Peter 1:12–13, emphasis mine).
Peter talks about reminding people. To remind is to “bring to mind”, “call to mind” or “call attention.” Interestingly, the apostle states that the people already have knowledge about what he intends to remind them about.
This means Peter was committed to repeating what he had already taught them in order for them to properly understand it, retain it, remember it and finally act on it.
We also know that John repeatedly stressed love in his letters (1 John 2:7–11; 3:11, 23; 4:7–12), showing how vital repetition was in shaping Christian character. The same principle is vital for us all today.
Repetition undoubtedly helps retention and recall. Psychologically, repetition strengthens memory pathways. Spiritually, it engraves truth on the heart.
That’s why God instructed Israel to repeatedly teach His commandments diligently to their children, talking about them when they sit, walk, lie down, and rise up (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
When we church leaders, today, learn to teach God’s Word slowly and repeatedly
with prayer and meditation by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, believers will surely understand it, retain it, recall it and apply it to their lives for the glory of God.
By James Quansah
