Teaching in faith and truth

for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. – 1 Timothy 2.7

Every time I read about teachers in the scriptures I pause and take notice. Jesus was, of course, the Master Teacher. Teaching was, and I think is, one of the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit gives to His church. I love teaching. I know that I am serving now in the role of a church planting pastor, but even there teaching is what I love.

Paul knew that the Holy Spirit had called him as a preacher and an apostle to the Gentiles. He then went on to explain what he meant by a ‘preacher.’

He said 'I am a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and in truth.'

As a teacher, especially as a Christian teacher, I have grown to realise the importance of teaching in faith and in truth. Those two elements are vital for teachers.

We must trust that what we are teaching is true. If we don’t believe it is true then we can’t teach it. To teach the word of God we must, have the faith to know it is true.

But I think there is another side. Paul was convinced that he was teaching the faith and he was teaching the truth. If I didn’t believe that what I teach is the faith and the truth I don’t think I could continue because sometimes that is all that keeps me going.

I have the faith. I have the truth. I am a teacher.

What else can I do?