Course

THE TEACHER'S GIFT

1,939 words, about 10 min read

KINGDOM TEACHERS

A TEACHERS’ TRAINING COURSE

LESSON 2 - The Teacher’s Gift

Objectives

By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

Explain the biblical meaning of the term "teach" and its significance within the context of ministry.
Describe the importance of the teaching gift and its relationship to other leadership gifts within the Body of Christ.
Discuss how the teaching gift works with other leadership gifts and its impact on the Body of Christ.
Discuss the consequences to the Body of Christ when the teaching gift is not functioning according to God's design and purpose.
Analyze provided signs to determine if you have the gift of teaching and identify areas for growth.

FOUNDATION SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

According to the scripture, the teacher’s gift is one of the five leadership gifts given to govern the Body of Christ. When these five gifts operate in full cooperation, they produce specific results within the Body of Christ:

Unity of the Faith: Oneness in belief, fellowship, and doctrine.
Knowledge of the Son of God: The revelation of the mystery of Christ and the Church’s role in it.
Perfection: A people fully submitted to God, choosing to obey Him in all things and at all times.
The Fullness of Christ: All members of the Body yielding to the Holy Spirit, walking in their gifts, and remaining submitted to God in suffering to fulfill Christ’s purpose on earth.
No Longer Children Without Root: Stability in the true gospel, with lives reflecting its principles.
Maturity in Christ: Through the untainted Word ministered in love, the Body will walk in unity, demonstrating the nature of Christ.

Verse 13 emphasizes that these five leadership gifts are given to the Body of Christ until all the aspects mentioned above are fully accomplished. Therefore, if any of these gifts are missing, out of place, or nonfunctional, it will be impossible to achieve these outcomes. This underscores the importance of embracing the teacher’s gift—not only as essential to the development of the Body of Christ but also as critical to ensuring that God’s vision for the Church is fulfilled.

The term "teach" in a general sense means giving instruction or sharing knowledge in a way learners can understand and apply. It also involves creating a safe environment, guiding learners to take responsibility, and empowering them to actively find meaning and use what they’ve learned.

In a spiritual sense, however, teaching goes deeper—it is the act of revealing the mind of God. It helps others comprehend His will and purpose. Those endowed with the gift of teaching possess a unique, God-given ability to make the mysteries of His Word understandable and accessible, enabling others to grasp and apply divine truths in their lives.

This is significant because it highlights that the teacher must first personally comprehend the mysteries of God. As they submit to the Holy Spirit through obedience, holiness, and the diligent study of the present truth dispensed by the apostolic mantle, their gift begins to develop, transforming them into effective ministers. But how does this happen?

Ephesians 3:7 states:

"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."

As the teacher hears the Mystery of Christ, they first see how it applies to their own life. The Word confronts sin and unbelief, counseling their heart into obedience to God. Through submission to the Word, the teacher begins to experience an increase in revelation in two key ways:

Experiential Knowledge: They come to understand the power of the Word in their own lives. This knowledge becomes wisdom, which transforms into ministry when articulated to others.
Biblical Knowledge: Through submission to God, their gift flourishes, and the scriptures open to them in ways they have never experienced before. These revelations stir a passion in their hearts, inspiring them to share the truth with others, helping them to also understand and embrace the Word of God.

Thus, it is the knowledge of God that the teacher dispenses. Paul further enlightens us on the negative impact when the teacher’s gift is absent, leaving no one to impart the knowledge of God:

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

(Colossians 1:9-11)

THE OPERATION OF THE TEACHING GIFT

The teacher’s gift is, therefore, highly important! When this gift operates as it should, it facilitates the following in the people of God:

Walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
Being fruitful in every good work
Increasing in the knowledge of God
Being strengthened with spiritual might, producing patience and longsuffering with joyfulness

For a season, the ministry I am a part of attempted to operate without the full functioning of the teacher’s gift. While every other gift was present and the Body was being blessed by them, something was missing. There was a disconnect between the apostolic revelation and the people. Despite the apostles teaching day and night on the revelations of the mystery, the people still struggled to understand it. However, God is now allowing the teachers to come forth, serving as a bridge between the apostles and the people of God. Teachers break down the revelation in a way that edifies and enlightens the Body to the truth.

Although apostles also operate in the teacher’s gift, their calling is for a broader ministry. They primarily focus on raising leaders who will further the work in their specific locations. Therefore, the burden of spiritual development for every individual in each local church should not rest solely on the apostle’s shoulders. Instead, pastors and teachers are responsible for taking the people where the apostle cannot. Without these gifts functioning in their rightful place, the Body will never fully manifest the truths of Ephesians 4:11-15.

The teacher is not merely an appointment given to someone whose gift has not yet been discerned. It is a gift of the Spirit, with its own unique operation, just like the other four leadership gifts. When the teacher’s gift is nonoperational, it creates a deficiency in the Body. Now is the time for the teachers to come forth!

INDICATORS OF THE TEACHING GIFT

Here are some signs that indicate you may have a teacher’s gift:

You have a deep passion to understand the Word of God in detail.
You enjoy studying and tend to retain the information you study.
When you receive a revelation from the Word, you feel a strong desire to explain it to others.
While listening to the Bible or a ministered Word, the Lord often gives you analogies, examples, or ways to articulate how the principle being taught could be shared.
You are not content with merely informing people about what the Bible says; you are deeply invested in ensuring they truly understand it.
God gives you insight into the Word and shows you how to break it down into manageable pieces so that others can comprehend it.
People frequently express that they understand the Word more clearly when you explain it.

ACTIVITIES FOR WEEK 3

DUE DATE: FEB 5, 2025

Activity 1: Personal Reflection:

Answer the following questions:

Based on the lesson do you think you have a teacher’s gift? If not, what do you think is your gift?
Do you believe your gift is operational and impacting those around you? Explain.
What steps have you taken to become a better minister of the Word of God?
Based on the lesson, why do you believe the gift of teaching is important? Share what aspect of the lesson stood out to you the most .

Journal your responses in the designated space on our online platform.

Assignment: Video Recording with Group

Objective:

To guide teachers in working together to plan a teaching session using assigned materials and use the recording of the planning process to evaluate how they collaborated and the outcomes (draft teaching plan and insights or practical strategies).

Instructions:

Schedule a group meeting (in-person, virtual, or hybrid) to plan the assignment. Use a phone, Zoom, or another recording platform to record this planning session.
During this planning meeting:
Select a topic or principle that the group will teach (the topic or principle must coincide with the lesson title assigned to the group).
Decide on the role of each member during the meeting and teaching of the lesson.
Discuss the components of the plan and how the lesson will be taught.
Prepare and review a draft of the teaching plan.
After the Meeting
Review the recording of the meeting with your mentor.
Refine the teaching plan, if necessary.
Record your reflection as a group.

Submission:

Assign one group member to upload the recording as an unlisted YouTube video (instructions are in the Helpful Resources section of the Kingdom Teacher Classroom).
The uploader must share the YouTube link with all other group members.
Each group member will then submit the link as their individual submission for the assignment, following the instructor’s submission guidelines.

Key Points to Remember:

Every group member must actively participate in all aspects of the task.
Keep your individual teaching segment concise (5 minutes).
Ensure the recording is clear, with minimal background noise or distractions.
Work collaboratively during the planning meeting to assign topics and structure the session effectively.

Group 1

Patty Johnson’s Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 1 - The Mystery of Christ

Group 2

Isabel Williams’ Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 2 - Body & Soul

Group 3

Marvin Weech’s Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 3 - The Human Spirit

Group 4

Lorna Wesley’s Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 4 - Thou Shalt Surely Die

Group 5

Karlene Leveridge’s Group

Course 2: The Truth About Salvation 1: The Plan of Salvation - Lesson 1 - The Fallen Man

Group 6

Ketha Edmonson’s Group

Course 2: The Truth About Salvation 1: The Plan of Salvation - Lesson 2 - The Mystery of Iniquity

Group 7

Daniel Chen’s Group

Course 2: The Truth About Salvation 1: The Plan of Salvation - Lesson 3 - Jesus the Holy One

Group 8

Gigi Riley’s Group

Course 2: The Truth About Salvation 1: The Plan of Salvation - Lesson 4 - Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice

Group 9

Yannik Nesbeth’s Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 1 - The Mystery of Christ

Group 10

Val Carter’s Group

Course 1: Introduction to Salvation - Lesson 2 - Body & Soul