The Holy Spirit’s Role in Bible Teaching

Do you realize how essential the Holy Spirit is in Bible teaching? Without the Spirit, teaching will lack power. Teachers won’t be able to adequately understand and explain Scripture and students won’t be able to let truth seep into their hearts. We must therefore have a firm grasp on the Holy Spirit’s role.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Bible Teaching

The Spirit’s role is to magnify Jesus, not Himself.

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. (Jn. 15:26)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, … He will glorify me …(Jn. 16:13-14)

The Holy Spirit’s role is to remind us about what Jesus said, not impart His own new teaching.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn. 14:26)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. (Jn. 16:13-14)

Implications of the Spirit’s Role for Teachers

Since the Spirit’s role is to magnify Jesus, not Himself, we shouldn’t obsess on the Holy Spirit. At the same time, however, we need to present the Spirit to students and emphasize the need for His work in and through them.

When we, as teachers, live in the power of the Spirit ourselves, students will see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.

We become more and more Christ-like in all we do as we walk in the Spirit rather than in the ways of the world and our sinful human nature (Gal. 5:13-17).

As we yield ourselves to the Spirit, we will exhibit Christ-like character, as He develops His fruit within us that doesn’t come naturally (Gal. 5:22-26).

We even become Christ-like relationally when filled with the Spirit as it affects our attitudes toward life and one another (Eph. 5:15-21).

As our lives model Christlikeness, students will tend to be more prone to listen to what we say about how the Holy Spirit enables us to live victoriously in Christ. We can explain that it comes not by self-effort, but by the Spirit.

Helpful Resource: The Holy Spirit & My Teaching Devotional