Different levels of training are given to disciples, depending
upon their gifts and willingness to learn. Everyone in the church is important
and has an important role in carrying out the work of the church. But
relatively few members of the church are leaders, church planters, and
evangelists. More extensive training is needed for these disciples who will
plant and lead new churches.
Paul shared the Gospel with thousands of people, but he took only
a few people with him on mission. He provided extensive training to a few
people so that they could plant and lead churches. Timothy was one such disciple.
Paul wrote the letters 1Timothy and 2 Timothy to train and encourage this
disciple. Jesus taught crowds of people, but he gave extensive training to
twelve disciples. Eleven of the Twelve Disciples then proved faithful and were
able to reproduce themselves by making many other disciples.
How can we find church leaders to train? First, we pray intensely.
Jesus prayed all night before selecting twelve disciples to train.
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and
spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to
him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. (Luke 6:12,13
NIV) Dr. Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, was asked how he was
able to recruit a thousand missionaries in the late nineteenth century to go to
China. Taylor replied, “First, ‘Pray ye the Lord of the Harvest, that He will
send forth laborers into His harvest.’”6"Second, to get laborers, ‘deepen
the life of the layperson in the Scriptures, so they won’t say no to God.’”
7How can we “deepen the life of the layperson in the Scriptures?”
Wayland B. Moore,who spent many years making disciples, writes that the Apostle
Paul showed how to make disciples. Read Acts 20:17-38, in which Paul is talking
to the leaders of the Ephesian church. Paul’s work in Ephesus reveals three
principles for training disciples. First, there must be our penetrating
presence—our fellowship. We must spend time in the world of the disciples. We
adapt to their environment and culture. Paul spent three years training
disciples in Ephesus. Second, we must have a parentheart—building a loving
relationship with the church family. Paul was like a father to the
church—providing spiritual food and training for its members. Acts 20:17-38
shows the love between Paul and the church. Third, we must be the pacesetter—modeling
the faith. Acts 20:17-38 reveals that Paul was an excellent role model for the
church [see also Philippians 4:9]. Disciples observe the lifestyle of the teacher.
Jesus told his disciples, “Follow me” (Matt. 4:19), rather than “Just listen to
me.”
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1. Progress. Moore suggests an initial six-month long training in
which you meet once weekly with a disciple. [Of course, some disciples may be
with you much more than once weekly.] You check on the progress of the
disciple, and make sure that all assignments are completed. At the close of six
months, the disciple should be ready to train another disciple. Periodically,
you then check on the progress of the two disciples.
2. Principles. You relate Scriptural principles to life, and
discuss pre-assigned Bible study and Scripture memory.
3. Problems. You listen to the disciple, and use Scripture to
solve problems.
4. Prayer. You pray together with the disciple, increasing the length
of prayers as you know each other better.
5. Practice. You regularly take the disciple together with you for
personal evangelism and other ministry.9 As we pray for leaders to train, we
also observe to see who is willing and able to lead. When we develop cell
groups or house churches, and ask people to help in the church, some people
will appear to have gifts in leading and teaching. We can then ask them to help
us with certain tasks, and see how they perform.We need to see the potential in
ordinary people. God often uses people of low rank to accomplish his work (see
1 Cor. 1:26-29). Jesus chose common people to be his Apostles.
Remember that those who we train one-to-one will be of the same
sex as ourselves.We can train people of the opposite sex in small groups.
Typically, people our age or younger will respond best to our training.In
addition to training leaders, we need to make disciples of the rest of the
church.Such discipleship may occur through sermons and through small group
Bible studies. Teachers within the church may lead such small groups. Also, we
encourage each member of the church to be involved in the work of the church.
We encourage the members to follow the Holy Spirit in choosing where they can
best utilize their gifts in meeting the goals of the church. Also, we ask
people to take certain roles within the church. (For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)
