“Make Jesus Known & Help Others Grow”

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

BIBLE READING: Romans 10.13-17; Acts 18.24-28; Ephesians 4.11-16; 2 Timothy 4.1-5; Acts 8.26-35

A crucial part of the body is the work of teaching and preaching. God gave “apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers” – roles requiring various levels of instruction – “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4.11-12). The body cannot grow up unless those with the ability to teach exercise that talent for the good of others.

Teaching is often viewed through the lens of public speaking. This is an important responsibility not everyone is capable of doing and should be handled with care (see James 3.1-2). Preachers specifically must “reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4.2). Bible class teachers must guide others in understanding both the meaning and the call to action from scripture (see Acts 8.30-ff). But they aren’t necessarily the only teachers in the body, and we must not think this is the only teaching that matters. Apollos was a bold proclaimer of the Scriptures, but he needed to be taught more accurately the way of God by Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18.26). His influence was great but this couple had the important role of teaching him in a private way.

I would argue that more critical teaching often occurs in these intimate settings. Having coffee to discuss challenges in parenting can bring clarity from God’s word to specific situations. Sitting on couches and helping couples work through relationship and family struggles makes God’s word a real and relevant force in these moments. The preacher can teach on these subjects, but these moments of fellowship and teaching make it personal. While very few will know, this work of teaching shapes and solidifies faith in ways that public speaking never can.

Teaching and preaching are skills given by God’s grace to build up the body in love (Ephesians 4.15), and those who serve in this way must never forget the goal: to make Jesus known and help others to grow (Acts 8.35; Ephesians 4.12, 16). There is no value in filling time with words or chasing rabbits. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10.17), not some idea or speculation about what it says. These things lead to instability and self-righteousness, not trust in God (Ephesians 4.14-15). The greatest threat to the church is not persecution or government restrictions. It is a false gospel that allows people to sit comfortably in sin and selfishness. Our culture is filled with feel-good, self-help messages that allow pride to fester in our hearts. We can easily default to thinking we are doing fine because we are “good” people who behave “better” than others. This is not the gospel nor is it humble before God. The body needs people bold and sound in faith to show us the way of God accurately. And so, our teaching and preaching must not concede to anything but the Savior of our souls and his rule in our lives. Let us have this expectation of one another and let those who teach take seriously this charge from God.

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