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

The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (Part 1)

Segment 2: The Call, Character, and Content of the Teaching Ministry

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The call to the teaching ministry is synonymous with a call to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (cf. Eph. 4.12). Like preaching, the ministry of the teacher is a divine calling, not a matter of study and scholarship alone, but of spiritual gifting and enablement from Christ. The teacher must learn to feed and lead others to discover the truth through dialogue and study, and above all else, must learn to rely upon the anointing and enablement of the Holy Spirit as they lead others to apply the truth. The “principle of character” in the teaching ministry suggests that who a teacher is in his or her character will sooner or later impact what they as a teacher say and do. The cardinal virtue of the teaching ministry is clarity , and the corresponding cardinal vice being pride and hypocrisy . The heart of the content of the teaching ministry, which includes the teaching clause of the Great Commission (i.e., to instruct disciples of Jesus to obey everything that he commanded ), is Christlikeness in character and life, and to understand and defend the apostolic tradition, i.e., the historic orthodox faith and how it relates to their life and witness. Our objective for this segment, The Call, Character, and Content of the Teaching Ministry , is to enable you to see that: • The call to the teaching ministry is synonymous with a call to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (cf. Eph. 4.12). • Like preaching, the ministry of the teacher is a divine calling, not a matter of study and scholarship alone, but of spiritual gifting and enablement from Christ. The teacher must learn to feed and lead others to discover the truth through dialogue and study, and above all else, must learn to rely upon the anointing and enablement of the Holy Spirit as they lead others to apply the truth. • The “principle of character” in the teaching ministry suggests that who a teacher is in his or her character will sooner or later impact what they as a teacher say and do. A teacher must be a model and instruct in the truth, and their character, for good or ill, will directly shape and impact the fruitfulness of their teaching.

Summary of Segment 2

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