Synonyms: Trainer, coach, instructor.
Characteristics: Logical, scientific, detailed, reasonable. Enjoys private/group Bible study and use the Bible as a tool to solve problems.
Responsibilities: Helps the body of believers to understand Scripture. Teaches the Scriptures and helps to oversee the studies of those he teachers, with a policy that “not one shall fall through the cracks and be lost” (Dino).
Abilities: Understands Scripture and explains/interprets the truth in an understandable and meaningful way.
Passions: Word of God.
Examples: Jesus Christ, Paul, Barnabas. Who else do you know in this role? Some people from my life in this role include Pastor Rich Holmes, Doug Meyer, Kenny Stanley.
Notice that there is a pastor in my list here. Some pastors are very good at sharing the word and putting it in a way that is relatable and understandable. My husband also falls on this list of people in my life in this role. Before I looked into this ministry, I thought that I was more of a teacher. But I am wrong—I don’t have many of the characteristics listed here. A teacher in this sense does not have to simply be a school teacher or a Sunday school teacher. Dr. Wile E. Coyote (Doug) loves reading the word and spending hours there, discovering what he did not yet know. He loves being in conversation about the word and having other people give insight that he hadn’t thought about before. He has helped me to understand scripture in new ways, and shares what the Lord was teaching him when he was previously reading in the word. Pastor Rich relates the word to real life. We just finished a sermon series on giants, and 1 Samuel 17 was used the whole time to talk about bringing down giants in our lives—giants such as cancer, divorce, financial problems, addiction, etc.
Now that we have touched all five of the ministries, what are you? Which do you most relate with? I ENCOURAGE highly that you dive into whichever gifts you want to know more about on your own, especially the gift you think you have. I also encourage much prayer, asking the Lord what your ministry is, where you can use it, and to perfect it. I do know one thing: There is not simply one place that you can use your gift at. People need them all, all the time! What is your occupation? How can you use your gift there? Above all, seek the Lord for all these things!
Anna E Meyer
Are you a teacher? Do you know a teacher who doesn’t teach as a profession? What ministry of the five (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher) do you most closely associate with? How do you know?
Anna E. Meyer 