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Listen to the sermon, Teachers Among Us here.

2 TIMOTHY 3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work . . . . . 4: 1 I 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: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Acts 2 said they continued in the Apostles teaching – now keep in mind they were apostles, but they were also teachers.  Where and what did they start with?  What Jesus wanted them to be and do – all teaching flowed from that.  It wasn’t a western model of give the information and good luck – it was this is how it’s done.  This is critical for NorthWood for 2 reasons – first, all 5 are equipping gifts to grow and engage and we have to have them for cell life , and second – in leadership and how our church moves forward there is the 5-fold team.  It’s how the church moves forward, is equipped and grows – in the past it was only pastor/teacher – but in the NT church, the early church, and the global church – it was & is the 5 fold. In America the church is defined by just 2 gifts – Pastor – Teacher.  If Sunday event is all you do, you don’t need this.  When the teaching gift leads the church – the church ceases to be “called out” or eccklesia and becomes the class. Teaching is not apart from the other 5 but supports and gives the base and foundation for it.  When teaching is the end in itself then it’s primary metric is the preacher – but when the primary metric is following God, it’s the foundation that the Apostles and prophets build on. 

Apostles – The Forgotten Gift
Prophets – The Least understood Gift
Evangelist – The Least used Gift
Pastor – The Most Used Gift
Teacher – The Most abused Gift

This isn’t just a model for cells but the church – we saw it first for the church and there have been books in which we have been written about as an “apostolic” church where this is all present.  But what does it look like unleashed on the whole body.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1. THE PURPOSE OF TEACHING IS TO PRODUCE DISCIPLES.
V.3:10-12 - 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Look at what he’s talking about here – about how we live our life. 
Teaching is tied to conduct.
Teaching is tied to purpose.
Teaching is tied to hope.

2. THE FUNCTION OF THE TEACHER IS TO APPLY TRUTH. V.13-15 - 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

THE PRIORITY OF TEACHING IS TIED TO THE FOUNDATION
The purpose is not merely information and what that looks like, but it’s more about how do we fulfill where God is calling us to God.  Yes, being preceeds doing – but the body like the children of Israel, worships, but then worship moves us in a forward motion with God.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
 
It’s a serious thing to teach.  Your life has to back up your message.  We are living in a day when that doesn’t happen.  This is why he tells Timothy – you
know who you learned it from.”  Paul yes – but also his parents and others. 

THE DANGER OF BEING A TEACHER:
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER: 
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.10and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.13. . . They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,while they feast with you. 14They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! . . .  19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved

Greed – Sexual Immorality – Disrespect of Authority - Blasphemy

HOW TEACHING FUNCTIONS IN THE CELL:  First, is the message from the pulpit – why?  It’s the “apostolic” teaching that we then apply.  It’s not about a lesson on improvement it’s about the people of God on the mission of God and how we then break it out.  This is why there is such a big disconnect in the church on mission today.  YES, you need stuff on marriage, finances, and this is why we offer retreats, coarses, encourage you to read books – but the body has to be focused in a forward direction.  So when the leader takes us through the lesson what happens is we then apply it to our lives.  We share where we come up short, what we don’t understand, and receive new truth to apply to enable to know God and follow him. 

3. THE TEXT OF THE TEACHER IS THE WORD OF GOD.  V.16-4:5
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work . . . . . 4:1 I 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: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any(D) two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Word of God is sacred.
The Word of God is God-breathed.
The Word of God is alive.
The Word of God is active.