God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

of an apostle. As, Paul in Ephesus for two years (Acts 19:10) or in Corinth for one and one-half years (Acts 18:11). A. The ministry of a teacher is to explain, in easily understood terms, the things concerning God and His Word. The doctrine that comes to the Church through the wisdom and revelation of the apostles and prophets must be explained to the people in meaningful terms. B. The teacher must guide the studies of the Church in sound, practical doctrine; he must train the Church for Christian action. The people must be challenged to DO the Word as well as hear it. The teacher must himself be a real student of the Bible with the anointed ability to receive revelation from the Word and impart it to others. Nehemiah 8:7-12; Isaiah 28:9; Matthew 5:1, Luke 24:27; John 7:14; Acts 13:1; Romans 12:7; l Corinthians 12:28; 1 Timothy 2:7. C. The gift of teaching varies. The gift of one may be to teach the Word to children; another will be effective in teaching young people. A teacher may be only in the local church or a traveling ministry recognized by the whole Church. An elder is a man of mature age and experience who is recognized as a spiritual overseer in the local church. Three terms are used to describe this ministry: "elder" describes the position maturity; "bishop" describes the same ministry in terms of its function of oversight; "presbyter" comes from the same word as "elder" and means the same thing. The elders work in close harmony with the pastor in the shepherding of the local 205

10. THE MINISTRY OF THE TEACHER

11. WHAT IS THE MINISTRY OF AN ELDER?