As noted in a previous post, 1 Corinthians 2 makes it clear that the Spirit needs to be at work within teachers during lesson preparation so they’re able to grasp the spiritual truth they’ll be teaching. That’s the only way to ensure that what they teach isn’t just human wisdom but rather that they’re “explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Cor. 2:13).
How can we, as Bible teachers, explain what God’s Word says if we ourselves haven’t been taught by the Holy Spirit? How will what we teach have powerful effects if it doesn’t come from the Spirit?
We Can’t Explain Spiritual Realities without Spirit-Taught Words
Our finite minds can’t possibly understand the depth of God’s wisdom and understanding.
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. (Isa. 40:28)
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom. 11:33)
But, “the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” and “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:10-11). Consequently, if the Holy Spirit teaches us as we study God’s Word, then we can explain those spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. As Bible teachers, we need the Spirit to be at work in and through us in presenting the lesson.
What Happens When Teachers Try to Explain Spiritual Truth Without the Holy Spirit
As Bible teachers, we can go into a lesson thinking we’re prepared since we studied. However, if those spiritual thoughts aren’t combined with spiritual words, something will get lost in the translation.
- We could inaccurately explain the truth.
- We could present some semblance of what the Word says but miss the real essence of what God intended and merely present human wisdom.
- We could give a true but very shallow explanation, not nearly tapping into the depth of God’s heart and mind.
- We could simply address head knowledge but have very little, or no, impact on the heart.
- We could miss those spontaneous, teachable moments in the classroom where spiritual truths get connected to students’ life experiences.
Having been taught by the Spirit, we also need to explain what we’ve been taught through the Spirit. Bible teachers need to see their role as conduits through whom the Spirit speaks. That means we’re relying on the power and wisdom of the Almighty God, not on ourselves … not even the fact that we’ve studied for the lesson. We begin the teaching process with the Spirit teaching us and we continue the process in the classroom with the Spirit guiding even the very words we use.
Teacher Training Resource: The Holy Spirit & My Teaching Devotional