Jul 22, 2018
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: TEACHING
Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
The spiritual gift of teaching is a gift given and empowered by the Spirit for the purpose of teaching truth with accuracy and in a way that others gain understanding.
YOU MIGHT HAVE THE GIFT OF TEACHING IF . . .
You have a strong desire, accompanied by a capable ability, to teach Scripture.
“ . . . and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Knowledgeable of Scripture
Engaging
“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29
Creative
Contextual
“And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Acts 17:19-20
You are concerned about teaching the truth with accuracy.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Titus 1:9
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” Titus 2:1
You are driven by a passion to study and research diligently so as to be prepared.
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4
You desire to help others gain clarity and understanding about what is being taught.
“And he was teaching them many things in parables . . .” Mark 4:2
THE NECESSITY OF TEACHING TRUTH . . .
There is a need for teaching the truth of Scripture in a post-truth world.
Teaching the truth and authority of Scripture is like pointing to an anchor that can be tethered to in the midst of a drifting culture.
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“Rest assured that the most fervid revivalism will wear itself out in mere smoke, if it be not maintained by the fuel of teaching.... Sound teaching is the best protection for the heresies which ravage right and left among us.”—Charles Spurgeon
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING TAUGHT TRUTH . . .
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching . . .” Acts 2:42
To equip you to build up the body of Christ.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .” Ephesians 4:11-13
To be able to discern what is true from what is false.
“ . . . so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” Ephesians 4:14
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
To grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ.
“ . . . Here are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:16b-18