| We could talk about the gift of teaching in terms | | | | pure, undefiled, and unified before God and the |
| of skill sets, personality types, and rhetorical | | | | world. |
| styles - but we won't. Not here. | | | | Fourth, we are called to guide people into the |
| Instead, using a slightly different approach, let's | | | | knowledge of the Son of God. This speaks of |
| discuss the gift of teaching in terms of what it is | | | | relationship. As teachers, we are not only to deal |
| meant to accomplish in the Body of Christ. | | | | with information. Right teaching is not enough if it |
| Ephesians 4:11-13 expands on I Corinthians 12:7 as | | | | leaves out the crucial element of intimacy with |
| to the purpose of the spiritual gifts as a whole. | | | | God. We must live in and teach people how to |
| We will look at these verses, however, from the | | | | grasp a vital, growing, personal relationship with |
| specific perspective of the gift of teaching: | | | | God through Jesus Christ. Prayer, meditation, and |
| "He gave some as ... teachers, for the equipping | | | | worship must be characteristic of our lives - and |
| of the saints for the work of service, to the | | | | we must engender that in others. |
| building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain | | | | Fifth, we must help each individual in the church to |
| to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of | | | | mature. Spiritual maturity involves fulfillment, or |
| the Son of God, to a mature man, to the | | | | completion. Being what we are called by God to |
| measure of the stature which belongs to the | | | | be. Think of the words we normally associate |
| fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13). | | | | with someone who is mature: responsible, |
| The first thing that is noted is that teachers are | | | | thoughtful, wise, compassionate, understanding, |
| to equip the saints for the work of service. The | | | | reasonable, reliable, faithful. By our teaching and |
| teacher equips the saints for the work of service | | | | example, we can help those around us toward |
| by helping them to gain a firm foundation in the | | | | spiritual maturity. |
| faith - in the Word of God, in relationship with | | | | Finally, we are called to build up the Body of Christ |
| God, and in the practice of a life lived for God: | | | | to the measure of the stature which belongs to |
| - Christians cannot serve effectively if they do | | | | the fullness of Christ. It is Christ and |
| not know the standard of the Word of God. | | | | Christ-likeness we aim for. Relationship with Christ |
| - Christians cannot serve effectively if they are | | | | and sanctification in Christ. In the final analysis, |
| out of communion with God. | | | | maturity is not measured by knowledge, or even |
| - Christians cannot serve effectively if they do | | | | by wisdom. It is not measured by the spiritual |
| not practice the spiritual disciplines of the Christian | | | | disciplines or by orthodox belief. All of these things |
| faith. | | | | are essential parts of the whole, and without |
| The teacher is positioned to instruct, encourage, | | | | them one cannot be mature in Christ, nor |
| and reprove people in all of these areas. | | | | become like Christ - yet, somehow, we could |
| Second, the teacher is to build up of the body of | | | | have all those things and yet not be like Christ. |
| Christ. Teachers are called to be examples in the | | | | The final element is love - what Paul called "the |
| church, building up the body by demonstrating the | | | | more excellent way." What John described the |
| life of Christ in their own life. James 3:1 issues a | | | | infinite, almighty God as. What Christ |
| warning that refers to this responsibility: "Let not | | | | demonstrated for us on the cross. |
| many of you become teachers, my brethren, | | | | We are called to love others - first, foremost, and |
| knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter | | | | always. Only if we love those whom we teach will |
| judgment." A teacher is a type of leader, and | | | | we teach them well. Only through love do |
| therefore must challenge, stimulate, and | | | | orthodoxy and orthopraxy make sense. Only |
| encourage others to excellence through the | | | | through love can both encouragement and |
| example of his or her own life. | | | | reproof be given and received safely. Only |
| Third, teachers are to help the Church attain to | | | | through love can we attain unity and holiness as a |
| the unity of the faith. This is the double call to | | | | Church. |
| teach orthodoxy and orthopraxy - right teaching | | | | That is our gift. That is our calling. That is our |
| and right practice. In a world of moral relativism | | | | purpose, our intention, and our goal. |
| and countless philosophies, sects, cults, religions, | | | | "He gave some as ... teachers, for the equipping |
| and heresies, the guardianship of the truth lies in | | | | of the saints for the work of service, to the |
| great part in the hands of the teachers. We are | | | | building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain |
| called to know the truth - and to teach it. Paul | | | | to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of |
| reminds Timothy that he is called to "entrust to | | | | the Son of God, to a mature man, to the |
| faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" | | | | measure of the stature which belongs to the |
| the "things which you have heard from me" (II | | | | fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13) |
| Timothy 2:2). He also commands Timothy to | | | | Note: All Scripture references are from the NAS |
| "retain the standard of sound words which you | | | | translation. |
| have heard from me" (II Timothy 1:13), and to | | | | © 2008 Paula Marolewski |
| "be diligent to present yourself approved to God | | | | You have my permission to reprint and distribute |
| as a workman who does not need to be | | | | this article as long as it is distributed in its entirety, |
| ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" | | | | including all links and copyright information. This |
| (II Timothy 2:15). Only through devotion to the | | | | article is not to be sold or included with anything |
| truth and the teaching of it will the Church remain | | | | that is sold. |