Augustine Pointing to the Scriptures....

Here's a selection from Augustine, commenting about questioning a person about why he is interested in becoming a Christian:

But if it happens that his answer is to the effect that he has met with some divine warning, or with some divine terror, prompting him to become a Christian, this opens up the way most satisfactorily for a commencement to our discourse, by suggesting the greatness of God’s interest in us. His thoughts, however, ought certainly to be turned away from this line of things, whether miracles or dreams, and directed to the more solid path and the surer oracles of the Scriptures; so that he may also come to understand how mercifully that warning was administered to him in advance, previous to his giving himself to the Holy Scriptures. And assuredly it ought to be pointed out to him, that the Lord Himself would neither thus have admonished him and urged him on to become a Christian, and to be incorporated into the Church, nor have taught him by such signs or revelations, had it not been His will that, for his greater safety and security, he should enter upon a pathway already prepared in the Holy Scriptures, in which he should not seek after visible miracles, but learn the habit of hoping for things invisible, and in which also he should receive monitions not in sleep but in wakefulness. At this point the narration ought now to be commenced, which should start with the fact that God made all things very good, and which should be continued, as we have said, on to the present times of the Church. This should be done in such a manner as to give, for each of the affairs and events which we relate, causes and reasons by which we may refer them severally to that end of love from which neither the eye of the man who is occupied in doing anything, nor that of the man who is engaged in speaking, ought to be turned away. [Source]

This quote was from Augustine’s Catechising of the Uninstructed. He demonstrates many of the same problems he faced plague teachers in each generation. Am I a good enough speaker? Are my pupils actually benefiting from my teaching? Is my presentation dreary or cheerful?

Augustine begins his writing to Deogratias by uplifting him in his role as instructor, reminding him that others recognizing his role as a teacher should confirm his calling. He exhorts him to be passionate about his subject, since this will provoke the interest of his hearers.

Augustine provides helpful teaching ideals: Summarize content. Instruct with Godly motivations. Love your pupils. View yourself as one who assists in the conversion of a person being catechized. Point them away from experience to the certainty of the Scriptures. Exhort them to sanctification. Teach people where they are at (some are more knowledgeable in the faith than others).

Augustine’s advice in this writing is insightful and relevant,demonstrating that when the Holy Spirit call men to teach, he has called qualified people in each generation. His diligence and dedication to the Holy Scriptures shine in virtually every section of this writing. It's well worth reading!