In the age of social media the concept of relationships is being radically changed. Dinner and a talk with a friend has now become a status update to your hundreds or thousands of BFF’s. What was once a phone call is now an IM or a 140 character TXT. Face Time has been degraded to “Facebook”. When Jesus looked for followers, I don’t think he was contemplating twitter. Now don’t get me wrong, as a communicator I definitely can appreciate the opportunities that social media affords to outreach and instruction. The apostle Paul himself relied heavily on the different forms of communication and distribution that were available to him to get his message out; but when it comes to training there really isn’t any replacement for one on one or small group instruction. Is it really a surprise that we are going though a world-wide leadership crisis? We have stopped teaching the basics and expect the next generation to inherently know what they are doing. I recently read an article by Jodi Glickman entitled “Nobody Has Time For Interns” although I can agree with the article’s preface that an incoming intern needs to bring his or her best to the table, I can’t agree with a model that excuses our current leadership from investing in our future leadership.
In the church we need to ask ourselves if our attitude is any better? The constant rush as we multitask ourselves to death has deafened us to the real need of raising up the next generation of men and women who will stand powerfully to advance the Lord’s church. If the church is to advance we need to break out of our comfort zones and dynamically train disciples…
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12, NIV84)
The production of leaders should be a legitimate ministry goal, but many times we overlook or excuse those in our ministries that should be doing more than they presently are. The Hebrew writer was not satisfied with the congregation’s lack of maturity and encouraged them to go beyond the elementary teachings. In the same way should we not urge ourselves and the christians thar surround us grow up in the Lord and teach others? The only way to reach our world for Christ is by training and sending others. Let’s take a look at the “Great Commission”:
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20, NIV84)
This scripture is not so much a call to preach (although it is implied) as it is a call to train. In reality Jesus sent his disciples to develop and train disciples. Paul said it well in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” There is nothing more frustrating than working just to maintain a ministry. Many in church leadership today are tired after years of stabilizing the believers without finding anyone else who really takes an interest in the ministry in favor of others.
The first step in discipleship training is the selection of those you wish to invest time in. This step is not to be taken lightly, Jesus himself spent a night in prayer before he chose the men he wanted to train (Luke 6:12). It is not easy to find faithful men (Proverbs 20:6), but when you do there will be joy (Proverbs 25:13). Jesus demanded that men count the cost before the could follow him and many left saddened (See Luke 18:18-30), Paul also was deserted by the brothers in Asia (2 Timothy 1:15) , but found great joy in his relationship with Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10; Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2). The search for faithful men is not an easy one, but it is fulfilling:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ” (3 John 4, NIV84)
Today as we go about our christianity EACH ONE of us should commit to TEACH ONE the ways of Christ!
