What is the spiritual gift of teaching?

"Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers..." —1 Corinthians 12:28a (NLT)

Hopefully, we've all had teachers, coaches, or mentors who have made a positive impact on our lives. Maybe it was someone who took the time to explain things when we didn't understand, was creative in their approach to helping us learn new stuff, or who invested time and attention in helping us grow.

Just as there are gifted teachers in our lives, it's possible that God has given us the gift of teaching too. If so, we may have the opportunity to be an important spiritual mentor in the life of another.

What is the gift of teaching?

The spiritual gift of teaching isn't about the ability to teach in a classroom (though that skillset is certainly important). When the Bible talks about spiritual gifts, it's referring to a special enabling by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer to build up and serve the body of Christ. The gift of teaching is about understanding and proclaiming God's Word (Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-12).

In Jesus' "Great Commission" of His disciples, He commands them to teach all nations everything that He had commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). So when we use the gift of teaching, we ought to teach about things that center around God's Word and truth—not our own philosophies or opinions. Those who have this gift can clearly explain and convey teaching and practical applications of the Bible, spiritual principles, and biblical doctrines to a wide audience.

Who gets the gift of teaching?

Obviously, it makes sense that church pastors would likely have the gift of teaching since one of their main jobs is explaining God's Word to others. But this gift isn't reserved only for them. Both men and women may teach in Sunday school classes, home Bible studies, Christian schools, homeschools, or Bible colleges. Depending on the interests of the individual, the gift of teaching can be used for groups, one-on-one, through writing, podcasting, videos, and more.

The Holy Spirit may give the gift of teaching to a young person as well! Timothy joined the apostle Paul during one of Paul's later missionary journeys, and he was probably no older than his late teens or early 20s. Paul called him "my true son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2). Even as a young man, Timothy was already seen as faithful to God, and the church elders noticed him. Later in life, he became a pastor in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3).

How can I get better at the gift of teaching?

Because the gift of teaching is from the Holy Spirit, it doesn't require special teacher training to teach the content of the Bible well. That said, teaching skills, methods, and techniques can and should be developed in order to increase our effectiveness.

Clear teaching on God's Word includes explaining what the verses mean within the context of the whole passage and the rest of Scripture. So we ought to learn the cultural references and audience for each book of the Bible, study original languages, compare different translations, and discover the backgrounds of biblical authors.

We can investigate different ways to help others understand, depending on their own culture, age, and experiences. We can explore various practical applications for God's Word that we can use today. Using the spiritual gift of teaching can also include teaching theological concepts, biblical principles, and other subjects like biblical history or science that relate to or support the Bible.

Jesus is the Great Teacher

"The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." —John 1:14 (NLT)

To grow in the gift of teaching, it would be beneficial to study the way that Jesus taught. We can learn about His methods and message in the gospels—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—which recount Jesus' life and ministry on earth.

One way that Jesus engaged His audience was through stories or parables. Stories have a unique ability to help people understand bigger truths about reality. Another thing that He did was answer a question with a question. This caused His listeners to think deeper, which often resulted in an internal conviction of their foolishness when they were seeking to trick Him.

My Story: Growing as a Teacher

As a teenager, I started using my gift of teaching by leading kids' Bible clubs and teaching in my church's classes for children. I was able to receive training through Child Evangelism Fellowship as a teen so that I could learn how to effectively share the gospel and teach kids. While I did get a degree from a Christian university, which helped me grow in my ability to teach, the gift of teaching that I have is from the Holy Spirit and was present before I went to college.

Currently, I use my gift to benefit the body of Christ in teaching kids, teens, and adults in Christian classes, conferences, churches, and camps. Another way I've used my gift is by participating in various Christian curriculum writing teams and have produced an online course on defending the faith. And, of course, I also contribute resources here at 412teens!

Teaching the Bible and biblical principles is something that brings me great joy. Others have confirmed, through their feedback, that the biblical material I've created and shared is useful and clear. Maybe you see things in my story that help you see that God has given you the gift of teaching too.

If you believe you have the gift of teaching, seek opportunities to teach. Teaching kids is a good place to start, such as at VBS, or you could lead a youth group Bible study at your home or church. If you like spending time with the elderly, try giving devotional messages at a nursing home. You could also share your story with us on 412teens or volunteer to answer questions.

Maybe there's spiritual training for teens that you can do to help equip yourself with more teaching tools. If you aren't able to go to a training, you can also ask a trusted and respected Christian teacher you know to observe your teaching and provide feedback on ways you can grow.

Finally, make sure that you're personally taking time to learn God's Word and understand His truths so that you can share it with others. See below for some of my personal recommendations for teaching opportunities for teens. Those who have this gift have an important role in helping others in the body of Christ rightly understand the Word of God.

Resources for Teens' Teaching Opportunities

• Summer Missions Training (Christian Youth in Action)
• Christian Worldview Summer Camp (Worldview Academy)
• Summer Bible Study Competition (National Bible Bee)

ALSO SEE:

• What are spiritual gifts?
• How can I tell what my spiritual gifts are?
• How does God decide who gets what spiritual gift?
• What is the spiritual gift of leadership?
• How can I discover God's purpose for my life?
• How can I know God's will for my life?
• When You Don't Know What to Do With Your Life
• A Beginner's Guide to Sharing the Gospel
• When Parents Won't Let Their Kids Preach
• Will people go to hell if I don't share the gospel?