ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted November 24, 2019 It says somewhere in the new testament that not many of us should be teachers. I've been wondering if sharing the gospel is the same as teaching? Should only those who have the gift of teaching share the gospel then? I used to share the gospel more, but now I'm hesitating because I don't want to be a teacher as not many of us should be teachers, and I've never wanted to be a teacher in the church. However, I'm wondering about sharing the gospel with those who are not in the church. Are all Christians called to share the gospel verbally with unbelievers or only teachers? - Confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 15 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 395 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 319 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/20/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted November 24, 2019 4 hours ago, ContinuingCorletta said: It says somewhere in the new testament that not many of us should be teachers. I've been wondering if sharing the gospel is the same as teaching? Should only those who have the gift of teaching share the gospel then? I used to share the gospel more, but now I'm hesitating because I don't want to be a teacher as not many of us should be teachers, and I've never wanted to be a teacher in the church. However, I'm wondering about sharing the gospel with those who are not in the church. Are all Christians called to share the gospel verbally with unbelievers or only teachers? - Confused. Share as you would honestly like others to share with you. Remember that those that want to know the truth will ask about it. Let your honesty and truth be the light of what they are already deeply looking for. In your honesty of consciousness, the Holy Spirit of Truth will merge with you and guide you in what to say and do, or not say or do, in a truthful way. A lot of the time our best share is our silence, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, unconditional love, fearlessness, doubtlessness, faith, acceptance, allowance, of which all these things are expressions of truth without saying a word. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborah_ Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 13 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 790 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 878 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/07/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted November 24, 2019 5 hours ago, ContinuingCorletta said: It says somewhere in the new testament that not many of us should be teachers. I've been wondering if sharing the gospel is the same as teaching? Should only those who have the gift of teaching share the gospel then? Teaching and witnessing/evangelism are not the same thing. Any of us can be a witness to the gospel - in fact, we all are, whether we like it or not! The only question is whether we're good witnesses or bad ones! It's James who says (James 3:1) that not many Christians should aspire to be teachers. Teachers are these who explain doctrine to and instruct other Christians (eg preachers, Bible study leaders). In order to be a teacher you first have to learn - you need a firm understanding of Christian doctrine, and you have to practise what you preach. Bad teaching is very damaging to a church. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzephanyahu Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 69 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,625 Content Per Day: 0.79 Reputation: 2,033 Days Won: 1 Joined: 09/10/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted November 24, 2019 7 hours ago, ContinuingCorletta said: Are all Christians called to share the gospel verbally with unbelievers or only teachers? Shalom @ContinuingCorletta, Yes, all should share the Gospel, as it doesn't count as teaching really. For example: Imagine you found a secret lake, in which all who went in were healed, and wanted to share this good news. Would you classify yourself as a 'teacher' just in sharing that information? I don't think so. Now, there are some gifted with gift of evangelism and some gifted with the gift of teaching. The former will be blessed with opportunities to speak with many individuals and masses of unbelievers. The latter will be blessed with understanding and wisdom in expounding the Scriptures for believers. However, even if we are not Spiritually Gifted in these areas, we should be prepared to share the good news when appropriate with unbelievers and teach the Scriptures to young believers. That said, we should not all try to be teachers as Yahweh wants order in the Body. So, if every believer runs around trying to teach others, which is common today, then who are students? But it goes beyond this as well... It's better to listen and learn rather than speak and teach. We will be judged by our words and a teacher must speak many of them, so greater the risk. Therefore, it's best to leaving teaching to those who are gifted and led by the Holy Spirit, rather than do so of our own volition, lest we err. But sharing the Gospel is very different to being a teacher to the Body. It's more like being a herald than a teacher. I hope that helps in some way! Love & Shalom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnthebaptist Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Non-Conformist Theology Followers: 6 Topic Count: 118 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 4,361 Content Per Day: 2.32 Reputation: 2,109 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/25/2019 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/03/1953 Share Posted November 24, 2019 9 hours ago, ContinuingCorletta said: It says somewhere in the new testament that not many of us should be teachers. I've been wondering if sharing the gospel is the same as teaching? Should only those who have the gift of teaching share the gospel then? I used to share the gospel more, but now I'm hesitating because I don't want to be a teacher as not many of us should be teachers, and I've never wanted to be a teacher in the church. However, I'm wondering about sharing the gospel with those who are not in the church. Are all Christians called to share the gospel verbally with unbelievers or only teachers? - Confused. No one is to call himself a teacher (Matt 23:8), but certainly we all share what we have learned in an effort to help others: O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1 RSV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 13 hours ago, Raven said: Share as you would honestly like others to share with you. Remember that those that want to know the truth will ask about it. Let your honesty and truth be the light of what they are already deeply looking for. In your honesty of consciousness, the Holy Spirit of Truth will merge with you and guide you in what to say and do, or not say or do, in a truthful way. A lot of the time our best share is our silence, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, unconditional love, fearlessness, doubtlessness, faith, acceptance, allowance, of which all these things are expressions of truth without saying a word. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 13 hours ago, Deborah_ said: Teaching and witnessing/evangelism are not the same thing. Any of us can be a witness to the gospel - in fact, we all are, whether we like it or not! The only question is whether we're good witnesses or bad ones! It's James who says (James 3:1) that not many Christians should aspire to be teachers. Teachers are these who explain doctrine to and instruct other Christians (eg preachers, Bible study leaders). In order to be a teacher you first have to learn - you need a firm understanding of Christian doctrine, and you have to practise what you preach. Bad teaching is very damaging to a church. Thank you for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 10 hours ago, Tzephanyahu said: Shalom @ContinuingCorletta, Yes, all should share the Gospel, as it doesn't count as teaching really. For example: Imagine you found a secret lake, in which all who went in were healed, and wanted to share this good news. Would you classify yourself as a 'teacher' just in sharing that information? I don't think so. Now, there are some gifted with gift of evangelism and some gifted with the gift of teaching. The former will be blessed with opportunities to speak with many individuals and masses of unbelievers. The latter will be blessed with understanding and wisdom in expounding the Scriptures for believers. However, even if we are not Spiritually Gifted in these areas, we should be prepared to share the good news when appropriate with unbelievers and teach the Scriptures to young believers. That said, we should not all try to be teachers as Yahweh wants order in the Body. So, if every believer runs around trying to teach others, which is common today, then who are students? But it goes beyond this as well... It's better to listen and learn rather than speak and teach. We will be judged by our words and a teacher must speak many of them, so greater the risk. Therefore, it's best to leaving teaching to those who are gifted and led by the Holy Spirit, rather than do so of our own volition, lest we err. But sharing the Gospel is very different to being a teacher to the Body. It's more like being a herald than a teacher. I hope that helps in some way! Love & Shalom Thank you for your thoughts and explanations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 8 hours ago, johnthebaptist said: No one is to call himself a teacher (Matt 23:8), but certainly we all share what we have learned in an effort to help others: O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1 RSV I share just some things but not everything that I have learned to help others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContinuingCorletta Posted November 24, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 143 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 589 Content Per Day: 0.26 Reputation: 854 Days Won: 2 Joined: 01/10/2018 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 8 hours ago, Prodigal Son said: I think we are all told to share the gospel but I'm afraid. I'm afraid mostly of getting into an argument. I think one should perhaps back off if the person rejects the word such as someone from another religion or an atheist. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." Matthew 10: 14 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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