C.A.C Sunday School Manual For June 16, 2024 Lesson 22: Topic – THE GIFT OF TEACHING
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Nigeria And Overseas
2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
UNIT 3: GOD GIVES VOCAL GIFTS AND MORE
THEME: SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST
LESSON Twenty-Two
16th June, 2024
TOPIC: THE GIFT OF TEACHING
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).
The gift of teaching is a special divine blessing to the Church. Where it is lacking, people lack sound doctrine, and that is very dangerous to the health of the body of Christ.
BRIEF COMMENT
There are indeed diverse gifts in the Church of God today. Through these gifts, God has moved mightily in diverse ways, fulfilling His purpose for the release of the gifts. The divers gifts reveal many functions of the Holy Spirit but do not imply different spirits. The core of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ being revealed that the Church may grow and be blameless and spotless when ultimately presented to Jesus Himself, by Himself. The Church today is full of many teachers, who by the knowledge of the world assume that they can grow a transformed and mature Church. But, the gift of teaching released by the Holy Spirit (the divine teacher) unto the Church is the only undeniable gift by which the Church can be thoroughly taught. Since our worship is in Spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24), it is the Holy Spirit- inspired Word that brings the expected impact on the Church. The systematic and proper communication of God’s knowledge aimed at building and maturing the Church is the responsibility of God’s children with the gift of teaching.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 10: Gifted Teachers Are Students Somewhere (Lk. 6:40)
Tue. 11: Gifted Teachers Set Examples (Tt. 2:7-8)
Wed. 12: Gifted Teachers Grow (Heb. 6:1-2)
Thur. 13: Gifted Teachers Love Their Students (Lk. 18:16)
Fri. 14: Gifted Teachers Are Learners (Psa. 32:8)
Sat. 15: Gifted Teachers Are Anointed (1 Jn. 2:27)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. The gift of teaching is a must in a church where spiritual growth and maturity are their paramount goals.
2. The observable growth and maturity of a church in sound teaching, is a proof of the presence and work of the Holy Spiri through her gifted teachers.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:11-12
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To show the efficacy of the spiritual gift of teaching in the Church.
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
i. identify the meaning and role of the gift of teaching;
ii. show the relevance of the gift of teaching in the Church; and
iii. mention how Jesus manifested His teaching gift.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: MARK 1:22; 7:1-3; LUKE 2:41FF; 4:42-44; ACTS 18:24; ROMANS 12:6-7; EPHESIANS 4:11; 2 TIMOTHY 2:15
To God alone be all the praise for the blessings received from last week’s lesson: EVANGELISM AND MISSIONARY GRACES. The lesson is believed to have been an enlightenment on what the gift of Evangelism is, and why there are people called into the Missionary Ministry.
This week’s lesson: THE GIFT OF TEACHING, clarifies what the gift of teaching is, and reveals how Jesus manifested the gift in preparing His disciples for their own future ministry. It also seeks to address the uncurbed proliferation of bloated teachers who abuse their gifts rather than have a continuous learning attitude with the Holy Spirit. As we continue to learn at Jesus’ feet, we pray that God would give us the grace to identify and nurture our gifts, that it may fulfil its purpose for the Church as a whole.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. TEACHING: A SPIRITUAL GIFT
II. THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JESUS
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. TEACHING: A SPIRITUAL GIFT (Acts 18:24; Rom. 12:6-7; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:15)
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2).
a) Rom. 12:6-7: Teaching is one of the gifts differing according to the grace of God, not a wage (reward). It is the grace to logically and systematically communicate biblical truths that are important for people to understand God and the overall growth of the Church.
b) Those with the spiritual gift of teaching are passionate students of the Word. They teach with authority, relevance and insight, while their hearers are motivated by God’s Spirit to apply what they hear (Lk. 24:28-32; 1 Cor. 2:4).
c) Eph. 4:11: The teaching gift is for equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for edifying the body of Christ (v. 11). It plays a major role in the growth of the saints to become like Christ.
d) Acts 18:24: …an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures. Apollos had the gift of teaching which he zealously used to God’s glory. Thank God he didn’t hide it. He immensely imparted the Kingdom.
e) 2 Tim. 2:15:… rightly dividing the word of truth. Being gifted is not all about preaching the Word. Diligence is key to harnessing the teaching gift. It brings fruitfulness and fulfilment, both to the teacher and the learners (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16).
f) The gift of teaching must be nurtured and guided by the Word and Holy Spirit in the life of the gifted, so that the Church can grow into what her Groom desires.
II. THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JESUS (Mk. 1:22; 7:1-3; Lk. 2:41ff; 4:42-44)
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach (Acts 1:1).
a) Lk. 2:42ff: The gift of God is no respecter of age. Jesus, at age 12, had started manifesting this gift. Even His answer to His parent, they didn’t comprehend (v. 49).
b) v. 46: Jesus, the great Teacher, sat and learnt from Jewish rabbis, listening to them and asking questions. The teaching gift calls for continuous learning for the gifted teacher to remain relevant.
c) 4:42-44: Being the ideal Teacher, He was an intentional Seeker. His teaching style and methods led people to respond to the divine call.
d) Mk. 1:22: The Spirit’s anointing on Jesus manifested in His astonishing teaching ability by which He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes an exceptional gift of teaching.
e) many subjects, like anger (Matt. Jesus’ teachings, including 5:21- 26), money (6:19), prayer (vv. 5-14), God’s kingdom (Lk. 13:18- 30), humility (14:7-14), etc., help people to face life’s challenges and find hope. His use of parables/stories drawn from real-life situations helps people experience transformation.
f) 7:1-23: Unlike many teachers today, Jesus’ teachings are people- centred, inspiring us for undeniable growth and transformation.
g) Jesus’ style and methods of manifesting the gift of teaching is the best example le to follow. Jesus taught what He practised. Likewise, we must allow the Holy Spirit to help us maximise His gifts profitably to the Church.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. Teaching is a gift from God that the gifted must be humble enough to be regularly taught by the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus perfectly manifested the gift of teaching during His earthly ministry. He is the perfect Model for all teachers.
QUESTIONS
1. How did Jesus manifest His teaching gift?
2. Is the teaching gift still relevant in the Church today?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
* Jesus is our perfect Example, for men attested to it. He is the only One regarded as Rabbi in the scriptures.
* Jesus manifested His teaching gift by intentionally seeking, teaching and leading the lost to repentance.
* The teaching gift of Jesus was manifested in His express and logical use of parables/stories in helping man deal with different life issues.
* The authority with which Jesus taught was an exceptional one
* He was a teacher by example, not just in words (Acts 1:1)
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
* The teaching gift is the gift of God to His Church, sent for a purpose-equipping the Church.
* Any church without a sound teaching from genuine teachers of truth is bound to lose its relevance in this polluted world.
* The Church needs the teaching gift now more than ever before, to help defend the truth against the proliferated heresies packaged as Neo-Pentecostal revelations.
* Without sound teaching from genuinely gifted teachers, the people perish.
* Since growth and maturity are expedient, the gift of teaching becomes imperative.
LIFE APPLICATION
When a faithful teacher of the Word practises the principles teach, their influence is profound. God intends the Church to mature by steadily nourishing herself with systematic teaching of biblical truths. As such, gifted teachers should seek divine guidance to discern relevant truths for the Church. Also, the Church should actively defend and preserve these truths to facilitate her comprehensive growth.
CONCLUSION
We bless the name of the Lord for the completion of this lesson. May the Lord give us the grace to make serving God and His people with our gifts our motive, as we inculcate Jesus’ teaching lifestyle in Jesus’ name.
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