At bare minimum
faithful teaching is comprised of two essential components. Preparation and delivery. Or, more specifically stated, God-honoring
preaching involves diligent expository study combined with on-target exposition
and application.
The “diligent study” component is
mandated in 2 Timothy wherein Paul instructs his young protégé, “Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
handling accurately the word of truth.”[1]
The on-target exposition component
is prescribed in many biblical texts but chiefly in 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2. “All Scripture is inspired
by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good
work. I solemnly charge you in the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,
and by His appearing and His kingdom, preach the word; be ready in season and
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and
instruction.”
In short, the faithful bible
teacher must read the text, explain the text, and apply the text.
After citing Deuteronomy 4:32-40 Dr. Albert
Mohler makes this very point. Noting,
“In the end, our calling as preachers is really very simple. We study, we stand before our people, we read
the text, and we explain it. We reprove,
rebuke, exhort, and encourage, and teach—and then we do it all again and again
and again.”[2]
A biblical example of this is found
in the life testimony of Ezra. Ezra
7:9-10 describes Ezra’s ministry commitments this way; “For on the first of the first
month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he
came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law
of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in
Israel.”
In the New Testament pastors and
church leaders receive a similar charge.
“Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to
exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect
the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic
utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in
them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your
teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure
salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:13-18).
