Become Like Jesus: How Teachers Help Us Love and Live the Truth

Ever notice how you can know all the right answers and still miss the point entirely?

That’s what happened to the church in Ephesus. They had incredible leadership—Paul, Timothy, even the Apostle John spent time there. They were doctrinally sound, could spot false teaching a mile away, and stayed faithful under pressure. By all accounts, they should have been thriving for generations.

But Jesus had a complaint: “You don’t love me or each other as you did at first” (Revelation 2:4). They knew the truth, but somewhere along the way, their hearts grew cold. Knowledge without love had made them religious—but not like Jesus.

The Missing Piece in Spiritual Growth

When God designed His church, He gave five key gifts to help believers mature: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. These aren’t titles or offices—they’re roles that work together to equip every believer to “measure up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Teachers play a unique role in this. They’re what author Alan Hirsch calls the “social cement” of the church—the ones who anchor everything in biblical truth so what we believe actually changes how we live. Without healthy teachers, apostles can run ahead without depth, prophets can get weird, evangelists can stay shallow, and shepherds can form cozy cliques. Teachers keep it all grounded in Scripture.

But here’s the catch: a good teacher doesn’t just fill your head with information. They help you apply it.

Jesus: The Greatest Teacher

Right before going to the cross, Jesus did something shocking. He wrapped a towel around His waist and washed His disciples’ feet—a task reserved for the lowest servant. Then He said, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Jesus didn’t just lecture about humility—He modeled it. He taught truth, demonstrated it, and then called His followers to live it out. That’s what real teaching looks like. It’s life-on-life, truth-in-action, knowledge that transforms character.

Later that same evening, Jesus gave them a new commandment: “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35).

Notice what proves we’re His disciples? Not how much Bible we know. Not how often we attend church. Not even our theological precision. It’s the quality of our love.

Truth and Love: The Perfect Balance

Here’s the tension every believer faces: we need both truth and love. Truth without love makes us harsh and cold. Love without truth makes us soft and shallow. But when teachers help us hold both together, something beautiful happens—we actually start looking like Jesus.

How do you spell love? T-I-M-E. It’s being present with your spouse. Listening to your kids. Noticing your neighbor. Investing in relationships, not just accumulating knowledge.

The Great Commission reminds us that discipleship isn’t just about getting people saved—it’s about teaching them “to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:20). Obey, not just know. Apply, not just agree. Live it out, not just like the Instagram post.

Your Turn to Teach

You don’t need a seminary degree to be a teacher. Titus 2 says older women should teach younger women, and the same applies to men. If you’re a few steps ahead of someone in your faith journey, you can teach them. If God has changed your life through His Word, you can pass it on.

Here’s your challenge this week: Identify one truth you’re learning and one person you can share it with. Let what you know change how you love. Be someone who doesn’t just consume spiritual content but lives it out—and helps others do the same.

Because when teachers do their job well, the church doesn’t just know more—we become more. More like Jesus. More loving. More faithful. More alive.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for being the perfect Teacher—showing us not just what to believe, but how to live. Help me grow in both truth and love. Give me the humility to keep learning and the courage to teach others. Let what I know actually change how I love and live. Make me more like You. Amen.