By Doug Ingram, Elder
The apostle Paul knew the value of spiritual gifts because he wrote about them in three different epistles (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:7-13; I Corinthians 12). So, if Paul thought they were important, Christians must also realize their necessity and what value they bring in building up the church body (II Corinthains 4:7; Ephesians 4:12).
The only way to think about spiritual gifts is to think of them accurately based on a person’s salvation (Romans 12: 3). Spiritual gifts are utilized by a Christian’s faith. Christians ought not to think of themselves as to which gift they have received or which gift they do not have but to think about being the receiver of those gifts from God. This is quite evident in the Greek word used for “gifts,” charismata, the plural of charisma. This word is derived from charis, “grace.” I point to Spiros Zodhiates (NASB editor) in reference to how God’s grace becomes the motivating factor for Christians in utilizing their spiritual gifts:
Consequently, every Christian, irrespective of his spiritual standing and because of the indwelling of Christ’s grace within him, has the potential of a demonstration of that grace in any gift. This is the fundamental thing for us to realize. The whole tenor of Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians is that they should not seek the results of grace, but grace itself, and then that grace can exercise itself as the One who gives it discerns the need for that demonstration. The demonstration of grace is not to be activated by the individual, but by the Giver of grace, God Himself (2008 NASB, pg., 1521).
The Giver of grace has bestowed upon me the gifts of teaching and counseling. From my personal experience and Scripture, both teaching and counseling are the same gift that can viewed as two sides of a sheet of paper (Colossians 1:28). Earlier in my Christian walk, I had immense respect for Bible teachers but, really never thought I could stand up in front of a class and have the courage or ability to explain Scripture and help make the Bible applicable to people’s lives. Then one night as I was nearing the completion of my course work at the Christian Counseling and Training Center (CCTC), the instructor (Bob Littterst), came up to me at the end of class and asked if I would consider teaching the introductory course (i.e., Biblical Problem Solving) at CCTC. I was stunned and very humbled by his request. Subsequently, I taught many classes and after seeing and hearing the rewards of appreciation from those who attended my classes. I now see this gift as God’s intervention of His grace upon my life.
My goal of teaching/counseling from the Bible is different than academic teaching. Academia teaches content but God has gifted teachers to teach not only for content of the Scriptures but to teach life application and the involvement of committing this type of life learning to the Lord. I attribute this type of learning to Jesus when he taught His disciples. Jesus did not set up a classroom and start teaching the disciples from the Old Testament. At the most profound level of instruction, Jesus taught his disciples in the manner of spending time with Him or as Jay Adams states: the “to be with Him” method (Mark 3:14).
The guiding principle behind this “discipleship” teaching method is found in Luke 6:40: “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained will be like his teacher.” So, in contrast to academic teaching, the discipleship method to teaching is very relational. Jesus wanted his disciples to be “like him.” Jesus wanted his disciples to gain more than just Old Testament knowledge, he desired a life changing effect in which the disciples would think, act and exhibit the same values Jesus lived on a daily basis. According to the New Testament, the heart change that the disciples experienced was successful: “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Bible teachers have a great responsibility in teaching God’s word. Granted, we all can’t be with our brothers and sisters in Christ on a daily basis but what we can do is model Christ in daily and share those experiences that illustrate biblical principles. Biblical teachers need to be life-learners in all aspects of their lives as they reflect this type of commitment to God.