If God Calls You to Teach . . .

People sometimes ask me what it’s like to stand up and preach at a crusade. It’s an awesome privilege as well as a somewhat scary responsibility because I want to make sure that I represent the Lord well.

I want to make sure that what I say is biblical, and I want to rightly divide the Word of God because that’s what people whom God has called to teach are supposed to do.

By the way, I’m the least qualified person who has ever been called to be a teacher. I was a poor student. I never studied, I failed tests, and I was a big goof-off.

But since then, I’ve learned to study, prepare, and put a lot of effort into the messages I preach. I know that I’ll be held accountable for everything I say.

Writing about spiritual gifts, the apostle Paul said, “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well” (Romans 12:7 NLT). In other words, work at your craft.

Musicians, for example, work on their skill set. They practice. In the same way, if you’re a preacher or teacher, then study, prepare, and get your message ready. It’s a privilege to speak for God, and the Bible actually warns that teachers will receive a greater judgment.

So, how do you know whether God has called you to teach? It’s very simple. I’ve often said that if you want to find out whether you’re a leader, then lead and see if anyone follows. The same goes for teaching. If you want to know whether you’re a teacher, then teach and see if anyone listens to you.

If you have the gift of teaching, then develop it and cultivate it. And if God calls you to teach, then teach well.