“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we might present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Col 1:28)
The spiritual gift of teaching involves communicating Biblical truth in a way that brings about healthy spiritual growth and life change. The gift is more than being a good teacher generically. Someone can be a good biology or literature teacher without having the spiritual gift of teaching. People with this gift focus on Jesus and on Scripture. When these people teach, it’s not just that you learn something. It’s that they take you to God and help you spiritually understand and apply His Word to your life. People with this gift open your heart and mind to God’s ways. People with the spiritual gift of teaching proclaim Christ. They want to present everyone perfect in Christ.
People with this gift care about the truth and about applying that truth to real life. Good teaching should be a bridge between a text and a life. In order to bridge from a text, you must know the text. Thus, people with the spiritual gift of teaching often spend much time in Scripture to discern what it says. They want to proclaim it accurately.
But in order to bridge to a life, you must know life. Good teachers, thus, are active participants in the Christian life. To teach on prayer, you need to pray. To teach on taking up your cross, you need to take up your own. To teach on generosity, you need to be generous.
People with the gift of teaching still struggle with all of the above and more. They will have their strengths and weaknesses just as you do, but they are in the fight. And they understand the fight. From the inside.
James says that God judges teachers with greater strictness (Jas 3:1), so you should not become a teacher lightly. You will be held to the standard that you teach. If you teach a low standard, you are not a good teacher. If you teach a Biblical standard, you will be held to it. For an honest teacher, that is a fearful prospect.
This gift is more public. People with this gift are usually in front of the church in some capacity.
The Importance of Teaching
This gift is the compass of the church. Good teaching leads the church in a right direction. Bad teaching leads the church astray.
False Teachers
The New Testament is filled with condemnation for false teachers. Every era of history has had its false teachers, and today is no different. Modern examples of false teaching include cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, different forms of the prosperity gospel, and different teachings under the label “progressive Christianity.” Those who teach such doctrines lead people astray, and God will hold them accountable for their teachings. God loves His church with a passion. Woe to those who lead the sheep astray.
Strengths of Teachers
- care about truth
- care about the church
- love to read
- love to learn
- are willing to do the work of studying Scripture
- are good communicators
- want to see people apply the Bible
- can explain complex spiritual ideas simply
- are usually strong in the Word
Weaknesses of Teachers
- can be too intellectual
- can focus on ideas and miss the people
- may struggle with personal relationships
- may be proud of their knowledge and abilities
- may be proud of being in front of others
- need to be right
Examples of People with this Gift
Ezra, Paul, Timothy, Apollos, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Francis Chan, Tim Keller
Good Roles for People with this Gift
pastor, Bible study leader, Bible teacher, seminary professor, apologist, writer
