Is relying on the Holy Spirit an excuse for poor preparation? In this episode, Lindsey and Kelly tackle the tension between spiritual dependence and the "hard labor" of developing biblical teaching skills, showing why excellence in communication is actually a form of selfless service.

Many Bible teachers feel a strange guilt about "over-preparing." There is a common misconception that if we focus too much on transitions, "sticky" phrases, or rhyming outlines, we are somehow crowding out the Holy Spirit. Kelly and Lindsay pull back the curtain on this false dichotomy, arguing that spiritual empowerment and the development of communication skills are not in competition—they are partners.

The conversation centers on 1 Timothy 4:13–16, where Paul instructs Timothy to "take pains" and "be absorbed" in his teaching. They point out that while Timothy had a genuine spiritual gift, he was still commanded to work hard so that his progress would be evident to all. They challenge listeners to consider whether "relying on the Spirit" is sometimes just a spiritual-sounding label for laziness or a desire to avoid the difficult work of editing and refining.

Finally, Lindsay and Kelly discuss the heart behind building these skills: love for the audience. Just as Jesus humbled His language using simple metaphors like fig trees and farming to reach His listeners, modern teachers should labor for clarity and retention. When we work hard to make a message sticky, we aren't performing for ourselves; we are giving the Word of God "longer legs" so it can walk home with the listener and continue to bear fruit long after the session ends.

Key Takeaways

The "Laziness" Trap: "Winging it" and calling it "relying on the Spirit" often ignores the biblical call to take great pains and persevere in the work of teaching.

Preparation is Worship: Meeting with God in the hidden moments of study is just as spiritual as the "adrenaline" felt while standing on a stage.

Clarity is Kindness: Developing communication skills (like sticky points and clear transitions) is a way to serve your audience and prioritize their learning over your own comfort.

True vs. New: The Spirit’s most powerful work is usually found in the "old" truths of Scripture rather than a "fresh" spontaneous word that lacks depth.

Other references:

Scripture References: 1 Timothy 4:13–16 & Philippians 2 (Considering others' needs)

Join us Monday, February 2, 2026 for a live Zoom class featuring Class 3 from the program: Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: The Difference Between Being Biblical and Biblical-ish. Register Now!

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Teaching the Bible can feel intimidating especially when you’re afraid of “getting it wrong.” In this episode, Kelly and Lindsey unpack the difference between biblical and biblical-ish teaching and offer practical tools to help you teach Scripture with clarity, confidence, and faithfulness.

While many Bible teachers communicate true things, not every approach draws out the intended meaning of the text itself. This conversation is designed to help teachers recognize weaker teaching habits and move toward a method that puts God’s Word at the center.

Throughout the episode, they unpack 5 “biblical-ish” teaching approaches that many well-meaning teachers (including themselves!) have used:

1. The Favorite Things method
2. The Soapbox method
3. The People-Pleaser method
4. The Book Report method
5. The Tour Guide method



These approaches typically deliver truth, but they often fail to highlight the main point of the passage or connect Scripture’s message to the listener’s heart in a meaningful, anchored way.

Kelly and Lindsey reflect honestly on their own experiences with these methods, sharing personal stories of times when their passions, preferences, or fears overshadowed the passage itself. They highlight why these approaches feel natural and even productive but why, ultimately, they fall short of the clarity, power, and confidence that come from teaching exegetically.

The episode concludes with a clear explanation of exegesis (drawing meaning out of the text) versus eisegesis (reading meaning into the text), and why exegesis gives teachers far more freedom, accuracy, and assurance. Their goal is simple: to encourage and equip every Bible teacher to approach Scripture in a way that lets God’s words — not their own — carry the weight and power of the message.

➡️ Ready to move from “biblical-ish” to confident, exegetical teaching?

Join us Monday, February 2, 2026 for a live Zoom class featuring Class 3 from the program: Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: The Difference Between Being Biblical and Biblical-ish.

This two-hour interactive class includes:

• A live lecture taught by Teach Equip founders, Lindsay Schott and Kelly Needham
• Small-group discussion and practice
• Two downloadable PDFs for in-class use and future reference
• Access for individuals or groups
• A recording of the class sent afterward (perfect for review or if you can’t attend live)

An early-bird rate is available for anyone who registers before the end of the year. Register Now: https://www.teachequip.com/exegesis

📲 Learn more: https://www.teachequip.com/

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💌 Email us at info@teachequip.com

Want to bring Teach Equip to your church? Learn how to license our program and equip your teachers at https://www.teachequip.com/churches.

Ever felt like your message prep has completely fallen apart? In this episode, Kelly and Lindsay talk about what they call “The Valley of Despair”—that inevitable moment in every teacher’s process when you want to quit, question everything, and wonder if you’re even called to do this. Spoiler: you’re not alone, and it’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong.

Every Bible teacher knows the moment: you start strong, full of vision and excitement for the text, and then suddenly you hit a wall. The words don’t come together, your outline feels useless, and you start thinking someone else could do it better. In this honest and relatable episode, Kelly and Lindsay affectionately call this season “The Valley of Despair” (or as Pilgrim’s Progress puts it, the Slough of Despond). They share their own stories of facing this discouraging stretch and what it’s taught them about dependence, humility, and God’s faithfulness.

Kelly opens up about a recent message prep that brought her to tears—just days before speaking at a conference. Despite her deep study and excitement, the talk fell apart at the last minute. Meanwhile, Lindsay recalls finding two versions of an old sermon—one written before her own “valley,” and one after—and realizing how God used that difficult place to refine not just her message but her heart.

Together, they unpack why these moments happen and how they’re actually built into the process. The Valley of Despair, they explain, isn’t a sign of failure—it’s evidence that God is forming something deeper in us. It’s where we’re reminded that our teaching is never about performance or perfection, but about dependence.

Whether you’re preparing your first Bible study or your hundredth sermon, this conversation will remind you that feeling weak, uncertain, or unqualified isn’t the end of the process—it’s often where God does His best work.

Key Takeaways

• The “Valley of Despair” is a normal (and even necessary) part of preparing to teach.
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• Feeling like your message is falling apart doesn’t mean you’re not called—it often means God is deepening your dependence on Him.
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• The best thing you bring to any teaching moment is your transformed presence, not a perfect outline.
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• Prayer—and trusted friends who will pray with you—are essential tools for moving through discouragement.
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• Your weakness is not a liability; it’s where God’s strength shines most clearly.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another teacher who might be in their own “Valley of Despair.” Subscribe to the Teach Equip Podcast for more honest, practical conversations that help you grow as a Bible teacher, and visit TeachEquip.com for free tools and resources.

Additional Resources:

• The creative process chart mentioned in this episode
• We’d love to hear from you! What part of this episode resonated most with you? Share your thoughts, questions, or “aha” moments with us—we love connecting with fellow teachers.
• Subscribe to our newsletter

Interested in joining Teach Equip as a student? Applications are open now through October 31, 2025. Space is limited to just 12 participants, so early applicants are prioritized.

Want to bring Teach Equip to your church? Learn how to license our program and equip your teachers at teachequip.com/churches.

📲 Learn more: www.teachequip.com

📸 Follow us on Instagram: @teachequip

💌 Email us at info@teachequip.com