When Teaching Goes Missing

“…he who teaches, in teaching” – Romans 12:7

The gift of teaching is one of the most essential gifts in the church—and yet, it is one of the most neglected. Paul told Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me… commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, NKJV). Teaching is not something we can manufacture, but it is something we must develop. A true teacher never “arrives.” He keeps growing, keeps studying, keeps sharpening the gift God has given him. Just as an athlete’s strength reflects the hours spent training, a teacher’s clarity reflects the hours spent sweating over Scripture. When teaching is neglected, the church becomes spiritually malnourished—like a restaurant that serves bland, careless meals. You wouldn’t return to a place that takes no pride in its food; why settle for a pulpit that takes no care with God’s Word?

Scripture warns us that teachers will be held to a stricter judgment (James 3:1–5). That alone should make every pastor tremble before stepping behind a pulpit. Yet today, many churches excuse shallow teaching because the worship is exciting, the children’s ministry is fun, or the building is close to home. But Acts 17:11 praises believers who “searched the Scriptures daily” to test what they heard. Teaching is not entertainment—it is the shaping of souls. When teaching is weak, believers become weak. When teaching is clear, believers grow strong, steady, and rooted in truth.

This is why the gift of teaching must never be taken lightly. It is a divine enablement, but it is also a sacred responsibility. A teacher must labor, study, pray, and prepare—week after week—so that God’s people can understand and apply His Word. And God’s people must value teaching enough to expect excellence, hunger for truth, and refuse to settle for “read and ramble” sermons. If you are a teacher, approach God’s Word with humility, diligence, and holy fear. Keep growing. Keep studying. Keep sharpening the gift God has entrusted to you. And if you are part of a congregation, make sure you are planted where God’s Word is taught clearly and faithfully. Don’t choose a church for convenience, programs, or personalities—choose it for truth. When God’s Word is the priority, everything else in your life will begin to align.

“The Spirit’s illumination is the teacher’s confidence, for only He can make the truth effectual in the heart.”—B.B. Warfield