In 2005 I surveyed over a thousand Bible teachers around the world and asked them about the problems they faced. I boiled their answers down to seven key problems.
The first two (and the most universal) problems are pride and discouragement.
Pride is the number one problem limiting the effectiveness of Bible teachers -- it always has been, and always will be.
"God opposes the proud, but exalts the humble." (Proverbs 3:34)
"Pride goes before destruction." (Proverbs 16:18)
Pride is never described in Scripture as a positive thing. God won't use a teacher puffed up with pride.
Teaching ministry is not about you. It's about exalting Jesus Christ.
Repentance and brokeness are the path away from the destruction of pride (see Psalm 51). Reading about pride problems without taking action (repentance) will leave your teaching ministry ineffective.
If Satan can't push you over by stoking the fires of pride, he'll try to pull you over by draping you with discouragement.
Discouragement pulls many teachers down into the mire, and saps their strength. Many Bible teachers rock back and forth between soul-killing ruts of pride and discouragement.
Use the truth of Scripture to get the proper perspective. You are ministering the Word of God -- which is powerful and effective (Hebrews 4:12), upheld by His right hand (Psalm 63:8). His Word is like a fire and a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29). You are a servant of the Most High God! He will never leave you or forsake you (Matthew 28:20). He will cause all things to work together for good for you (Romans 8:28). He is able to do more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 4:20). Hallelujah!
Great Bible teachers also ask people to pray for them and encourage them. This is important ministry that needs to be birthed and bathed and delivered in prayer. This is not work you can do along, because Bible teaching is meant to occur in community.
In a future post I'll cover the next pair of problems.
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