There is no denying that we are living in the end times.

Wars, rumours of wars, diseases, natural disasters…they fill our news. These are only some of the signs that tell us that Jesus is coming back soon.

One prevalent sign, though not reported about is rampant in our time.

Matthew 24:3-5 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

The greatest danger in the last days

Jesus tells us that in the end times, the prevailing danger is spiritual deception.

Deception is the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.

We live in an information age. Dr Google has changed our lives in many good ways, but it has also served up false news, and with it deception.

Jesus warns of false teachers and prophets leading even believers astray. False doctrine is dangerous and cannot be taken lightly. God’s Word tells us that doctrine affects our eternal salvation and those who hear us.

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

The most important ministry in the end times

If the greatest danger in the last days is deception, then the most needed thing is truth. For this reason, God gave the Church the ministry of teaching.

Here are some reasons why the ministry of teaching is so important:

1. Teaching brings illumination so the lost can be saved

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Without teaching, man cannot respond to the gospel. They are unaware of Man’s state of sin and God’s plan to redeem them. God gave us teachers who would take the time to bring us to a clear understanding of God’s blueprint for salvation.

2. Teaching is part of the Great Commission given to the Church by Jesus Christ

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

While the purpose of preaching is to turn a person from sin and persuade him to surrender His life to the Lord Jesus Christ, the ministry of teaching is often for those who have already entered into the kingdom of God journeying the path of transformation.

Jesus told us to teach disciples to observe His commandments. The focus of teaching is not knowledge, but the application of it.

3.Teaching is God’s gift to strengthen the Church

Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

The ministry of teaching is a building ministry. Without it, the church can grow in numbers but will be weak in strength.

As evangelism spreads the Church far and wide, the ministry of teaching keeps the Church grounded and secure. God gave the Church teachers so that believers would not be swayed by false doctrine.

Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

4. Teaching is God’s command for every believer

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The ministry of teaching is not only for a selected few. God gave us gifted teachers to train us all to become better teachers. We all can begin somewhere in this process by learning how to teach the Word of God with accuracy.

Where to begin?

The best way to start studying the Bible is to do so in a chronological manner. There are many resources out there to glean from.

In this post, I will like to share with you some resources I have used and seen the success of:

This series is a systematic study of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. You can find it on the Apostolic Care and Training System (ACTS). This series comes with training videos and resources on how to be a better teacher.

Use this self-study series in a small group or as a devotional. It lays down important principles in short lessons that are easy to understand.

It is available in paperback and e-books. The e-book app also has quiz questions at the end of every lesson to help with the student’s learning.

Do you have any teaching materials that you will like to share? Comment below and we can help one another grow to become better and more effective teachers.