The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Certainty or Faith: The Teaching Ministry and its Results

The nature of the teaching ministry is disputed in many circles, especially as it relates to the question of certainty and ambiguity in faith. One group, deeply influenced by a more rationalistic approach to the Christian vision, believes that the goal of the teaching ministry must always be to make the Word so plain that certainty and confidence are the result of the teacher’s work. This groups tends to view all doctrinal and theological issues as problems to be solved, and approaches theological and ethical discussions as if the questions and issues can all be answered and resolved if given enough time to critically understand the teaching of the Word of God on the matter. Another group, equally sincere and convinced, believes that the teaching ministry is about helping students live with ambiguity and mystery. Many thousands of questions will never be answered to our satisfaction. In light of this, the role of the teacher is to help its students learn to live with mystery, to quest for the truth but not to expect final answers in this age. While there is much to commend for each view, which group do you personally identify with? Is there a third (or fourth!) way to understand the role of the teaching ministry in regard to teaching the truth in the midst of the Church that can help us better understand what we are called to do as teachers of the Word?

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The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (Part 1)

Segment 1: The Foundations of the Teaching Ministry

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The NT defines the teaching ministry through a number of terms, all which highlight the role of the teacher as an instructor and builder of others. We can infer several models of the teaching ministry from the NT, including the model of the teacher as a scribe of the Kingdom (one who teaches or instructs in the revelation of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom), the teacher as a master builder (one who builds on the teaching of Jesus, the apostles and prophets to make their meaning clear for others to teach others), the teacher as a master craftsman (one who equips apprentices who will be able to train others also), and the teacher as seer (in modern terms, a color commentator on the game of the Lord, one explaining the working of God in the world, and our response to it).

Summary of Segment 1