The Gift of Service and Teaching | Romans 12:7
“…but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith; or service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching.”
Romans 12:6-7 (LSB)
Paul is teaching the church in Rome how to use the gifts that God has given them for the glory of God. He is teaching the church how to operate as Christians, as Christ Followers within the Church. Remember, he starts this letter in Romans 1 calling out the unrepentant sin that is found within the Roman church. The church is supposed to be different then the world. Paul reminds the church in Corinth the main function of a church is through the spiritual gifts given to them by God.
“Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1 (LSB)
Last week, we looked at the importance of the gift of prophecy. In the ancient world, if something was given a spot of prominence it was typically listed first, Paul lists Prophecy as the first gift in his letter to the Roman Church.
In the same sentence he lists service and teaching. God will give people to His church that will SERVE and TEACH His church all being done in the agreement of the faith, done in a way which is pleasing to God.
- God calls the church to Service Leadership.
“or service, in his serving…”
--Romans 12:7a
Paul puts prophecy first, then service, then teaching, then exhortation.
“Service”
διακονία diakonía, service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others
of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men
“Teach”
διδάσκω didáskō, to teach; to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses
“Exhortation”
παράκλησις paráklēsis, a calling near, summons, (esp. for help) admonition, encouragement. persuasive discourse, stirring address
This word, Paraklesis, is directly related to preaching, to an urgent call or summons. Paul lists, “service, teach and/or teaching, exhortation—these are all roles done by the leadership of God’s church. In the context of the Roman letter, Paul, is demanding the leaders of the church lead in the way of serving God’s sheep.
The leadership of a church must foster the service of the gifts in the church and lead by example when it comes to spiritual service of the church. There are a number of leadership issues in the Roman church. There is an authority issue (people not listening to authority). Paul also addresses the government and the role of the church within a government’s authority because the church in Rome is having issues with authority. How do we know that? Because they are following their desires, following their sin, and God is giving them over to their desires (Romans 1:26-32).
Romans 12 Paul is teaching the church what the authority within the church looks like and how a church operates as a church under God’s authority through their gifts and abilities. Romans 13 is about how that church must operate under the authority of the government and what level the Roman church should operate under a pagan, secular Roman government. Paul will continue this pattern of “leading” and “serving” and operating under authority in Romans 14-15.
“Now we who are strong ought to bear weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his building up. Reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
--Romans 15:1-5 (LSB)
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
--John 13:14-15 (LSB)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’”
--John 13:34-35 (LSB)
Nero was the leader of Rome and he was a controversial leader (even in these peaceful times before Christian persecution). The common class liked him because he funded the games and put much support into sport. The elite and senator class of Rome hated Nero because he promoted the arts, culture, theatre and games (these people were considered the lowest class). The Emperor class of the Roman empire was extremely controversial. Nero had his stepbrother, Briticannus, killed. Nero had his mother, Agripinna, killed in her villa. His wife, Claudia Octavia, was banished from Rome after Nero had an affair on her with a freedwoman. I could go on and on about the leadership issues in Rome—the long story short of it was that every class of the Roman empire distrusted their leaders, Rome was constantly in leadership turmoil / crisis.
The Mistrust in Leadership: A Crisis in America
Americans trust in leaders and Pastors is dropping every year.
Public levels of trust in pastors continue to drop, reaching a new low in 2025. In Gallup’s latest Honesty and Ethics Survey, 27% of U.S. adults say clergy members have high or very high levels of honesty and ethics—a three-point decline from 2024’s previous record low. Half of Americans rate their honesty as average, while around 1 in 5 say it’s low or very low. Specifically, 6% give pastors a very high rating for their honesty, 21% high, 48% average, 12% low, 6% very low, and 7% aren’t sure. Among a core group of 11 professions that Gallup has consistently tracked since 1999, the average positive rating reached a new low of 29% in 2025, down from 30% last year.
Currently, only nurses (75%), military veterans (67%), medical doctors (57%), and pharmacists (53%) have high levels of trust among a majority of Americans. Clergy are among the next group that Gallup categorizes as “tilt positive,” in that the high or very high ratings outweigh the low or very low ratings.
Professions considered tilt positive are high school teachers (50%), police officers (37%), accountants (35%), funeral directors (32%), and clergy (27%). Members of Congress (7% high v. 71% low) and telemarketers (5% v. 62%) are the least trusted professions.
Our southern neighbors (one of the strongest countries in the world) do not trust their leaders. We are living in a similar climate in Canada, some trust the Carney government and some don’t---we do have a leadership crisis in our modern world, a lack of trust in leadership because of the abuses leadership has inflicted on people because of the lack of accountability in our world and even in some of our churches. This is what God is speaking to when Paul writes Romans 12:7—this is how the church is supposed to lead, through the gift of service, through serving, through teaching God’s word, God’s way, the commands and word of Christ, The Holy Spirit, and exhortation to live according to God’s way.
“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
--Douglas MacArthur (Highly Decorated U.S. General).
- To be Biblical we must teach the Bible AND live Biblically.
“…or he who teaches, in his teaching.”
--Romans 12:7 (LSB)
Don’t forget the context here:
“…but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith.”
--Romans 12:6 (LSB)
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may instruct the young women in sensibility: to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be slandered.”
--Titus 2:1-5 (LSB)
When it comes to the Christian, to Christian living, to Christian leadership, God cares about the character of His people. Yes, He calls His church to “Obey His commands” (John 14:15) but God also reminds His people to not just perform for Christ but to live for Christ—to have a transformed heart for Christ. This happens through serving Christ, teaching His word, and learning His word—this is why God gives the gift of teaching to some of His followers, to the leaders of His church.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching.”
--2 Timothy 4:1-2 (LSB)
The preaching and teaching of God’s word in the church is essential for His people. We must all be learning God’s word, chewing on it, living according to its way, its command, we must understand all that it has to offer. God Himself and the word of God are the highest authority for His church, His people.
Jesus was the ultimate teacher who God has given to His people—God has been giving teachers, prophets, priests to His church from the times of the Old Testament to the New Testament—God gives His people shepherds, apostles, pastors, prophets, leaders who serve God’s sheep by washing their feet but also by commanding them, by teaching God’s word to them with authority, by pointing them to God, by heralding God’s voice—this is the call of a leader, a Pastor, Teacher, Elder, Deacon of the church.
(Sermon on the mount). Jesus gave the word, Jesus is the word, during the most famous sermon of all time, the sermon on the mount.
Jesus orders many commands in his SERMON:
--Christ follower’s posture towards each other (The beatitudes—Matt. 5:1-11)
--Teaching on how expect persecution and how to treat those who persecute you (Matt. 5:11-12)
--Following Christ’s Law, being salt and light, be Christ-like (Matt. 5:13-20)
--How to treat one another, do not murder, do not hate, be reconciled in your worship, love and pray for your enemy (Matt. 5:21-48)
--Instructions on charity, focus on character instead of performance, don’t be anxious (Matt. 6)
--Judging false teachers, getting rid of rotten fruit, wolves in sheep’s clothing, more will enter destruction instead of eternal life (Matt 7:1-23)
--Build your life on the ministry, the work, the teachings, and the commands of Christ, God Himself (Matt. 7:24-29)
“We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.”
--A.W. Tozer
As Paul says, “Preach the Word.” Teach what the word says, teach what Christ says, Teach Genesis-Revelation, pour over the words found in scripture—God has given the church leaders with the gifts of teaching and exhortation to help grow His church.