Find people and teach authoritatively

Jesus finds people where they are and teaches with authority.

Mark 1:21-22 ²¹  Jesus and his newly called disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
At first glance, these verses seem insignificant.  But they tell us so much about Jesus' ministry - and they teach us how we should minister too.  Jesus goes to his target audience (his fellow Jews) where they had gathered - in the synagogue.  He goes to them - meets them where they are.  We see Paul mimic this habit of Jesus in the book of Acts when Paul goes to teach in the amphitheatre where his target audience, the gentiles, gather.  Paul meets the people God has called him to reach where they are rather than insisting they come to him.  In our churches - do we seek to meet others where they are or do we insist they come to us on our terms?

Not only is Jesus' style different from the other teachers (the scribes), but he claims the authority of one who has divine knowledge.  He doesn't come saying phrases like "I think" and "It might be" or "I hope."  Jesus is not struggling with theology or practice or faith.  He walks so closely with the Father - that he can teach what has been revealed to him.  How much of what we teach (and all of us teach - we teach our children, our friends, our coworkers, etc) is from a common wisdom base that may or may not have anything to do with what God has revealed to us?  How many of us teach from what we have learned in our relationship with God - from what God has revealed to us and from what God has shown us through our experiences?

Sometime I hear fellow ministers joking about the "preaching fairy" bringing them the Sunday message.  I know it is a joke, but still it makes me cringe.  What all of us teach - whether it is informal or formal - should come from our deep walk with God - teaching only what is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and then teaching it with authority.  That isn't easy to do.  But followers of Jesus are kind of obligated to live (and teach) that way.

Do we ignore Jesus' example to find people where they are and then teach (live out our lives) with authority?

P.S.  This authority stuff isn't popular... most of us feel better living/teaching as if we can't know for sure.  And if you are like me, you are more comfortable saying "this is what I think" rather than "this is what God has revealed to me."  But what kind of disciples are we making if our faith is based on "it might," "it could," and "I hope?"  instead of demonstrating a life of humbly walking with God who has promised to give us all wisdom?