Teachers
I. There is a duty or office in the church of teacher
A. Ephesians 4:11-16 - Along with the evangelist, the teacher is to equip Christians for their work of service to God, to unite them in a common purpose, and to help everyone reach spiritual maturity.
B. I Corinthians 12:28-29; Romans 12:7 - Some, but not all, are teachers
1. Examples of teachers - Acts 13:1
C. If someone is designated a teacher, then there must be students - Galatians 6:6
1. If we have a teacher and students, then there must be a class.
2. Just from this verse we can conclude that a church is to teach the Scriptures to its members through classes taught by teachers.
D. Teaching is separate from preaching, though closely related - Acts 5:42; 15:35; 28:31
II. Teaching is about communicating knowledge - I Corinthians 14:19
A. Its purpose is to get people to mature - Colossians 1:28
B. A building up of the members - Ephesians 4:12-13
C. Motivated by love - I Timothy 1:5
D. Persuading people - Acts 19:8; 28:23-24
E. Teachers are not the source of law, but the explainers of the law - Nehemiah 8:8
III. All Christians need to develop the ability to teach
A. II Timothy 2:24-26 - Able to teach and then explains how to teach.
B. Hebrews 5:12 - Teaching is something you grow up to do
C. You can’t teach what you do not know - I Timothy 1:7
D. The example of Ezra - Ezra 7:10
1. He prepared (studied) - II Timothy 2:15
2. He practiced (applied his knowledge to his own life)
3. He taught it to others
E. Teaching benefits both the teacher and the student - I Timothy 4:16
IV. James 3:1 - But not all Christians will take on the duties of a teacher.
A. It holds heavy responsibility that many are not mature enough to handle.
B. You are accountable for everything you say.
C. Can teach no other doctrine - I Timothy 1:3; 6:3-5
D. Teaching to observe all things - Matthew 28:19-20
V. How classes are conducted is up to the individual congregations.
A. One-on-one
1. Sometimes done when an individual has a specific problem
2. Acts 18:24-28 - The example of Apollos
B. In people’s homes and in public arenas - Acts 20:20
C. In facilities that a church has rented, purchased, or borrowed - Acts 19:9
D. In worship - I Corinthians 14:26
E. In combination of the above.
F. However it is done, one thing is certain - a church is required to have teachers instructing the Bible.
VI. Restrictions on teachers
A. Pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith - I Timothy 1:5
B. Taught by faithful men - II Timothy 2:2
C. Women are not allowed to teach men - I Timothy 2:12
D. Older women are to teach the younger women - Titus 2:3