Finding Hope in the Spirit’s Gifts of Teaching and Exhortation

Can you think of your favorite teacher – the one whom it seems really made an impact on you…

Every one of us, except maybe the babies, have had a teacher speaking into our lives in some way

Who comes to your mind, and why?...

My guess is – for the “why part” – there could be a lot of different reasons…in some cases, it might have little to do with what you actually learned in class…but more about the teacher’s character…

For example, I could start with Mrs. Leecy. 3rd grade at Sweeney Elementary in Shakopee. It is certainly not about what she taught me, because I could not with certainty tell you what it was that I learned in 3rd grade…but rather the care and compassion with which she treated me. You see, this was the time that I was pulled aside, and even pulled out of class, to work on a speech issue. My “L’s” sounded like “W’s.” Mrs. “Weecy” heard it every day, but she still treated me with kindness…

maybe that’s the case for you too – your favorite teacher simply treated you and your classmates in a way that is memorable even to this day…

in other cases, it might be because a specific teacher introduced you to a topic for the very first time…

Mr. Alex was my high school physics teacher – he ignited a joy for science that had to be there or I likely would not have gone through the whole nuclear training pipeline to be a submariner…and as the dominoes fall…without that, I may never end up in Lafayette and here at Faith Church

Of course, teachers can be outside of the classroom too

In 30 years in the Navy – there were a few teachers – CAPT Rubenstein who taught me the art of navigation, or CAPT Richardson who elevated my skills in tactics. He was also the one who saw something in me and he put my name in the hat to receive command of a submarine.

But I am not standing here without a variety of teachers who have changed my heart and introduced me to something far greater than science, navigation, or even submarine tactics…now I am talking about men who have taught me the truths that I greatly needed…

It started with Roger, our Pastor in Hawaii whose messages broke through my hardened heart so that I might see my need for the gospel.

Then there is Steve Walters – Steve was my pastor for our time in Omaha. His teaching and example lit the fire that became a desire to serve in ministry. He is the one who taught me about the importance of how we love and welcome everyone who steps into God’s house.

Those are just a couple of examples for me – and I am confident we can all look around or look back and identify the teacher in our life who made an impact and as we do, it should spur our hearts to thanksgiving that we have been blessed to have teachers in our lives.

And we can then give thanks not just that the teacher themselves was a gift to us, but that it was God who ultimately gave them the gifting needed that they could have that type of impact on us.

This summer we have been talking about Hope for Fruitful Service…

and in the first part of the summer, you may recall how we explored what it would mean to “make every effort to add to our saving faith, “blank.” And then we filled in the blank with fruitful character traits found in 2 Peter 1:5-7 like knowledge, godliness, brotherly kindness, and others.

Now we’ve pivoted in the second half of the summer to a discussion of giftings given by God to each believer that we might use them in fruitful service.

Specifically, we are speaking about the spiritual gifts, that God has promised to his children.

Recall again the truth and the calling for which Peter reminds us –

1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Are you thankful for that? I know I am because it means that Christ has chosen not to simply save us and leave us empty-handed and unequipped for what is to come.

Instead, Jesus has looked at each one of us, knowing us better than we know ourselves, knowing the challenges we will face, and he hand picks spiritual gifts I just the right amount for each of us…

If you haven’t been with us the past couple of weeks, you might ask what are those gifts?

There are several passages in the Word of God that list some of the spiritual gifts…and we say it that way because the lists are not identical…which has led some Bible students to conclude that the lists are not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative…

The one we have chosen to unwrap this summer is found in Romans

Romans 12:6–8 - Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We covered giving and mercy the past two weeks and today we have the privilege of

Finding Hope in the Spirit’s Gift of Teaching and Exhortation…

and to learn more about that, I’d like to ask you to turn to 1 Timothy 4 verse 13…page 163 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…

While you’re turning there – here’s just a couple of thoughts about the process we plan to follow this morning…

The gifts of teaching and exhortation, especially as they are explained in the passage that we’re about to study…is speaking first and foremost of pastors…

But I am not going to be just talking to myself today, because it is a very short walk to arrive at all sorts of teaching positions in the local church…

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It is encouraging to think about how many people in a given week at this church are doing some kind of teaching…SS teachers, youth leaders, small group leaders, counselors, etc.…

We all benefit from those teachers week-in and week-out…I know our family does and I pray that is the case for your family as well

So where is that coming from?....it’s the Lord giving us gifts…men and women who have the ability to teach the Word of God in ways that help draw people to Christ and then equip us to become more like God’s Son…

We should then ask…is this limited to teachers in a ministry of the church? I would say no to that

- because much of what we’re about to study could also apply to parents…because moms and dads are teachers…

- What about all of these teachers getting ready to head back to school? Whether it be home school, or public school, or Christian school…

- If God has gifted them in teaching, there are general principles here that apply to them as well and we’ll try to weave that through the message today…

Join me as we read God’s Word…

- read 1 Timothy 4:13-16

Again, we area Finding Hope in the Spirit’s Gift of Teaching and Exhortation…

And based on our passage in 1 Timothy and the whole of God’s Word, we can unpack this text finding hope in

5 challenges for those called to be teachers

The first challenge that bring hope is where the passage points our eyes…

with hope we can…

I. Embrace the Teacher’s Focus

- 1 Timothy 4:13 - Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

We simply have to start here because of how much of this entire section of Scripture has to do with what a teacher is going to focus on, or prioritize…

If God has given you the gift of teaching in any way, shape, or form…you have to decide what you’re going to do with it…and how much of an emphasis you’re going to place on developing that gift…

And when we’re talking about teaching in the church…the focus first and foremost has to be…

A. Give attention to God’s Word

Timothy was Paul’s son in the faith…Paul was one of Timothy’s teachers, but we can see that Paul saw him as more than just a student

Philippians 2:19–23 - But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;

That’s high praise, coming from someone like the apostle Paul…

Many Bible teachers believe that the letters to Timothy were written after Paul had been released from his first imprisonment…

Timothy had been left behind to pastor the church at Ephesus and address a number of problems that were lingering there…

what did Paul want Timothy to use as his source of truth as he sought to speak into these issues?...the Word of God…

2 Timothy 4:2–4 - preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Consider what Timothy would be facing – wanting to have their ears tickled…

That’s why any person who serves as a teacher in any way, shape, or form at Faith would say “Thank the Lord for the men and women who attend here…”

Because I know this church family doesn’t want their ears tickled…they want to hear what the Bible says, what the Bible means, and how the Bible applies practically to everyday life…

As such, Paul gives Timothy a focus to embrace that we should as well

B. Give attention to exhortation

When I hear the word exhortation, I admit that my first thoughts are to a harsh command or a blunt calling out of a person, but that means I am not listening to the language that Paul is using…

In the Greek, the word is parakalew – come alongside and speak

This is actually a much more beautiful concept – exhortation means the coming alongside to speak truth or in many cases to encourage an ethical course of action. But notice what this is not…

It is not sidewalk preaching hoping a passer-by will catch some truth

It is not the correction of behaviors here in the Community Center and then heading back to my office.

Exhortation is the walking alongside those who God has blessed you to be a teacher for…that is why I would far prefer to speaking right here on a Sunday morning than in some auditorium where I might be invited to speak to 10,000 people…like that is going to happen…but what we need to see is that exhortation includes the “coming alongside” part…while we are also called to focus on

C. Teaching

The sharing of the meaning of the text or again from the Greek

- teaching – didaskalia – “the systematic explanation of the Word of God”

Look at the example Paul and Timothy might have considered from the OT…

Nehemiah 8:5–8 - Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground…Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah…the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

- that’s teaching…and Paul tells Timothy – give your attention to that…

- and if you say – how powerful a concept is that…the giving of your attention to teaching…whether you are a pastor, a parent, a schoolteacher or a coach…that we would be that focused on the teaching of the word…

It may be most clear as a pastor, that we are teaching the word, but in every teaching opportunity, Paul would call us to Embrace the focus on the word as a foundation for whatever we are teaching…even if it teaching a place-kicker to put the ball through the straight and narrow goal post…

As an action for all of us, I would encourage you to pray for your pastors especially on Mondays and Tuesdays on this particular point…because that’s when whomever is scheduled to speak at one of our campuses the following Sunday is going to be preparing the message.

- and pray for everyone else who teaches at every level at Faith – that we exercise that spiritual gift in a way that embraces the teachers focus…give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching…

Then consider a second challenge.

II. Avoid the Teacher’s Pitfall

Look at verse 14

- 1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

And ask – what could be the pitfall here?

A. Of neglecting the Spirit’s gift of teaching

Now, why might a person do that?...

Maybe out of fear that someone won’t like what the Word of God has to say or they just want to argue about all kinds of things…

- 1 Timothy 1:6–7 - For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

Who wants to take that kind of thing on week after week after week?...

Answer – someone whom has been given the gift of teaching….don’t neglect it…

we know that Timothy struggled with fear…which is why Paul will tell him in his second letter,

2 Timothy 1:7–8 - For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

See, don’t neglect the gift…which is why Paul said in the verse just prior to the ones we just quoted…

2 Timothy 1:6 - For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

You might be here this morning and God has given you the gift to teach at some level…if you look at your plans for this morning…are you neglecting it?

Do you teach in some other role Monday through Saturday…why not Sunday?

What do you think the Lord would want you to do this am?...stop neglecting it…stir it up…speak to someone around here who can help you get plugged into a teaching opportunity…

And how do we avoid the pitfall of neglecting the gift…

B. By respecting the church’s affirmation

1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

You might say – well, we don’t do it that way anymore.

True – but the principle is – let your church family help you determine whether you are gifted in this area…

If you’re regularly being asked to teach in Children’s Ministry or in your small group…or in your heart you believe you should…then please don’t neglect the gracious teaching gift that the Lord has given you…

The next challenge that Paul gives to Timothy is to…

III. Pursue the Teacher’s Priorities

- 1 Timothy 4:15 - Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

If you have the gift of teaching, we each need to put the effort into growing in it by

A. Immerse yourself in exercising this gift

Commentator John Stott said - …Paul goes on to Timothy’s need for concentration and perseverance. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them (15a). The second of these two exhortations means literally ‘be in them’, that is, immerse yourself in these matters, devote yourself to them with all your heart and soul. The Revised English Bible catches the emphasis well: ‘Make these matters your business, make them your absorbing interest.’

I would encourage you to pause and think about all the teachers in your life and in the life of our church – people who make exercising this God-given gift a high priority…”they are taking pains in these things, and being absorbed in them…”

Consider the privilege and responsibility that we have as we watch such persons exercise their gifts…and how we benefit directly or indirectly from their work?...

How can we be a blessing to those immersing themselves in teaching?

- let’s start with parents…men and women who are genuinely seeking to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord...

- Do you look for opportunities to commend them?...to point out something about their son or daughter that is praiseworthy and thank that parent for his/her efforts?...

- what about parents who are getting ready this fall to home school one or more of their children?...you talk about an immersive task…

- Could you come alongside and offer to help?...maybe you have a special skill or area of knowledge that you could turn into a lesson or series of lessons…maybe that would lighten a home-school parent’s load?...

- what about the people in our church family who teach in public schools? Next door at Paramount, or right here with the Crossing...do we see the depth of the ministry opportunity?...

- I hope you’re thinking about the women and men who teach in our Christian school…With Kathy there as the biblical counselor, I get new insight that has further deepened my gratitude for teachers. There is no doubt… it certainly isn’t a 9-5 job…

- from my view, I get to see teachers at all of these schools immerse themselves in exercising the teaching gift that God has given them…

- as a parent, I hope you regularly commend your child’s teacher…

- if you ever have to talk about a problem, I hope it’s after you’ve thanked and encouraged and praised them 10 times first…

- then, ask to be a prayer partner, let them know you are available to volunteer in class or maybe you just drop of their favorite beverage to say thank you.

Then consider what happens on Sunday takes more than just a couple of pastors…

think about the hundreds of teachers that serve in our various campuses and associated ministries week-in and week-out….they do exactly what Paul commanded Timothy to do – taking pains with these things….they are absorbed with them…

- Parents…do you take the time to thank your child’s SS teacher or youth worker as they partner with your teaching to have a positive spiritual impact on your child or children…

- thank the Lord for teachers who make this a priority by the way they immerse themselves in their craft…and also do so…

B. With authenticity

The use of the gift of teaching is not meant to be a show, except to show God’s work in you

- 1 Timothy 4:15 - …so that your progress will be evident to all.

Take a look at how John Stott continued…

The example which Christian leaders set, then, whether in their life or their ministry, should be dynamic and progressive. People should be able to observe not only what they are but what they are becoming, supplying evidence that they are growing into maturity in Christ. Some Christian leaders imagine that they have to appear perfect, with no visible flaws or blemishes. But there are at least two reasons why this is a mistake. First, it is hypocritical. Since none of us is a paragon of all virtues, it is dishonest to pretend to be. Secondly, the pretense discourages people, who then suppose that their leaders are altogether exceptional and even inhuman. Paul himself conceded that he had not arrived. ‘Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on …’ In the same way we should not give the false impression that we have reached our goal; on the contrary, we are still on the road, still pilgrims.

My prayer is that this might be what you see in our pastoral team…

Think about it – I may have had 30 years in the Navy, but I had never been a preacher, yet while I was in seminary, Brent challenged me to teach a new singles group and when Pastor Viars hired me 5 years ago, he immediately placed me in the preaching rotation…

- preaching isn’t just something you study in books…you have to do it…it’s like so many things in life…you have to practice…

- I am thankful to have the examples of many other Pastors, including David, Alfonso and Sam right here so that we can immerse ourselves together and grow with authenticity right here in a place we call home.

I am thankful for Pastor Viars heart to develop and grow our pastoral team. He would have every right to teach and preach every week at all three campuses. He gave this verse as a reason why he does not.

- 2 Timothy 2:2 - The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

He serves us well, but opening the pulpit to us and I pray that we serve you well by immersing ourselves and growing with authenticity in the use of our gift of teaching.

That is why our team here at Faith North wants to commit to all of you that we would…

- 1 Timothy 4:15 - Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

But with growth and progress in our teaching, there is also a danger that we might grow in pride…

Thus we find hope in taking Paul’s 4th challenge for those called to be teachers…

IV. Adopt the Teacher’s Humility

Paul first said to give attention to the word, then he followed by saying

- 1 Timothy 4:16a - Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching…

In humility, we must

Pay attention to yourself

This is similar to what Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20 –

Acts 20:28 - Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Be on guard for yourself, teacher, and be on guard for those you teach…particularly in where we are first called to use the gift of teaching…with the church…and not just because you are all a bunch of nice people…but because Christ purchased us, his church, with his own blood…

If God gives the gift, he also has a plan for where he wants it to be used… As we pay attention, we need to pay attention to using our gifts where and how God intended

As to the where…look back a verse we started with…

1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

What that means is that these gifts are given to be used first and foremost in the context of local church ministry…

So what about the person who might say –

well, I teach (or exercise whatever gift we might be discussing) out in the world all through the week

or at my job all through the week

don’t ask me to do that same thing in the Lord’s house on Sunday, or in some other local church ministry throughout the week…

what about that?...

we’re not going to be legalistic about this because each situation is unique and ultimately is a matter between you and the Lord…Is it really a matter of I can’t because I do so all week? Or I just don’t want to?

If God has gifted you…Shouldn’t the Lord and His people receive our first and our best fruits?....pay attention to yourself and…

Our challenge is to adopt a teacher’s humility as you pay attention to yourselves and as you

B. Pay attention to your teaching

Because even though you may be able to see those who are sitting right out in front of you, you may not know until much later who is hearing your teaching…

This applies to all of us who have a teaching role, not just those in the classroom or in the church house…

Are you a parent – do you pay attention to your teaching even when you think your children are not watching?

How soon do we see our little ones picking up on and repeating the words that we say, even before they know the meaning?

What about when we hear our teen complaining about a teacher or coach because they came down hard on them or did not acknowledge what they thought was amazing…consider, how has your family listened to your teaching by example when you speak about your boss when they did not consider your work amazing

Or a serious caution for today – Pay Attention to when you are NOT teaching…If you choose to not teach your children on a subject because it is hard, or it is uncomfortable for you…someone else will offer to teach them…

if not you – do you trust what their friends will teach?

If not you – do you trust what the internet will teach?

Then, being on guard is not just for the home and church, you will see the impact in every part of life.

Sometimes we are using the gift of teaching in a formal manner and we need to embrace the focus on God’s Word, teach with humility and keep our priorities aligned with God

And sometimes, we are simply teaching by how we live our lives and we still need to do these same things…so this challenge is for all of us…

Father, Mother, son and daughter, friend, co-worker, boss, leader, volunteer, teacher or teacher’s assistant – really, I just need to say all of us...

As followers of Jesus Christ, We all need to pay attention to our teaching,

because whether we think we are teaching or not – someone is watching and learning

What will they learn? –

is it a testimony of the work Christ has done in you?

Or will they just see you.

There is no greater lesson that you can use the gift of teaching to teach than the gospel…with humility,

I want others to see is just what God has taught me

That I am a sinner in need of a Savior

Because of my sin, what I truly deserve is death,

But God, being rich in mercy, through His grace sent His only son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin, a penalty that I could never pay for myself.

So based on His grace alone, through faith I have been saved, not based on any works of my own.

And the beauty of that gift is that salvation is available to all who would believe

It is no longer a question that I have to wrestle with…God has made it clear that we can know.

Do you want to know what it means to have eternal life? If that is you, will you allow me to connect you with one who God has gifted with a spiritual gift of teaching to answer any question you might have?

While you consider that - let’s take a look at the amazing way that this passage ends so that we might

V. Celebrate the Teacher’s Impact

- and perhaps that doesn’t sound like a 5th challenge, until we realize…you have to persevere in order to get to the benefits of this verse…

- we have teachers around faith who count their faithfulness not just in months or in years…but in decades…long before Faith North even was…

- in other words – they didn’t quit…and this verse affirms…

- 1 Timothy 4:16b - persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

- now I realize you might say – how could that be?...

A. Your perseverance will confirm your salvation

- well, we know it cannot mean that a faithful teacher earns his/her salvation by exercising the gift…

- but the fact that he/she has lived this way affirms to all who are watching the Spirit of Jesus Christ working in and through the ministry…

- because ultimately, who is the Great Teacher?...Christ himself

- so we’re not talking this morning about you becoming the best version of yourself (don’t you hate that phrase?)

- we’re talking about you becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ so that the sincerity and genuineness of your salvation will be evident to all…

- and amazingly…

B. Your faithfulness may be used to draw someone else to the Savior

- 1 Timothy 4:16b - persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Is there any greater reason to exercise the gift of teaching?

I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the Lord…I have no greater joy than to see my church family walking in the Lord…

Again, if you are here today, and you have questions about Jesus, about the Bible, about eternal life, then this teaching was for you today as well, simply to know that God gave this gift so that you might hear because He wants to draw you to himself today.