What a wonderful privilege it is to be able to teach the gospel to other people! The gospel is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). It is the means that the Lord uses to call men unto Him (2 Thessalonians 2:14). God’s children should count it as a joy to be able to tell others the good news of salvation that they can have through Jesus. At the same time, it is a great blessing to be able to teach the Bible to build up those that are already in the Lord (Acts 20:32). What is there about teaching others that should cause us to rejoice?

First, there is the Joy of Fulfilling the Lord’s Will. Jesus wants His people to preach the gospel to every person under heaven (Mark 16:15). How can people be saved without a teacher/preacher? (Romans 10:13-15). They cannot be! Yes, Jesus wants the saved to teach others how to be saved! (2 Timothy 2:2). When we are doing that, we are doing what the Lord wants us to be doing. There is always a joy and sense of satisfaction in knowing that we are doing what our God expects of us.

Second, there is the Joy of Fruit. The Psalmist wrote, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, brining his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6). Jesus identified the precious seed to be the word of God (Luke 8:11). Not all accept the Bible’s message, but some do. When people obey the gospel and are made free from their sins (Romans 6:17,18), this is fruit for the Master. It is also an occasion of great joy for the seed-sowers.

Third, there is the Joy of Fellowship. When we work with other saints of God to spread God’s word, we are working with the best people on the planet! In God’s house, which is His church (1 Timothy 3:15), we are blessed to have brothers and sisters that work with us in teaching God’s truth. Paul spoke of those in Philippi which labored with him "in the gospel" (Philippians 4:3). When we work with other Christians to teach the word, we are having "fellowship in the gospel" (Philippians 1:7). What a joy!

Fourth, there is the Joy of the Future. Jesus told seventy of His disciples, "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Faithful servants of the Master have their names written in heaven, and a crown of life awaits them there (James 1:12). Jesus looked to "the joy that was set before him" (Hebrews 12:2), and was able to endure the cross and all that came with it. Just as He longed for the joy of being reunited with the Father in heaven, so the reward of being in heaven forever motivates us and causes us to rejoice, knowing that the work of teaching the gospel is helping more people be prepared to receive the crown of life with us.

Brothers and sisters, many of us have been trained on how to set up Bible studies and how to teach the Bible to others. What are we doing with that training? There is a great joy to be found in teaching the gospel. Let us be about our Father’s business.