The Gift of Teaching and Exhortation
IN THE STUDY:
Two other gifts of the Holy Spirit are specially given:
TEACHING: This is the art of communicating truth to others so that their lives will be changed by their growing understanding. It is listed third in the Biblical order
(1 Cor. 12:28).
Jesus taught the Disciples and was known as a teacher. He is called teacher 30 times in the Gospel (e.g. Jn 1:38). The early Church grew because those converted through the work of the evangelists were built up in their faith on the Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:41-2). Both Paul and Barnabas had the gift of teaching (2 Tim 1:11, Acts 15:35). Apollos was a gifted teacher (Acts 18:24-5).
One of the qualifications for an Elder was the ability to teach. (1 Tim 3:2). Jesus taught by lecturing (Matt 5:1-2); dialogue (Jn 3,4); and by small group discussion (Luke 11:1-13).
EXHORTING: The Gift of Exhortation is best seen today in the person who can motivate others to action (Rom. 12:1).
The word for exhortation was the same word as one used to describe the Holy Spirit himself (Rom 12:8). A successful football coach probably is good at exhorting as would be a Trials Lawyer and a national leader. This is the public exercise and God’s Gift is given to some Ministers. In another sense, to exhort is to encourage another to change their life-style by your compassion and concern for them (2 Cor. 2:6-8). Such exhortation is exercised by the Counsellor whether he be Pastor, Marriage Guidance Counsellor or Psychologist. In the third sense the scriptures use the word exhort in the sense of rebuking a Christian person who is living foolishly (Phil.4:2; Acts 5:1-11).
Paul instructed Timothy to exhort with patience and with instruction (2 Tim 4:2).
FROM THE PULPIT:
The Disciples became good teachers because they were well taught. When they learnt from Jesus they were interested in what they were learning from a good teacher.
Nicodemus recognised that Jesus was a teacher come from God.
The teaching methods of Jesus contained five elements that need to be adapted by every teacher today.
1. His teaching was adapted to His pupils’ understanding.
2. His teaching had the ring of conviction about it without being dogmatic.
3. His teaching caused His listeners to think for themselves.
4. His teaching was caught by them because it lived in Him.
5. His teaching was an extension of His love for people.
My late Mother-in-Law, Mrs Edith Vernon, was one of the most gracious women I have ever met. The Holy Spirit gifted her with the ability to teach and, until 72 years of age, regularly taught Christian faith in schools and Sunday School holding the largest class of teenage girls. She followed the teaching methods of the Master!
AMONG THE PEOPLE:
For 49 years Randall T. Pitman was associated as a Student and Lecturer at the College of the Bible Melbourne, where I did my initial training for ministry. Knowing him only in his latter years I never found him an exciting teacher, but one who was personally enthused with his task. His methods were not modern – no microphones, overhead projectors or sound laboratories, but he gave to hundreds of ministers who attended his lectures a personal enthusiasm for the word of God.
After an ample roast lunch, topped off with plum pudding and custard I found the warmth of the afternoon not conducive to Old Testament study. But Mr Pitman did! His enthusiasm for the word transmitted itself through his teaching. A minister is often called upon to be a teacher, even if he isn’t adequately equipped, but his enthusiasm for the task will certainly transmit far more than the contents of the latest paperback.
The Gift of Exhortation is a rare one.
Nothing can be more boring than the continued exhortation “let us … let us …” Perhaps those who can teach well but rarely have people coming to the front in Gospel Services to make decisions for Christ could experiment by using others from the Congregation who believe they have the Gift of exhortation by allowing them to make the appeal following one of our Gospel addresses.
The good teacher does not necessarily have the Gift of Exhortation and vice versa. Perhaps the teacher may need to accept humbly the addition of an exhortation following the sermon!
