Lesson 1: The Call Of The Teacher
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)
At A Glance
- Teaching is one of the gifts Christ gave to equip His Church.
- The teacher helps believers understand the Word so they stay and grow.
- Jesus Himself was called Teacher more than any other title.
- Teachers carry a serious responsibility before God.
- Ezra’s order is the teacher’s pattern: seek it, do it, then teach it.
1. A Gift From Christ
Ephesians 4:11 names “pastors and teachers” among the gifts Christ gave His Church. Paul also lists teachers among those God appointed in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:28), and among the gifts believers are given: “he who teaches, in teaching” (Romans 12:7).
In the church at Antioch, there were “certain prophets and teachers” who ministered to the Lord together (Acts 13:1). Teaching is not a lesser gift. It is a foundation for a healthy church.
In summary:
- Teaching is a gift of Christ to His Church.
- Teachers serve alongside the other offices.
- A strong church needs strong teaching.
2. Why Teachers Matter
When the evangelist brings new souls in, the teacher teaches them so they can stay in the church. Without teaching, new believers are easily “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).
God said through Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Teachers fight that destruction by giving people understanding.
In the parable of the sower, the seed that bore fruit fell on good ground: “he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit” (Matthew 13:23). Understanding is what turns hearing into fruit. That is the teacher’s work.
In summary:
- Teachers help people stay rooted after they come in.
- Lack of knowledge destroys; understanding brings fruit.
- The teacher turns hearing into understanding.
3. Jesus the Teacher
Jesus was called “Teacher” or “Rabbi” more than any other title in the Gospels. Nicodemus said, “We know that You are a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). Jesus said, “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” (John 13:13).
How Jesus taught:
- With authority, not like the scribes (Matthew 7:28–29)
- With stories people could remember (Matthew 13:34)
- With questions that made people think (Matthew 16:15)
- With His life, showing what He taught (John 13:15)
- With compassion: “He was moved with compassion for them… So He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34)
Notice that last one. Jesus taught because He cared.
In summary:
- Jesus is the model Teacher.
- He taught with authority, stories, questions, example, and compassion.
- Teaching flows from love for people.
4. A Serious Responsibility
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).
This is not meant to scare teachers away. It reminds them that words shape lives. What you teach, people will believe, live, and pass on. Jesus warned that whoever teaches others to break even the least commandment will be called least in the kingdom, but “whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great” (Matthew 5:19).
In summary:
- Teachers are held to a higher standard.
- Your words shape what people believe and live.
- Greatness comes to those who do and teach.
5. Ezra’s Pattern
Ezra 7:10 gives the teacher a clear order:
| Step | What Ezra did | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepared his heart | Set his heart before God | Come to the Word with humility and hunger |
| 2. Seek the Law | Studied God’s Word | Study diligently and carefully |
| 3. Do it | Obeyed what he learned | Live what you learn before you teach it |
| 4. Teach it | Taught Israel | Share it so others understand and obey |
The order matters. Teaching comes last, after the heart is prepared, the Word is studied, and the truth is lived.
Later, Ezra read the Law to the people, and the Levites “gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8). The people wept, then rejoiced “because they understood the words that were declared to them” (Nehemiah 8:12).
In summary:
- Prepare your heart, seek the Word, do it, then teach it.
- Living it comes before teaching it.
- Understanding brings both conviction and joy.
Practical Steps This Week
- Pray Ezra 7:10 over your life every morning.
- Choose one passage to study deeply, and apply it to your own life before you teach it.
- Ask someone you teach what they understood from your last lesson, and listen.
- Read Mark 6:34 and ask God for His compassion toward those you teach.
Key Takeaways
- Teaching is a gift Christ gave to equip His Church.
- Teachers help believers understand the Word and stay rooted.
- Jesus is the model Teacher, and He taught from compassion.
- Teachers carry a serious responsibility.
- Follow Ezra’s order: prepare your heart, seek it, do it, then teach it.
Reflect
- Do I teach out of compassion, or out of a desire to be heard?
- Am I living what I teach?
- Do the people I teach truly understand, or do they only hear?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the call to teach Your Word. Prepare my heart like Ezra’s to seek You, to obey, and then to teach. Give me Your compassion for the people I teach. Help me make Your truth clear so that it takes root and bears fruit in their lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lord, I love You, and I say yes to feeding Your sheep. Give me Your word for Your people. Let me pray before I preach and live what I teach. Help me give milk to the young and solid food to the mature, and let Your Word take deep root in every heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.