Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams - Session 8 - Exploring the Heart Motivation for Truth

Main Ideas / Concepts / Lessons

• Clarification about “elders”

  • “Elder” is primarily spiritual maturity, not a strictly numerical/age-based requirement.
  • The criteria in the cited verses do not include an age limit; someone could become an elder after long enough growth.
    • (The speaker gives an informal example suggesting eligibility around the late 20s, depending on spiritual growth.)

• Core theme of the session: “Heart motivation for truth”

  • The session centers on people with a heart motivation for truth—these people function as teachers in the Bible.
  • Teaching is described as a strong internal drive: when the speaker teaches, they want truth to be clear and understandable.

• Teachers as a key New Testament gift/function

  • Teachers are listed among New Testament roles (e.g., “prophets and teachers”).
  • The speaker frames teamwork as combining different cognitive/spiritual styles:
    • Prophets: “more right-brain” (creative/holistic perspective)
    • Teachers: “more left-brain” (structured/analytical clarity)
  • Together, this creates “synergy,” helping each other “merge pictures” to advance further than working alone.

• Biblical examples of teachers

  • Paul — called a teacher (2 Timothy 1:1)
  • Apollos — a teacher (Acts 18:24)
  • Timothy — a teacher (1 Timothy 6:2 in the subtitles)
  • Priscilla and Aquila — teachers (Acts 18:26)
  • Women as teachers — mentioned in (Titus 2:3)

• Commission and purpose of teachers

  • In the Great Commission, Jesus’ mandate to “make disciples” involves teaching.
    • The speaker contrasts translation differences such as:
      • “teach”
      • “make disciples… teaching them…”
  • The teacher’s emphasis includes:
    • Clear understanding
    • Presenting truth line upon line
    • Reason and logic rather than emotion
    • Teaching in a systematic way
  • Teachers are still encouraged to seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit so delivery has flow and passion (not only structure).

• Personal growth lesson: start small, teach consistently, and grow into larger roles

  • The speaker shares a long ministry pathway:
    • At age 15, began teaching 5-year-olds in Sunday school because no one else would.
    • Taught weekly for decades, then moved through roles such as:
      • Youth pastor
      • Associate pastor / Bible school teaching
      • Pastor / founded own church
      • Staff teacher at age 29
      • Teaching a 2-year-old class because nobody else wanted to
      • Later started Christian Leadership University
  • Key lesson: it can take many years (the speaker notes ~15 years) and may require adding other gifts to launch something larger like a university.

• Need to grow beyond “dead truth” vs “living truth”

  • The speaker recounts a conversation with a senior pastor described as prophetic (gifted at building a large church).
  • The senior pastor allegedly said he couldn’t teach in the Bible school and needed “living truth.”
  • The speaker rejects any false division, insisting living truth can be taught effectively in a classroom.

• Humor/lesson about titles vs. functions

  • A story mentions Bob Mumford (Fort Lauderdale event) and a pin labeled A.P.E. (apostle, prophet, evangelist).
  • The humorous point: these are functions in the body of Christ—not necessarily “titles” to wear as personal labels.

• Where teachers can serve (examples across life)

  • Teachers can serve in many contexts:
    • From kindergarten to college
    • Even specialized areas like microbiology and conservation techniques
  • In secular settings, teachers may serve as:
    • Corporate trainer
    • Librarian
    • College professor
    • Computer programmer / engineer / mathematician
    • Researcher
  • Each role can be framed as a ministry under God.

• Moral/social urgency

  • The speaker warns that if teaching is given to “evil people,” it damages children and young adults.
  • Therefore, Christian teachers are needed in universities, schools, and grade levels.

• “Chart/graph” style synopsis of teachers

  • Main gift: research and clear presentation
  • Emotional style: less emotional, more structured
  • Goal: truth clearly communicated and assimilated
  • Caution: they may discern and express truth in ways that can lead to judging others by ability (the speaker advises against that approach).

• Team-building and self-checking

  • Teachers are part of a fivefold team (referencing “your winning team card” from a website).
  • Practical prompt:
    • Journal: “Am I a teacher?”
    • If not, partner with someone who has the heart and love for truth.
  • If the speaker is not the teacher, bring one into the fivefold team.

• Final methodological emphasis: practice truth in the classroom

  • Closing principle: when writing or teaching, include practice exercises.
  • “Journaling” is offered as an example of practice:
    • interacting with God
    • hearing from God
    • receiving from God
    • living out what is received
  • The speaker argues: if you don’t practice it in the classroom, you likely won’t do it later at home—so teachers should intentionally build practice into teaching.

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Detailed Bullet-Point List of Instructions / Methodology Presented

How teachers should teach (as implied by the session)

• Present truth clearly
  • Teach truth “line upon line.”
• Use reasoning and logic
  • Rely more on reason/logic than on emotion to persuade understanding.
• Aim for systematic communication
  • Be structured and clear to enable comprehension and assimilation.
• Seek Holy Spirit anointing for delivery
  • Ask for anointing so teaching has flow and passion (not only structure).
• Teach “living truth” in the classroom
  • Don’t separate living truth from classroom teaching; integrate spiritual immediacy with instruction.

How to build teams around “heart motivations”

• Use a “fivefold team” approach
  • Identify the roles/persons needed for each “heart motivation.”
• Determine whether you are the teacher
  • Journal the question: “Am I a teacher?”
• If you’re not the teacher, recruit/partner
  • Find the person who has the heart and love for truth and team with them to build what God has asked for.
• Use provided tools
  • The speaker mentions a resource card (“your winning team card”) that helps recognize how someone responds to different heart motivations.

How teachers should apply truth (classroom practice method)

• Include practice exercises in your teaching
  • For books, ensure there are exercises people can actually do.
• Practice truth through journaling
  • Journal by:
    • interacting with God
    • hearing from God
    • receiving from God
    • applying/living out what was heard
• Teach in a way that creates follow-through
  • Rule: if it isn’t practiced in the classroom, it likely won’t happen outside it—so embed practice where learners are.

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Speakers / Sources Featured (as Named in the Subtitles)

• Mark Virkler (speaker; closes with “signing off”)
• Jesus (source of the commissioning quote)
• The Bible (New Testament) (referenced broadly)
  • Acts 13:1
  • 2 Timothy 1:1
  • Acts 18:24
  • 1 Timothy 6:2
  • Acts 18:26
  • Titus 2:3
  • Great Commission passages (gospel wording; exact gospel not specified in subtitles)
• The New American Standard Bible (translation quoted)
• King James Version (translation contrasted)
• Bob Mumford (mentioned in a story)