Let me first say that I believe with all my heart that teachers are born and not trained; that teachers are designed by God for that very purpose in the Kingdom; that if you are not called by God to be a teacher, no education degree can make you one; and if you are called by God to be a teacher, you will teach something somewhere--you just can't help yourself. 

The gift of teaching comes from the Holy Spirit. "And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues" (I Cor. 12:28). "It was [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the whole body of Christ may be built up" (Eph. 4:11-12).  The gift of teaching is a very exciting and dynamic gift.  It also comes with a great deal of responsibility. "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" (James 3:1).  Jesus, Himself condemned the teachers of the law in early A. D. along with the Pharisees for making it more difficult for people to live a life according to the will of God (Matthew 23).  The example the teacher sets is just as important as the words he/she uses. "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19-20). 

A teacher should also be a student.  We are instructed to "[study] to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).  One of the worst conditions we can get into in our Christian walk is to harbor an unteachable spirit.  Face it, if you're a teacher in any place on any level, you love to hear your students repeat what you have taught them word  for word.  We teachers are an egotistical bunch, but I (humbly) submit to you that to be unchallenged in our teaching is worse than to be incorrect.  Only One was never wrong, and He created Truth.  There is always more to learn, and sometimes our students are our greatest instigators. To be humbly authoritative--what an oxymoron!--is what Jesus was and what we need to be. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name" (Phil. 2:5-9). 

I like what Dr Tedd Tripp (The Foundation of Corrective Discipline) has to say about the objective of teaching. "We are giving our students culture that is a small picture of the great and grand story of all human history.  There is a glorious God who is redeeming a people and making them like Jesus, forgiving them their sins, changing them internally, empowering them to live in the world as people who have known grace and so can show grace."  

Precious Heavenly Father, I ask that You would stir up the teaching gift in me and in others who walk in that calling, whether they are in a classroom, a pulpit, a Bible study, at home with their own children, or in school with their friends--whatever, wherever the classroom. Equip us to present Your Word to the world of students that You send our way. Help us to be correct; help us to be humble; help us to be teachable.  Use Your teachers, Lord, the ones You have called into this measure of service, to inspire devotion to You and desire for You in our students; and keep us pure in our intents and purpose. Amen