by Brian Scott
Today’s article is the fifth and final in a series of five articles describing the one leadership gift expressed in diversity through APEST, “A”postolic, “P”rophetic, “E”vangelistic, “S”hepherd, “T”eacher, found in Ephesians 4. In this article, we’ll explore the teaching function. Quick thought: If you have been questioning the interpretation of Ephesians 4 over the last four articles, you might have the teaching function.
Here is how Alan Hirsch and Dwight Smith see the Teaching function.
Teaching function
Hirsch – Philosopher, Sage, Mentor, Guide, Translator
Smith – (Teachers) explain the gospel truths to the church, truth-tellers, disciplined
The teaching function is passionate about the exploration, process, and communication of truth. These leaders are rooted in truth themselves and passionately fight for every expression of the church to be fully equipped to rightly discern truth. They tend to be creative in how truth is presented and can find illustrations naturally around them. Often, the teaching function brings a sense of stability because they tether discussions around Scripture. They can be a comforting presence in any leadership team as the culture becomes more and more disinterested in an absolute truth.
The gift of a teaching function to a leadership group purposed to equip disciples can be seen in the effectiveness of communication to the body. As an interdependent leadership team arrives at concepts, strategies, and plans, the teaching function is the bridge to the people through programs and curriculum. Their main contribution is to make sure the delivery of the package given by leadership is received and put into practice. The teaching function is an essential part of creating robust discipleship cultures.
In the previously mentioned hill illustration, the teaching function wants people to be informed. They will be out front putting up signposts along the path with critical information. Their worst fear is that people will be walking along the path aimlessly or without stability. To them, the truth communicated about Who God is, who we are, and where we’re going gives them that stability. They will be the ones who are walking alongside the people on the path, giving them clear directions but also helping people interpret what they are experiencing on the path.
When operating in immaturity, the teaching function operates similarly to the prophetic function. Both functions are not centered on people, instead they are more principally driven. The teaching function can get so passionate about truth that they miss the point of how truth transforms the life of the recipient. Truth can be depersonalized. The teacher function operating in immaturity can warehouse so much information that they often are unable to distinguish truth that has application in equipping disciples and information that is useless. They can communicate inconsequential information along with transformative truth, which can distort or detract people from what will be life changing.
Here are a few thoughts on how to relate and utilize the teaching function in your leadership team:
- Draw out the teaching function when determining how to deliver important information to the greater body.
- For the apostolic, prophetic, and evangelistic functions, view the hesitancy of the teachers, not as a drag, but as margin to reflect on how people are receiving leadership from your team. They may be averting a typical mistake of moving forward without people following.
- Rely on the teaching function to put the necessary systems in place to organize and stabilize the body as she moves toward a vision.
