The gift of Teaching

When taking a spiritual gifts test I scored high in the gift of teaching.  This came as no surprise to me as I have been a teacher for 17 years.   I wanted to learn more about this gift and how I can apply it to my new church responsibilities of teaching a Sunday school class.   I have included some characteristics that those with the gift of teaching have.  Maybe you have the gift too?

Teachers are entrusted with the task of effectively communicating what the bible says, what it means, and how to apply it.   

Teaching= Greek didaskalos.

Root= Didasko= teach, instruct, instill doctrine, explain.

Teachers have a good understanding of the bible and have multiple scriptures committed to memory. They have an ability to communicate it.   They enjoy reading and studying the scriptures.   Acquisition of knowledge is a goal of the teacher.  Teachers are motivated to confirm statements spoken about scripture.   We are not hesitant to challenge ideas: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.   Teachers will validate truth by using the scriptures.

The truth is God’s Word.

Often we are wary of false teachers and can spot them quickly.    We have a tendency to be cold when speaking truth in a “matter of fact” sort of way. 

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and sound speech that cannot be condemned so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing to say about us.”

~Titus 2:7-8

Do you have the gift of teaching?

~Sunny :D

Holy Spirit~ Part 1

The Holy Spirit is often something that is not fully understood by Christians.  I remember doing a study on the Holy Spirit and learned a great deal that I wanted to pass along to you.   Through these next few posts, I am only scratching the surface of the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. 

This post will focus on John 14.   This passage takes place in the upper room prior to Jesus being arrested.    Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure

John 14: 1-4   1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  ² In my Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going. 

 John 14: 5-14   5Thomas said to him: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?   6 Jesus answered: “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.  8 Philip said : “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”   9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, “Show us the Father?”   10 Don’t you believe that I am the Father and the Father is in me?  The words I say to you are not just my own, Rather it is the Father, living in me who is doing his work.  11 Believe me when I say that I am the Father and the Father is in me: or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.   12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.   13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  14 You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”

A few things are happening in that passage.   First, If you look at John 14:1-4, you will see that Jesus is trying to comfort his disciples and show give assurance of heaven.

Also, throughout entire passage you can see how Jesus is stressing the connections between the Father and himself.

14:1  Believe in God, Believe also in me.

14:6  No one comes to the Father except through me.

14:7 If you knew me, you would know my Father as well.

14:9 Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father.

14:10  I am in the father and the father is in me.

14:11  I am the father and the father is in me.

Lastly,  In John 14:12, “.   12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”  Jesus is encouraging his disciples and preparing them for his departure.   This verse does not mean physical works (Such as walking on water or turning water into wine).   This verse is giving encouragement to the disciples that they will carry one the mission of Jesus and spread the good news of salvations.   They will be witnesses to the world.

As you can imagine, the disciples were upset and quite anxious about the pending death of Jesus.   Continuing in John 14, Jesus will continue to reassure his disciples by promising a helper~ the Holy Spirit.   The Holy spirit with be a helper to the disciples to spread the gospel.

John 14:16-17 16“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- 17 The Spirit of truth, the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you will know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

Jesus is stating that the Holy Spirit is already among them.   The Holy Spirit already existed.   In fact, if you keep reading my next few blog posts you will see that the Holy Spirit has been around for a very long time.

~Sunny :D

Holy Spirit~ Part 2

Where did the Holy Spirit come from?  When I was young in my walk with the Lord I always believed that the Holy Spirit did not exist until Pentecost.   While doing my studying I was wrong.  In this blog post we will learn where the Holy Spirit came from and what some of His roles were.

Creator

Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty darkness was over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

The Holy Spirit was with the Father from the very beginning.   He had an integral role in the creation of the world.

He forms us

Job 33:4 “The spirit of God has made me; the breath of the almighty gives me life.”

Regeneration

Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.  And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees & be careful to keep my laws.”

Regeneration simply means a new heart, a new beginning, a clean slate.

Gives us truth to speak

Micah 3:8“But for me, I am filled with the power with the Spirit of the Lord and with justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgressions to Israel his son.”

Divine instrument of revelation and inspiration.

2 Sam 23:2 “The spirit of the Lord spoke through me, his word was on my tongue.”

Was essential to scripture

2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation- for prophecy never had it’s origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”

Holy Spirit is the divine author and originator of scriptures.

A Helper for Jesus

Matthew 3:16 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment, heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like dove and lightning on him.”

As you can see, the Holy Spirit has many roles in our lives.   If you still have questions about Pentecost, keep reading because we will be exploring Acts 2 in the following Blog

~Sunny :D

Holy Spirit~ Part 3

In this blog post, we will examine Acts 2, otherwise known as Pentecost.   In John 14, Jesus promised to give his disciples a helper, the Holy Spirit.   Many believed that after Jesus died, the Holy Spirit came.   However, there are many scripture references to the Holy Spirit as far back as the first chapter of Genesis.   However, Pentecost is a very important event in scripture that must be looked at. 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:1-4.

The difference?  The Holy Spirit now lives inside of us.   Once someone accepts Jesus into their hearts, the Spirit of God will dwell inside of them.   

 

“ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own:  You were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

Roles of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit gives us spiritual gifts, or God given abilities for service.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different types of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

The Spirit helps to identify Christians by their fruit

”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

 Galatians 5:22-23.

The Holy Spirit confirms that we belong to the Lord

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship and by him we cry ‘Abba, Father.’

Romans 8:15

The Holy Spirit helps with prayer

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

Romans 8:26-27.

The Holy Spirit grieves sin

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Ephesians 5:30

He will Convict us to ask for forgiveness

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us form all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 

The Holy Spirit is a confusing topic. I hope I was able to teach you something new.

Sunny :D

So.. I guess now I am teaching?

I attend a small group at my church.   This group is a mixture of singles, married, and married with children ages 25-40.    We used to be led by a pastor, but he found a full time job with another church and due to financial reasons, my church decided to not replace him.

12 of us sat in a room to try and divide up the responsibilities that the pastor had.   We were asked to fill out a “Spiritual gifts test” that someone found online and divide the jobs that way.  Many of us scored high in hospitality and administration.  But when it came to the gift of teaching only one guy admitted to scoring high.   I also scored high in teaching but I was afraid to teach.

Why?  I have read my bible and I know about the warnings that come with teaching. “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”  James 3:1.   That alone was enough to terrify me into not teaching.    To teach the word the God is an awesome responsibility.   Teaching puts you under the microscope. The fear of misinterpreting scripture was real.  I would be accountable to God everything I would say.  To top it off, I would be in a room full of my peers~ mature, Christ loving Christians who know the word of God just as well (or better) than I do.

The guy who admitted to the gift of teaching has his own business and would not be able to teach every Sunday and we needed at least one more teacher.  Looking down at my spiritual gifts test, I knew that I scored very high in teaching.   A voice that sounded just like mine said: “I am willing to teach once in a while”.  And just like that my name was put on the rotation.

Am I terrified?  Yup.     I don’t feel like I am qualified to teach.  However I have learned that God loves to qualify the unqualified.

~Sunny :D