What is the first essential of teaching?  Surely, the teacher must be able to see more than the student.  Effective travel guides must know where they are, where they want to get to and how to get there.  No teacher or guide can ever lead others beyond their own understanding.  If one blind man leads another, obviously, both of them are walking into danger.

The newly appointed disciples were not to be like the religious leaders, who valued their own self-importance and power of control over others ... but did not even know how to find God for themselves, let alone lead others (Luke 11:52).  They may have been sincere, but they were dangerously incompetent.  The trainee apostles must not become like the Pharisees at that time – legalists whose hypocrisy was exposed by Jesus (Matthew 23:13-33).

Unlike them, Jesus did know the way to the Father - because He had come from the Father (John 16:28). And if the disciples followed Him, they would be safe; and well able to lead others (1 Corinthians 11:1).  He was the true teacher who was willing to train those who trusted Him – and gave the Holy Spirit to continue that work of training and enabling (John 16:12-15).

Presuming to be a spiritual guide to others without knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is profoundly dangerous. Not only will the student meet disaster, but so will the teacher (James 3:1).  That is why we have  to submit to the gospel before we teach it.  It is God's essential and powerful tool to open our eyes so that we may be saved (Romans 1:16-17).  If you have believed, and have become a disciple of Jesus, then ask Him to train you to teach the gospel to others (you can show it to your friends at www.crosscheck.org.uk).  It is more than a good idea; it is God’s powerful tool to save people and prevent them falling into the pit of God's wrath.