#discipled

Training Learners

“[And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].” Philemon 1:6AMP

After I received the baptism of Holy Spirit, I met a group of ladies through my Home Interiors sales business. These ladies knew their Jesus. Each time we got together, I’d forget I was there for business. We’d get to talking about Jesus, His goodness, Holy Spirit and Papa God, minutes stretched into hours. I’d lose track of time completely. It was through these ladies mentoring, I learned to allow my spirit to follow God freely. I’d share the new truths I was discovering about Jesus. They guided me into a deeper walk with Holy Spirit. There’s something uplifting, edifying, fulfilling, faith building, and elating about sharing your faith, beliefs, and love for Jesus with others, especially believers.

Why is this so? Because we’re building up Jesus. Revelation 12:11KJV “… They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” One of our greatest fulfillments comes from sharing the testimony God has given us. In turn, a greater faith is built in the hearts of those hearing what Jesus has done for us. Inspiration from testimonies builds faith that God can and will do it again.

Active discussion brings growth to you. Bragging on Jesus assists us, while others grow stronger in the Lord. Christianity has a tendency to become stagnant like pond water. The Bread of Heaven is to be fully shared and partaken of. Part of the pain living in our current location has been the lack of fellowship with church ladies for lunch, coffee, or shopping, not just programmed services.

What I’m discussing is called discipling: meaning ‘training learners.’ Jesus took twelve learners and taught them to be trainers of new learners. All of the apostles did the same thing. Paul went from place to place, across the then known world, to find learners. Then he began discipling the learners to be trainers of new believers in Jesus Christ, building the family of God.

Jesus commissioned every Christian to be trainers of new believers in Matthew 28:19KJV “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” A group called the Navigators has taken the command of Jesus Christ seriously. They find young mediocre Christians or church raised students in colleges, or military personnel. They find out what their relationship is to Jesus.

Beginning at that point, the Navigators seek to envelop them into a loving group of friends, ‘learners.’ Doing Bible studies, discussing Jesus through their testimonies, memorizing scriptures, playing together, laughing together encompassing the free time activities, training teachers to find new learners. It gives the appearance of effortless discipling. Not so. Instead, it is people giving up their lives to love others, while training them to be trainers of more learners. The love and camaraderie brings people into lasting relationships with Jesus Christ and His body.

Is this what is missing in today’s churches? Can this be the love and devotion Jesus was asking from His disciples— aka: learners? What would the strength of our spiritual devotion become, if we discipled others like this? Wouldn’t our understanding be greater of all God has for us? Have you discipled anyone lately? Will you start discipling?  Or are you pond water? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: Father God forgive us for neglecting our charge to train new learners for You. In doing so, we’ve become stale, even stagnant. Much of what we’ve learned about You will be lost, if we don’t teach new learners. Help us to be faithful to Your call of us, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

There are some verses in Scripture that hit differently as the years go by. John’s words in 3 John 1:4 are one of them: “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” Every parent, grandparent, pastor, and spiritual mentor feels the weight of that. As we get older, our priorities sharpen. The “wins” of life shift. What once felt big doesn’t feel nearly as…

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Darryl Strawberry: The Enemy Is After Pastors…So Are You Being Discipled?

Get notes on this podcast here:  https://churchleaders.com/podcast/386105-darryl-strawberry-pastors-discipled.html “Standing in the pulpit is nothing to play with,” says former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry. “The devil will put a choke hold on you. He will strangle you if you’re not equipped. I learned that early when I got into ministry.”   ► Listen on Apple:…