The night dews of affliction and disappointment may fall thickly upon it – the storms of sorrow may beat heavily against it – the winds of adversity may howl fearfully around it – but, like those fabled lamps of which we read, that, century after century, illumined the sepulchers of the east – burning with calm and steady light, amid the desolation of all earthly things – unchanged and unextinguishable; so does this joy – this living spark struck off from the great source of light and life – outlive all deaths, all changes, until it accompanies the freed spirit of the believer in whom it dwells, back to those abodes of joy from whence it came.
John MacDuff

Gift of Teaching

                          THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS ELABORATED

GIFT OF TEACHING

 BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated by the desire to explain the Word of God to others; to clarify the
truth.

AMPLIFICATION
The teacher is not content with the Word simply being proclaimed, it must also be
explained.  He wants God’s Word elaborated and made clear.  The gift involves
research and detailed study; a digging out of the facts and accumulating knowledge.

 CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1.  Believe that this gift is foundational to all other gifts.
2.  Emphasize the accuracy of words.
3.  Test the knowledge of others who teach you.
Example: “Give me the authority…”
4.  Delight in research and personal study.
5.  Evaluate new information on how it fits into already established ideas or
system of truth.
6.  Seek to present the truth in a clear, orderly, systematic way.
7.  Resist Biblical illustrations out of context.
8.  Have greater joy in research than in presenting it.
9.  Desire that people be well grounded in the Word.
10.  Want disciples and not just converts.

 DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1.  Develop a know it all attitude.
2.  Become so involved in your presentation you fail to listen.
3.  Underestimate the importance of communication skills.
4.  Fail to study how Jesus taught.
5.  Loose touch with real life.
6.  Become more concerned about the research than the response of the hearers.
7.  Develop agenda anxiety.
8.  Fail to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching.

 MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1.  The emphasis on the accuracy of Scriptural interpretation may appear to neglect
its practical application.
2.  The research of others and what he learns through research may appear to be more
important to them than the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit through meditation.
3.  The use of knowledge in testing others may appear to be pride of learning.
4.  The concern to impart details of research may appear to be unnecessary to those
listening–even boring at times.
5.  The need to be objective in research may appear to lack warmth and feeling when
speaking.