The Gift of Teaching

Do you have the gift of Teaching?

If not, does that excuse you from teaching?

I don't believe it does because I have sat under some "Teachers" teaching and have learned some wonderful things.  However, I've also sat under some people's teaching who thought they were gifted "Teachers" and I felt frustrated because they spoke way over my head or were so caught up in the facts that they missed the heart of the message, or they were so confident in their knowledge of facts that they didn't seem to have need of the Spirit of God.  

What are the characteristics of a "Teacher"?

1.  Teachers need to validate information.

When a teacher hears important statements he will desire to verify them.  He wants to confirm that the statements are true and have the authority that brings spiritual freedom.

...however Teachers tend to become proud of their knowledge.

It is very easy for a teacher to become proud or "puffed up" because of his knowledge.  He may also appear proud by giving far more information than is needed to prove a point.  He can even communicate the attitude that "It isn't right until I check it out and say it is right."

2.  Teachers check out other Teachers.

A teacher is very alert to false teachers.  He will want to investigate their backgrounds before listening to them.  He will also assume that others want to know the teacher's qualifications, too, so he will tend to make sure others know.

...however, teachers tend to despise lack of credentials.

Teachers make the mistake of concentrating on intellectual knowledge rather than spiritual perception.  They can over emphasize credentials and despise or minimize the uneducated.

3.  Teachers tend to rely on Resources.

A teacher needs to go to reliable sources to validate truth.  Luke is a good example of this:  He praised the Bereans for daily confirming Paul's statements. He also related his writings to the other Gospel accounts and to the Old Testament.

...however, teachers can easily depend on human reasoning.

A teacher can easily give the impression that he is the only source of truth and that his gift is more important than the other gifts.  He may also react to, or fail to see, the need to bring his intellect under the control of the Holy Spirit, thus putting his scholarship ahead of the spiritual insight that comes through meditating on Scripture.

4.  Teachers present Truth systematically.

Teachers tend to feel more comfortable when material is laid out in an orderly sequence.  He wants to know the events in the order in which they occurred.

....however, teachers tend to criticize practical applications.

As the teacher focuses on textual studies, he may miss the underlying principles that apply to us today.

5. Teachers gather many facts.

Sometimes teachers have a greater delight in researching facts than in teaching them.  When they teach they feel compelled to give as many facts as possible.

...however, Teachers can try to show off their research skills.

Not only does a teacher desire to share his conclusion; he feels obligated to explain how he arrived at it.  He often assumes, wrongly, that because he enjoyed the research so much, others will enjoy it, too.  

6.  Teachers require thoroughness.

A teacher enjoys giving details that are not noticed or mentioned by others.  Luke gives precise descriptions of events, conversations, circumstances, and physical conditions.  He also details more names, titles, cities, dates, and events than any other Gospel writer.

...however a teacher tends to reject Scriptural presuppositions.

Because foundational truths of Scripture are to be understood by faith, a teacher will have to subject his intellect to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.

7.  A Teacher is uneasy with subjective truth.

A teacher recognizes the danger of using personal experience for a foundation of truth.  He wants to go from Scripture to experience, rather than from experience to a proof text in Scripture.  A teacher tends to be quiet until information has been heart, observed, and verified.

...however, a teacher tends to put mind above the Holy Spirit.

The most effective way for anyone to keep his intellect under the control of the Holy Spirit is to meditate on God's Word day and night.  Neither the inspiration of Scripture nor the true meaning of Scripture can be understood intellectually/ they must be discerned spiritually.   If a teacher fails to become mighty in spirit, he will tend to trust his own intellect.

8.  A Teacher perseveres with accepted teachers.

A teacher will tend to remain loyal to a mentor or a school as long as any truth remains. He does what he can to promote truth.

...however, a teacher tends to take teachings to extreme.

Truth out of balance leads to heresy.  Imbalance begins by studying a doctrine apart from its moral settings.  Argumentation and division result.  Imbalance occurs when related truths are separated.  (ex.: mercy without justice, grace without law.)

9.  Teachers clarify misunderstandings.

If a teacher learns his facts are wrong, he will not simply accept the conclusion but will want to retrace his own investigation to determine at what point he got off the right track.  He will want to use the same procedure to help others who have strayed from the truth.

...however, a teacher tends to argue over minor points.

If a teacher leans on his own understanding, it is easy for him to reject an important spiritual truth because he detects a minor flaw in the presentation of it.  He may also reject a truth because he is being asked to intellectually accept a conclusion without knowing how the other person arrived at it.

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Teaching?

Is that what motivates you?

If not, appreciate the teachers in your church.  Let them know how important they are and be willing to learn from them; have a teachable spirit.  Sometimes we tend to be frustrated with HOW they teach and then we are guilty of missing the message they are trying to relay to us.

And  then be willing to be a teacher/ a discipler.  We are all called to teach and disciple others. If we don't have the motivation of a teacher, it just makes us depend heavier on the leading of the Holy Spirit.