Tag Archives: serving

Teachers and preachers have much in common.  Both are vital in church life and Christian spiritual formation.  The development and delivery of lessons and messages are remarkably similar, and one can definitely learn from the other in method, development, and delivery.  While teaching is generally known as the transfer of information, preaching goes further and seeks to affect the heart.  Both teachers and preachers declare the Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16–17 proposes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  One explanation I heard of this passage years ago from Dr. Jim Schettler suggests that “doctrine is what is right, reproof reveals what is wrong, correction says how to make it right, and instruction in righteousness tells how to keep it right.”  Christian growth, spiritual maturation, and formation are possible with preachers and teachers being an important part of this developmental process.  All this, of course, revolves around the Scriptures and relies upon the Holy Spirit of God.[3]