APT to Teach

Paul told Timothy that a spiritual leader should be "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2).

What does it mean to be apt to teach?

Ezra provides a wonderful pattern:

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." (Ezra 7:10)

Using Ezra's example, we can remember the word APT:

A — Acquire It

Before we can teach God's Word, we must first learn it.

Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord. He studied it carefully and desired to understand what God had said.

Paul told Timothy:

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." (2 Timothy 2:15)

A teacher must first be a student.

P — Practice It

Knowledge alone is not enough.

Ezra sought God's Word and to do it.

Truth is meant to be lived, not merely discussed. The most effective lessons are taught by a life that reflects the message.

James reminds us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Before we teach others, we should ask:

"Am I practicing what I have learned?"

T — Teach It

Only after seeking and doing did Ezra teach.

His teaching carried weight because it came from conviction and experience, not merely information.

Paul instructed Timothy to commit what he had learned to faithful men who would teach others also.

God's truth is not meant to stop with us. It is meant to be passed on.

The Ezra Pattern

Many want to begin with teaching.

Ezra began with preparation.

He sought the Word.

He practiced the Word.

Then he taught the Word.

That is a good pattern for every believer:

A — Acquire It
P — Practice It
T — Teach It

A person who follows that pattern is truly becoming APT to Teach.