SDA Sabbath School Lessons

#7 Teaching Gifts

• Sabbath 2/8 - Teaching is a Key Function
• Sunday 2/9 - The Teaching Functin of the Church
• Monday 2/10 - The Gift of Teaching
• Tuesday 2/11 - The Gift of Knowledge
• Wednesday 2/12 - The Gift of Wisdom
• Thursday 2/13 - The Gift of Pastoring or Shepherding
• Friday 2/14 - Further Study
• Inside Story - A Dream and a Harvest

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TEACHING IS ONE OF THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH

It builds faith and practice in individual lives and in the corporate life of a church congregation.  The Bible tells us that Jesus spent much of His time teaching. Paul's advice to Timothy is still relevant today:  "Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:13-16, NIV).

THE TEACHING FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH
(Titus 2:1).

The local church is responsible for ongoing religious education for church members and new converts.

What does the Bible say about the teaching ministry of the church?  Deut. 11:18-22; 1 Tim. 4:9-11; 2 Tim. 2:2.

"There are those who want more definite light than they receive from hearing the sermons.  Some need a longer time than do others to understand the points presented.  If the truth presented could be made a little plainer, they would see it and take hold of it, and it would be like a nail fastened in a sure place." - Gospel Workers, p. 407.

"Of the ninety times the Lord was addressed, as recorded in the Gospels, sixty times He was called 'Rabbi.'  Furthermore, the thought of the speaker in at least part of the thirty remaining cases was directed toward Jesus as a teacher, for the Greek word didaskalos, which refers to ‘one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man,’ is translated sometimes ‘teacher’ and sometimes ‘master.’ "C.B. Eavey, Principles of Teaching for Christian Teachers (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan; 1940), pp. 24, 25.

What teaching ministry is your church fulfilling?

THE GIFT OF TEACHING (Acts 19:8-10).

This gift is vital to the success of the church.  Outside the brief study time allotted to the Sabbath School lesson, teaching is used very little in many churches.  Admonition is utilized far too much, when teaching ought to be the framework for the church's training program.

What does the New Testament have to say about teaching?  Acts 19:8-10; 1 Tim. 3:1, 2; 4:11-14; 2 Tim. 2:1, 2.

People with this gift have the following characteristics:

1. The teacher himself or herself will have an intense desire to understand truth and excel in the ability to explain it to others.
2. Others will consistently understand truth as a result of their teaching.
3. People with this gift are not satisfied with unclear or obscure meanings.
4. People grow spiritually as a result of the work of these gifted teachers.

THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE (Matt. 13:11).

The gift of knowledge concerns the discovery of truth.  Some people have been given the ability to dig deep and accumulate a fund of knowledge about the Scriptures and the way of salvation that is invaluable to the work of the church.

What does the Bible say about general religious knowledge all Christians should have?  Matt. 13:11; 2 Cor. 2:14 (compare Eph. 4:13; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:18).

Text	The gift of knowledge
Luke 1:1-4
Acts 18:24, 25
Rom. 15:14
2 Cor. 11:6

Paul had this gift.  Notice how he explains it in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.  It is through this gift that Paul was able to reorganize the facts he had learned previous to his conversion so that they fit the pattern of God given wisdom.

This gift can be easily counterfeited.  And Paul says, "knowledge puffs up" (1 Cor. 8:1, NIV).

How can those "puffed up" by knowledge create problems?   1 Cor. 8:11; Luke 11:52 (compare Rom. 1:28; 10:2).

How does a person with this gift receive knowledge?   Is the gift the ability to study?  Do only scholars receive it?  Is it some kind of "sixth sense" some people have to distinguish truth from error?  Explain your answer.  "Unless our knowledge is a stepping-stone to the accomplishment of the highest purposes, it is worthless." - Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 541.

THE GIFT OF WISDOM (Eccl. 12: 11).

Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge in a practical way.  When the Bible says that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9: 10), it means that understanding what God reveals about Himself will lead to practical applications in everyday life.

Contrast Ecclesiastes 12:11 with Proverbs 9:10.  What connection do you see between the gifts of knowledge and wisdom in these verses?

How does the Bible describe the gifts of the men who built the tabernacle in the wilderness?  Exod. 31:1-6.

How would you compare the reliability of counsel from someone who has the gift of wisdom with the reliability of a recommendation of your church board?  What are the implications of your response?

THE GIFT OF PASTORING OR SHEPHERDING
(1 Peter 5:1-3).

Our word pastor derives originally from the Greek word poimen, which means "shepherd."  This definition reflects the concept of the ministry of all believers and assumes a distinction between the office of pastor and the gift of pastoring.

The gift of pastoring is a bit more complex than some gifts, because we tend to see the gift of pastoring and the office of pastor as synonymous.

It is rather startling to realize that your pastor may not have the gift of pastoring, or shepherding, yet be able to do a fine job in the office of pastor of your church!  It is also rather startling to realize that some members in your congregation probably do have the gift of pastoring, and should be assigned the task of looking after the spiritual welfare of the members, even though they do not fill the office of pastor.

The reference is to ministers, apparently with the gift of knowledge, who, while improving that gift, neglect the duties of the pastoral office.

FURTHER STUDY:

For insight into a concise philosophy of Bible study and teaching, read "Bible Teaching and Study" in Education, pp. 185-192.

Do you have the gift of teaching?

Yes	No	Do you enjoy teaching the Bible and find that people learn from your teaching?
Yes	No	Do you enjoy spending considerable time learning Bible truth so that you can communicate it to others?
Yes	No	Do you usually organize biblical information in a careful and systematic way so that listeners clearly understand it?
Yes	No	Have you read the Bible through a number of times?
Yes	No	Given a choice, do you prefer biblical passages that are rich in doctrine?

Yes	No	Do you enjoy spending time nurturing and caring for others?
Yes	No	Have you been instrumental in helping some people return to the church?
Yes	No	Can you affirm that your Christian example has influenced a group of Christians?
Yes	No	Are you considered by people in your church to be a spiritual leader?
Yes	No	Do you tend to provide guidance for the whole person-relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and theologically?

SUMMARY:   Through teaching gifts, most biblical knowledge is transmitted to the body of Christ.  The gifts of knowledge and wisdom accompany the gift of teaching.  A person or a team of people with this combination of gifts is invaluable to the church.  The gift of pastoring, or shepherding, should not be confused with the office of pastor.  Many people in a congregation may have the pastoral gift.

A Dream and a Harvest

Sahara de Almérida

The highlands that lie along the borders of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil are called la Gran Sabana ("the Great Savannah").  Its mountains, colorful prairies, and famous Angel Falls--the highest waterfall in the world--draw tourists from all over the world.  In the midst of this natural beauty towers Mount Roraima, a name familiar to many Adventists, not because of its beauty, but because of what happened there.

Many years ago an Indian chief named Auka (or Awaka) had a vision in which an angel taught him the laws of health and principles of living.  The angel told the chief to watch for a "white man with a black book."  Chief Auka taught his people what the angel had told him.  Together Chief Auka and his people waited for the promised white man with the black book.

In 1910 Adventist Missionary O. E. Davis, stationed in Guyana, was impressed to travel into the interior and teach the people about Christ.  After months of grueling travel, he arrived at the village of Paraitepuy, on the border of Guyana and Venezuela.

When the Indians saw Davis, they cried out, "The white man with the black book!"  Pastor Davis was surprised by this unexpected welcome, and immediately began teaching the people about Christ.  His work was cut short when he died of malaria, but his mission lived on.  The villagers buried their beloved teacher at the foot of Mount Roraima, and continued to live according to the principles he had taught them, and singing the songs they had learned.

When missionaries arrived in this area years later, they found villagers who worshipped on the Sabbath, kept no pigs, and sang familiar songs!  The people wanted to be known as the Davis Indians, to honor the man who had taught them about Jesus.

The work in this area has continued to thrive over the years.  On Sabbath 3,000 Davis Indian Adventists gather in 12 churches and 20 groups to worship.  Nearly half of these members are under age 16.  With missionary zeal they take the three angels' messages from town to town, and from house to house in their different dialects and in Spanish and English, as well.

Sahara de Almérida is Sabbath School coordinator in the East Venezuela Mission.

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