The Spiritual Gift of Teaching

The New Testament references the gift of teaching in several passages (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11). This gift involves the ability to clearly explain and communicate biblical truths so that others can understand and apply them. A teacher, in the biblical sense, is responsible for instructing others in the doctrines of the faith, helping believers grow in their knowledge of God and in their spiritual maturity. The pastor-teacher is tasked with providing consistent, in-depth doctrinal teaching to equip believers for spiritual growth and effective Christian living. This gift requires a high level of dedication to study and a deep understanding of Scripture, as the teacher’s role is to communicate biblical truths with accuracy and authority. The ideal form of teaching is expository teaching—explaining Scripture verse by verse. It is from exegetical study and expositional teaching that Christian doctrines are formulated. This gift is vital for the building up of the church, as it equips believers to live out their faith more fully (Eph 4:12-13).

God has given me the gift of teaching (Rom 12:7). I received my spiritual gift from the Lord at age eight when I was saved and became aware of it near the age 25 when I was walking in obedience to Him. Once God gives a spiritual gift to one of His children, He expects us to develop and exercise it. When the spiritual gift of teaching is properly employed and bearing fruit, it brings glory to God and edifies others in their walk with Him, as do all God’s gifts. The teacher must be a lifelong learner, constantly deepening his understanding and application of Scripture. This relentless pursuit of biblical truth shapes his character, molds his teaching, and impacts those he ministers to.

Developing a spiritual gift requires commitment, sacrifice, personal investment, and much time. My education, which includes a Bachelor of Science, Master of Divinity, and Doctorate, cost about $105,000, not including an additional $40,000 for books and electronics. Coming from a poor family, I worked various jobs—waiter, welder, trash truck driver—to pay for school. Thankfully, God provided employment and blessed me with a few scholarships along the way. My education spanned 17 years because I worked during the day and took classes in the evening. Periodic breaks due to financial shortfalls or burnout also extended this time.

Since 1991, my ministry efforts have been largely voluntary, with occasional gifts from gracious givers. I continue to serve in a voluntary capacity, dedicating the early morning hours to studying and writing before heading to work. Currently, I work full-time as a Case Manager for a local nonprofit that helps the infirm and elderly in my community, earning about a teacher’s salary. I devote several hours each morning (starting around 2:30 AM) to studying God’s Word, preparing to teach on weekends, writing articles for my blog, or creating Bible study videos. With my student loan debt paid off as of November 2020 and few major expenses aside from my mortgage, I am content to serve the Lord where I am until He opens new opportunities. The Lord always provides.

Becoming a good Bible teacher requires significant time and study. A good expositor of God’s Word is the product of many wise choices and sacrifices. Responding to the call of ministry often means forfeiting a more lucrative career for that of a Bible teacher, a role that typically offers modest compensation, if any at all. A good Bible teacher usually spends years in seminary, studying God’s Word, learning the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, and delving into ancient history, philosophy, hermeneutics, and theology. He invests significant personal time and money in his academic training and in building his library. Perhaps one in a hundred Bible teachers excel at their craft, and even fewer graciously share their material without charge, making free Bible resources rare.

An effective Bible teacher will face constant attacks and criticisms from both believers and unbelievers. Throughout his ministry, few will rally to encourage and support him, but those few who do can be crucial to his success, much like Aaron and Hur supported Moses (Ex 17:8-13). The ministry of teaching is often a solitary and introspective journey, with long hours of study and preparation spent in quiet places, away from public view. Furthermore, the life of a Bible teacher is characterized by a profound sense of accountability to God, as James 3:1 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly. This awareness compels the teacher to approach his task with humility, knowing that he is ultimately accountable to the Lord for the accuracy and faithfulness of his teaching.

A Christian minister operates with the confidence that God’s Word is alive and powerful (Heb 4:12) and accomplishes what the Lord intends (Isa 55:11). The Bible teacher understands that he is merely a messenger, a conduit of grace to a needy world. He knows that the effectiveness of his ministry does not rest on his abilities but on the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of others and the inherent power of Scripture to change lives. The teacher’s role is to “preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim 4:2). He understands that the ultimate goal of his teaching is not just knowledge but transformation, bringing people into a deeper relationship with God and equipping them to live out their faith in practical ways.

Personally, my challenges as a Bible teacher include maintaining my spiritual growth with God, developing Christian integrity, continuing daily study in His Word, and being faithful in teaching Scripture through the various platforms God has provided. Honoring God and edifying others until the very end is the ideal goal. Ezra serves as a model for what it means to be a good teacher, as Scripture reveals: “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). That’s a good paradigm for any teacher.

Dr. Steven R. Cook