The third component to ezra710Living is to teach. You may be thinking, I’m not a pastor, church leader/teacher, is it my obligation to teach God’s word? A very good question to discuss. Yes, God has given specific individuals the gift of teaching/preaching. Ephesians 4:11, tells us, “He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.”
What about those of us that are not teachers, pastors per se? Let’s look at how Paul equipped non-apostles to teach the word of God. Paul, during his time in Ephesus, spent almost three years teaching disciples of Jesus to teach the gospel to their neighbors. Once their neighbors believed and were baptized, they in turn discipled others. This is the concept of multiplication. Let’s look at the next verse, Ephesians 4:12, “For the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ.”
Jesus also left us with a multiplication process, as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Therefore, the work of Jesus’ ministry is for all saints. The term ministry can be misunderstood. As we learned, yes there are some set aside for pastoring and teaching the assembly, but all are called to serve and teach. Regardless of your position in life, we are called to full-time Christian service. It is not an option, or something done when convenient. I have found the times the Lord has called me to teach doesn’t usually come at an opportune time, it comes when He is testing my obedience, it comes when He knows others need help learning, it comes whether I am ready or not. Lord teach me so I can teach others.