Discipleship

Training

The command of our Lord is "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). What does it mean to teach? Many times we have the idea that teaching is speaking to people about a subject and then leaving them alone. But consider the normal teaching method in a school classroom. Is the teacher finished when a lecture has been delivered? Has the student been taught when he has listened to the lecture? We know the answer is "no" in the ordinary school setting with which we are all familiar. Delivering the lecture is usually only the beginning. In that lecture, instruction or direction is given which must then be applied. Homework is given which requires the student to use what has been presented. Students are then held accountable for the assignment by means of a test or recitation of some kind. They must show they have learned what has been presented before they can say they have been "taught."

How many of these principles can we say we are applying in our spiritual teaching or training? I think most of us will have to admit we have concentrated on the first part, the presentation or instruction, and have neglected the applied work and accountability. There may be many reasons for this, and we will discuss some of these reasons, but the end result is that we have not learned--and not only that, but we have wearied both teacher and student by presenting the same instruction over and over again with no progress in learning.

If we will consider how the Lord Jesus taught, we will see that He did not just preach sermons. He was among the people--involved in their lives. He took the disciples with Him into every situation. He gave them assignments, and He held them accountable for what they did. He corrected them and answered their questions, which came up in real life situations. It was full, complete training in every sense of the word. Why have we not done the same? Let us consider some of the reasons.

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