Teaching by example is a fundamental principle in nurturing and instructing others, especially children. As parents, we are the most significant teaching tool, guiding through our actions more than our words. If we fail to live by the principles we preach, our teaching will not take root. A parent who instructs without embodying those lessons is building with one hand while tearing down with the other. Jesus Christ exemplified this principle throughout His life. For three and a half years, He taught His disciples and the multitudes by His actions, establishing skills and practices through His example. He demonstrated calmness in crisis on the raging sea, righteous anger without sin when casting merchants from the Temple, gentleness in blessing children, humility in washing the disciples' feet, and endurance through illegal arrest, beating, and death. His patience, longsuffering, and forgiveness were lessons lived daily, revealing the character and mind of the Father. Our daily actions, from prayer and study to work and play, are opportunities to teach. Whether maintaining a clean home, reacting to challenges like being cut off in traffic, or showing dedication to God, we are constantly instructing through our behavior. In trials, sickness, pain, or loss, if faith and trust in God remain, we teach the right principles. Our goal should be that others see Christ in us, inspiring them to pursue the same path. The power of example surpasses mere words. Actions in love, dedication, and truth—towards family, brethren, and even in mundane tasks—speak louder than lectures. As we live out these lessons, we provide a lifetime of training, ensuring that when our children grow old, they will not depart from the way they have been shown.

Teaching by example begins with Christ Himself, who immediately after His resurrection told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples that He was ascending to "My Father and your Father, My God and your God." This selfless act, sharing His Father with humanity rather than harboring resentment over His suffering, demonstrates that Christ's actions speak as powerfully as His words. Just as human fathers must live out the honesty, loyalty, and obedience they teach their children—since failing to do so gives children an excuse for their own failings—God the Father and Jesus Christ provide humanity with perfect, consistent examples that surpass the imperfect models offered by earthly fathers. This principle is illustrated through two contrasting fathers in I Chronicles. Rapha, father of Goliath and several other giant sons, raised his children as men of war trained from youth to hate and fight Israel. Even after witnessing the miraculous death of Goliath at the hands of young David, clear evidence that a mightier God was at work, Rapha refused to change course or teach humility to his remaining sons. Each son, though an adult capable of independent choice, followed the same path of hostility and died in successive wars. Rapha's failure to adjust his example, and his sons' failure to break from it, resulted in their destruction. Ornan the Jebusite offers the opposite example. Descended from Jerusalem's royal Jebusite line, historic enemies of Israel, Ornan had apparently undergone a change of heart, recognizing the God of Israel as true and David as His chosen king. When the death angel appeared at his threshing floor, his sons hid, but Ornan discerned the situation and, upon seeing David, humbled himself completely, offering his land, oxen, wood, and grain for sacrifice. Rather than raising his sons in continued hostility toward Israel, he modeled submission and reverence toward God, giving his sons a righteous example to follow rather than sacrificing them, as Rapha effectively did, to pagan hostility. These accounts yield three lessons: verbal instruction from parents matters greatly, but it must be reinforced by a life that matches the teaching. Second, every person, having once been a child, eventually becomes accountable for evaluating the examples received and cannot use a poor upbringing as an excuse for continuing in wrong behavior, since sons in both accounts were adults capable of choosing their own path. Third, this principle operates spiritually as well: God the Father and Christ, as Elder Brother, are perfect role models who back their words of wisdom with flawless example. Believers are called to reject the pattern of Rapha and his sons and instead follow that of Ornan and his sons, parents providing godly examples and children responsibly choosing to follow them, always guided ultimately by the perfect example of the Father.

God instructs us to teach our children diligently, emphasizing the importance of embedding His Word in our hearts and lives as a foundation for guidance. We must have a passion for God, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and strength, and letting His commandments shape our daily conduct. By living out these principles, we provide an example of righteous living to our children, sharing our knowledge of the Scriptures, and instilling confidence, faith, and love as guides for their lives. Teaching diligently requires perseverance, drive, consistency, and planning, setting specific times each day for instruction. This planned activity should occur at designated moments, whether when sitting in the house, walking by the way, lying down, or rising up, ensuring that every facet of life includes teaching God's Word. For young children, brief sessions are effective, such as reading a Bible verse as a daily memory verse and illustrating its application through stories that show God's protection and care for the righteous. Beyond formal teaching, casual conversation is vital, taking place during everyday activities like folding clothes, doing housework, or playing sports. This time allows us to listen to our children, understand their thoughts and feelings, and guide them with examples from our own experiences of applying God's Word, such as using a soft answer to turn away wrath. Spending time with children, especially teenagers, counters negative influences from the world and reinforces the importance of God's guidelines. Teaching by example is crucial; our actions must reflect the love for God's law that we profess. When we show genuine care, stop what we are doing to listen, and look our children in the eye, we communicate their importance to us. If we diligently teach our children about the joy and happiness of living God's way, without hypocrisy, they will not be turned off. As parents, we have a unique opportunity to impart the love of God and the knowledge of His Word, building a wall of faith to protect them from the selfishness and false ideas of this world.

Teaching by example holds a significant place in fulfilling God's plan for humanity, as it prepares us for our future roles in the Millennium. Jesus Christ, addressed as Teacher in the Gospels, exemplifies the divine model of instruction, demonstrating adaptability by teaching in diverse settings such as temples, villages, synagogues, homes, along roads, and from boats. His approach was not limited to a select few but extended to crowds, tailoring His lessons to the understanding of His listeners. His use of parables stands as a powerful tool, offering lessons that remain relevant for us to emulate in our teaching efforts. As members of God's church, we are called to develop essential qualities of effective teachers, preparing now for the responsibility of instructing others in the World Tomorrow. First, good teachers must possess a fear of the Lord, recognizing God as the source of wisdom and grounding their methods in trust and faith in Him. Second, they must be wise learners themselves, humbly seeking knowledge of God's way, digesting it through reflection, and applying it in their lives before imparting it to others. Third, setting a good example is crucial, requiring us to overcome human tendencies of resistance and impatience by responding obediently to God's Word with genuine faith and righteous actions. Fourth, good teachers use authority properly, exercising power with love, gentleness, and self-control, avoiding superiority and sharing truth collaboratively. Fifth, effective communication is vital, involving humility, warmth, and the ability to explain concepts from various perspectives to ensure understanding, following Christ's example of empathy. Sixth, patience is an indispensable trait, demanding an even-tempered disposition to explain repeatedly without irritation, reflecting God's own nature and developed through His Spirit. Lastly, kindness must underpin our teaching, encouraging rather than discouraging, and expressing God's healing love to a humanity in need during the Millennium. Our role as teachers is not only a future responsibility but a present calling, as we learn and practice God's way of life within the church. We are to prepare mentally and spiritually, embracing challenges as opportunities to grow in our capacity to teach and guide. The authority and power to teach will come from God the Father and Jesus Christ, and our credibility will rest not only in our words but in our character and the divine source of our instruction. As we strive to embody these qualities, we pioneer the way for a transformed world, fulfilling our purpose to instruct and lead under Christ's rulership in the coming Kingdom.