Approach Teachable Moments Delicately

A teachable moment is defined as “an event or experience which presents a good opportunity for learning something about a particular aspect of life.”

google search, oxford languages. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=teachable+moment+definition. Accessed 4/13/22.

Teachable moments come in every relationship.

Sometimes these are teachable moments for us, other times they are for someone else.

Almost every teachable moment has the potential to become a crisis or a confrontation.

Teachable moments are like landmines.

If we do not handle them delicately, they explode.

There is a Biblical example of this in Acts 15:36-41.

Acts 15:36-41

Acts 15:36–41 NKJV

36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

I do want us to notice that God used this double the impact of these men.

However, I believe that both Paul and Barnabas were in the wrong here.

Their disagreement is not wrong, the contention is.

Contention – παροξυσμός (paroxysmos) sharp disagreement. Provocation (agitation), a state of intense, emotional turmoil; especially expressed in words.

What we have here is a teachable moment that Paul and Barnabas miss.

They had an opportunity to work through this issue and learn and grow.

Instead, they had such sharp disagreement that they split up.

What could have been a time of growth, maturity, and strength, wasn’t.

Teachable moments must be handled delicately.

When handled delicately and correctly, every teachable moment has three parts.

Part #1…

The Catalyst vv. 23-24

Mark 2:23–24 NKJV

23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

This is a catalyst.

There is always something that sets off a teachable moment.

This can be an event or statement.

In this case it is a statement.

Here is the issue.

It is the Sabbath and they are walking, “harvesting grain”, and eating.

The Pharisees classified this as work and you were not supposed to work on the Sabbath.

This scenario is what leads to a teachable moment.

In our lives teachable moments come in various forms.

It could be the innocent question of a child about where babies come from.

Or it could be a scene in a movie we are watching.

It could be a question, assumption, or misunderstanding from a spouse.

It could be a conversation with a friend.

Regardless of how it arrives, We need to take two actions to approach a teachable moment delicately.

1 - Recognize the moment.

2 - Embrace the moment.

To recognize a teachable moment, we need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

This demands that there be nothing in our lives preventing God’s work in us.

We also need to be looking for teachable moments.

This demands an active outlook on life.

Here’s what I mean.

Many times we are passive, we allow life to happen around us.

We need to be active, looking for ways to engage and interact with those around us.

To embrace a teachable moment, we need to want them.

This can be difficult.

Usually there is something we would much rather do than teach or be taught.

This requires a change in our understanding.

Ease and comfort are not what we are here for.

We represent Jesus, and our job as parents, spouses, and friends is to equip and encourage one another.

Teachable moments must be grasped intentionally.

Though the Pharisees don’t know it yet, this is a teachable moment.

They have confronted Jesus and His disciples.

Three parts to a teachable moment.

Part #1: The catalyst.

Part #2…

The Response vv. 25-26

Mark 2:25–26 NKJV

25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

The Pharisees have made a sort of accusation against Jesus and His disciples.

What Jesus reveals here is that they are wrong.

They have completely misunderstood the Sabbath.

When there is a teachable moment, a response is necessary.

This, done well, is something to challenge their thinking and open them to truth.

Jesus is not overly harsh with them.

What He does is remind them of a situation where someone they respected broke a rule and it was okay.

David, with all his faults, was a man after God’s own heart.

If a man after God’s own heart could violate a rule, maybe there is something here we don’t fully understand.

The response of Jesus was kind and gracious.

Jesus is lovingly and carefully leading them to truth.

This is the response we must have.

In our relationships, there are going to be teachable moments.

Our spouse, children, or friends are going to come to us with something, and they are going to be wrong.

What we do and say next is vital.

Here is a scenario.

Your spouse comes to you and says that Sally’s husband Jed got hurt at his construction job, and is in the hospital.

The problem is, Sally’s husbands name is Frank and he does IT work in a cubicle.

Now you have a choice.

You can reply with condescension and snark, or you can be kind and gracious.

Here’s the thing.

We all know where condescension and snark take us, right?

So why do we keep doing it?

We like to be right and for everyone to know we are right.

That is selfishness at its finest.

Your adult child comes to you all excited about an investment they want to make.

The problem is, as they explain the investment, you are pretty sure it is a pyramid scheme.

How you respond is essential.

There are going to be moments when those we love say things that are wrong.

In those moments we have an opportunity to demonstrate our love for them through how we respond.

In a teachable moment, our response is everything.

How would you want someone to respond to you?

Three parts to a teachable moment.

Part #1: The catalyst.

Part #2: The response.

Part #3…

The Correction vv. 27-28

Mark 2:27–28 NKJV

27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Having made them think and question, Jesus corrects them.

This is where we have to be careful.

If someone comes to us and they are wrong about something, it is necessary (out of love and kindness) to correct them.

However, How we correct others matters.

Jesus doesn’t call them names.

He doesn’t berate them or belittle them, He simply imparts truth.

This is important.

Both parties need to respond well.

How many of us have doubled down on a mistake because we didn’t want to admit we were wrong?

Don’t do that.

How many of us have approached a situation like this totally wrong?

We put our spouse, child, or friend down instead of lifting them up?

It is hard to approach teachable moments delicately.

It is a skill we have to practice to do well.

The success or failure of a teachable moment depends on the attitude of our correction.

With that in mind.

I want to close by talking about…

What To Do When We Get It Wrong

Humbly ask for forgiveness.

Admit when we are wrong, say the words, and ask for another chance.

This is what we do.

We are going to get it wrong.

We are going to have times when we respond incorrectly.

We grow as we admit our wrongs and resolve to do better.

Be quick to correct yourself.

The moment we realize we have responded incorrectly, that is when we deal with it.

Don’t wait.

CHALLENGE:

I will approach teachable moments with an open and caring heart.

The goal is not to be right, it is to build connection and grow in relationship.