“The idea that one might teach anyone about the Lord seems absurd if we look at the task soberly. However, the teaching of the faith remains an essential ministry within the Church (Eph 4:11), even if the endeavor borders on the preposterous. We must keep in mind that the Christian teacher is not asked to conduct an academic course about Christ in the abstract. Understanding the limitations of the human mind – his own as well as that of others – the true teacher of the faith never seeks to convey a mere body of intellectual information. The true Christian teacher necessarily speaks from the heart, from the inmost aspect of his being, which the Fathers call the nous. In the nous, all learning takes place through an immediate encounter with Christ, not through the abstract concepts of the rational mind.” (Dynamis 1/12/2021)
“…we must do continual inner work on ourselves first before we are ready to preach and teach the truth of God…we must also do the same to be able to receive the preaching and teaching of the truth and distinguish it from false preaching teaching… we should always be continually working on ourselves spiritually to grow in God’s likeness revealed to us in Christ. God will provide us with opportunities as we grow to help others and also learn from them…The preacher’s strongest and sharpest preaching should be to himself.” (Sacramental Living Ministries, E. M. Bounds)
“Teachers are informational, preachers are inspirational, but reachers are transformational…Our task is to be effective agents of spiritual transformation in people’s lives, whatever that may cost in time, comfort, or image." (Bill Marianes, David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons)
“We need discernment because there are false teachers. Those who are “obsessed with disputes and arguments over words”…We are to be diligent and “take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16)…What is more pernicious and dangerous for our soul but to be completely convinced of our opinions and those of are self curated cast of teachers who seemingly leave behind them nothing but envy, strife, reviling, and evil suspicions? How can we discern who these self-appointed teachers and authorities are? Scrutiny will aid us immensely. We desperately need to learn the asceticism of scrutiny. St. Moses quotes St John bidding us: “Do not believe in every spirit, but make sure to find out if spirits are from God” (1John 4:1).” (Fr. Daniel Greeson)
“…faith is a lived faith, and we don’t teach it just by passing on information, but by showing love and cultivating relationships and role modeling.” (Elissa Bjeletich)
“Christ's warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher is not an absolute prohibition against using these terms, as some teach. These terms are applied to men many times in the NT, all of which usages are inspired by God. Teacher is used in Jn 3:10; Acts 13:1; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11; and 2Ti 1:11. Father is used in Lk 16:24; 1Co 4:15; and Col 3:21…God is our true Father and Teacher. A teacher or father on earth is one who leads people to God.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Matthew 23:8-10, 1-39)
“Those who teach prove themselves to be good ministers of the Lord when they are themselves “nourished in the words of faith” with which they “instruct the brethren” (1 Timothy 4:6). If he is to pass on his faith in the Lord, a teacher must transmit doctrine to others both by instruction and by example – a manifestation of his own struggle for knowledge, faith, and salvation.” (Dynamis 11/23/2018)
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (James 3:1)”. Teachers are often leaders and leaders are often teachers. Leaders should live what they teach. God will hold both leaders and teachers to a higher standard and in stricter judgement when they are hypocritical. Christ demonstrates this in His castigation and evisceration of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-39 when He points out how they repeatedly teach one thing and do another.” (Sacramental Living Ministries)
“…teaching of the faith remains an essential ministry within the Church (Ephesians 4:11)…We must keep in mind that the Christian teacher is not asked to conduct an academic course about Christ in the abstract. Understanding the limitations of the human mind – his own as well as that of others – the true teacher of the faith never seeks to convey a mere body of intellectual information. The true Christian teacher necessarily speaks from the heart, from the inmost aspect of his being, which the Fathers call the nous. In the nous, all learning takes place through an immediate encounter with Christ, not through the abstract concepts of the rational mind.” (Dynamis 1/16/2018)
“There is no better way to teach a child Christianity than to actually live it – truly and from the heart. You cannot teach what you do not live.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“The faith of Christian leaders is that faith they both teach and live by.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Hebrews 13:7)
“God's commandments in the Old Testament were to be taught and acted upon. Moses acted upon them, then taught them to others. This is the proper order: first keep them, then teach them. Those taught are then responsible to do them, for learning but not doing contradicts the teachings themselves. The same order holds in the New Testament commandments. For in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord said that whoever “does and teaches” His commandments “shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:19). Therefore, “does and teaches” is the proper order.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Deuteronomy 4:5)
“Christianity is never taught, only “caught.” Thus, the true teacher must know Christ personally.” (Dynamis 1/16/2018)