The gift of teaching (instruction) is as necessary to the Christian life as nutrition is to the body. You can survive (for a time) without it, but you will be very unhealthy.

This gift of teaching is the supernatural ability to break down the Word of God for the church to understand. This gift goes hand in hand with two other gifts: prophecy and exhortation. Often, in one teaching, all three gifts will be working together. Whereas teaching is explaining God’s Word, prophecy is speaking forth and boldly saying God’s Word no matter the consequences, and exhortation is allowing the aid of God’s Word to come alongside of one’s life. Oftentimes, they can be easily confused for one another but they are actually unique gifts in their own rights.

Encouragement for the Gift of Teaching

There is too much to say about the gift of teaching in one devotional, so let me simply encourage those who have this gift with a few thoughts. First, the best way to instruct the church through God’s Word is by demonstration. For example, if you teach the congregation to be grace-filled, but you yourself are not grace-filled, the words you say can be considered empty and will not matter much to most. Living what you teach sharpens the blade of your words and gives them the ability to cut deep. A teacher whose life is contrary to their words is a cloud without water. Teachers, it is imperative that we live what we…