From the Inspirational Teachers Series:
Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition, Adjunct Professor in Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, concretes God's word through an extraordinary classroom teaching style and learning experience. He teaches from the New Testament's original language of Greek as if he's using the normal English translation. His mastery of the text reveals the mastery of God's truth and love on his heart and life. His humble upbringing and God's humbling work in him carries over into his teaching. He adds fun and intriguing life stories that give realness to learning and application.
His decades worth of research, love for the gospel, care for God's word, and concern for people trains students to learn godly faithfulness, integrity, and conviction. He handles and helps ignorant and inquisitive students alike. He brings attention to God's word as the power, wisdom, and direction in life. He guides aspiring student-pastors to shepherd people to Christ through sound doctrine and teaching. His commitment reveals the steady grip and grace God has on him.
He lives as an example of being what up-and-coming pastors need, which is a challenge to gospel-centered, missional, and sound teaching that affects life and people to taste of God's goodness to bring about faith in the next generation to live and die for Christ. Like other great inspirational teachers, thousands will have never met or heard of his name but will have tasted the impact God has had through him through his student-pastors and the churches they have served over the last and future generations.
I am incredibly thankful for the multi-generational impact God has through him, especially showing up in a conversation with a professor friend prior to seminary saying, "You need to look into Dallas Theological Seminary with professors like Howard Hendricks, Dr. Pentecost, Dr. Walvoord, Dr. Bock, Dr. Wallace ... and Dr. Toussaint!" I am thankful that conversational wisdom become reality, especially under his teaching and influence. Thank you Dr. Toussaint! May your influence live on and impact.
- What inspired you to teach?
Your first question is difficult to answer. First I sensed this was God’s will for me. Second, it was confirmed by the response people gave to my teaching and by my enjoyment in doing it. - Why do you teach the way you teach?
My method of teaching is somewhat homemade. I did not appreciate students sharing ignorance so I determined to present to my hearers some content which they could discuss and digest. At the same time I realized that people would need a mental break so I would intersperse stories, jokes and especially applications to life. - What teacher has had the greatest influence on you (parent, elementary teacher, pastor, professor, friend, colleague, etc)?
The teacher who has impacted my life the most by far was S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. I appreciated his teaching in class (and some of my methodology is derived from him). It was also my privilege to sit under his pastoral leadership at the Grace Bible Church in Dallas. It was under him that I learned expository preaching.
