T4T

            Earlier this year, I had lunch with my pastor, Steve DeLisle. George Cooper (a former student of mine), came over to our table and greeted me. I introduced him to Steve, and he proceeded to tell us about T4T – Training for Trainers. And now I want to tell you about T4T.

            About 14 years ago, a Chinese-American missionary named Ying Kai started T4T, a movement in which 158,000 house churches have been started and 1.7 million people baptized (so far!).

Ying and his wife Grace had served as missionaries in an Asian city where they started a new church every year, but in 2000, his mission board assigned him to reach 20 million people in one of Asia’s many crowded countries. This challenge was so overwhelming that planting one church a year could never succeed in reaching 20,000,000 people!

In October 2000, Ying saw a poster: “How many of my people will hear the gospel today?” He knew that ministry-as-usual would never win the millions in his new assignment. Something had to change.

As he prayed and meditated, the Lord brought the Great Commission to mind:

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, NIV).

The Lord gave Ying these insights: 

(1) "Go, not come" -- Jesus says we are to go, not invite people to come to us. We must go to where the lost are, and train the new believers also to go to their factories, homes, shops and neighborhoods. This is in line with my translation of Matt. 28:18 – “As you are going…” J

(2) "Everyone, not some" -- We must make disciples of all, not just a few. We typically choose with whom we want to share the gospel, trying to pre-judge who might accept it. But Jesus said for everyone to share with everyone. We cannot predict who will believe and whom God will use to birth a movement.

(3) "Make disciples, not church members" -- We must not satisfy ourselves with making converts and church members. Jesus commanded much more. He wants true disciples. And what do true disciples do? They obey Jesus’ command to witness to others and train these new believers to do the same. So every disciple must be a discipler. 

(4) "Baptize them" -- as Ying thought, he realized that baptism is in essence a public testimony, so he determined to train everyone to be able to share their faith story in 2 minutes or less.

(5) "Teach them" -- These new disciples must be taught God's word and must be able to teach others also. 

(6) "To obey" -- Ying determined that a major shift must be made from "knowledge-based" discipleship to "obedience-based" discipleship. It is not enough to know God's word, we must obey it. 

Through these insights a simple method emerged: training disciples who train disciples who train disciples. Ying called it "Training for Trainers," which was shortened to T4T.

As a scholar, my first question was, “OK, fine. Well and good. This works in Asia. But what about other contexts? Like mine? North America?”

So I began investigating. I found a local pastor who is well versed in T4T, and has based his whole ministry on discipling others who disciple others who disciple others. His name is Gary Stump. The church is Onward Church in Fishers, Indiana (http://www.onwardchurch.org/).

I corresponded with Gary, then we got together for lunch. I’m convinced that this man of God has one and only one motive: to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to train disciples who train disciples who train disciples.

Gary offered to take me through the training, which consists of six sessions. I accepted.

Then he asked, “Who else could you bring with you?” And I responded like Ralph Cramden, “Hamana-hamana-hamana-hamana.” J

I ended up speaking with my pastor, and together we decided to invite members of our congregation to come to the training. Imagine my surprise when 20 people accepted the invitation and came to the first session! Most returned for the second session.

So we are well on our way to being trained in T4T! At this early point in the process, I recommend it without reservation. I have read the training materials for all six sessions, and heartily endorse T4T. It is biblically sound and good for use in any Christian context.

If you want to know more about T4T, visit http://t4tonline.org/. There are lots of helpful resources right there.

What a Disciple Looks Like - Part 3

In all of my reading, reflecting, thinking, and writing I have become convinced that all three domains are necessary in order for learning to be complete. In discipling terms, all three domains are necessary for a disciple. In head, heart, and hands terms, a disciple has to know something, feel something, and do something. All three are necessary: Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral.

In the last two weeks I listed some knowledge and attitudes that a disciple should possess. Now it’s time to complete the triad with some Behavioral Domain information.

            So here is a beginning list of skills/behaviors that a disciple should have. Please add your thoughts!

1.      Bible reading: both devotionally and in-depth Bible study

2.      Worship: private and corporate

3.      Prayer

4.      Spiritual disciplines appropriate for the disciple’s unique createdness
Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline is helpful. He suggests three categories of spiritual disciplines:

(1)   Inward Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Bible reading, Reading other devotional literature, Silence, Journaling, Fasting, Study

(2)   Outward Disciplines: Simplicity, Solitude, Service, Submission, Gentleness, Patience, Love, Testimony

(3)   Corporate Disciplines: Confession, Celebration, Fellowship, Citizenship, Worship, Planning for spiritual growth

5.      Discover and develop personal spiritual gifts

6.      Holy living

7.      Tithing and generous giving

8.      What else?

9.       

What a Disciple Looks Like - Part 2

Last week I listed some knowledge that a disciple should possess. Today we’ll look in the Affective Domain and think about its relationship to discipling.

            In my doctoral dissertation, I wrote that the Affective Domain contains feelings, values, beliefs, stances, convictions, sentiments, character traits, virtues, dispositions, and demeanors.[1] Today, more than 23 years later, I also include attitudes and lifestyle commitments in the Affective Domain.

            In all of my reading, reflecting, thinking, and writing I have become convinced that all three domains are necessary in order for learning to be complete. In discipling terms, all three domains are necessary for a disciple. In head, heart, and hands terms, a disciple has to know something, feel something, and do something. All three are necessary: Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral.

            First among equals is the Affective Domain! In my view, the Affective is the engine that powers the train. And it is where the Holy Spirit works!

            My doctoral advisor, Dr. James McElhinny, said that the Affective is the most important of the three domains because if a teacher can change what a student wants, that’s the most powerful thing a teacher can do. Change what they value, what they believe, what they want – and they will almost automatically pursue the knowledge and the skills.

            Think about it!

            When you were saved, perhaps you felt deeply in love with Jesus. That was an affective experience. You couldn’t get enough Bible, you couldn’t wait for the next worship service, you were eager to learn and grow and serve. Why? Because your want to changed! Your feelings were involved – you were in love! – and you wanted to know more and learn new skills.

            That, in a nutshell, is why I made the bold statement above that the Affective Domain is “first among equals.” Like last week, here is my beginning list of affective learning that a disciple needs. Please add your own thoughts to this list!

In no particular order, a disciple should be/have/possess/be characterized by

11.      Committed to Christian standards     

22.      Personally righteous   

33.      Love for God 

44.      Holistic attitude toward life  

55.      Self-awareness           

66.      Personal belief in the gospel  

77.      Patience

88.      Sense of personal responsibility         

99.      Strong faith    

110.  Morality: a character above reproach 

111.  Brave, courageous

112.  Will take needed risks

113.  Values work   

114.  Actively seeking spiritual and personal growth         

115.  Lifestyle of holiness   

116.  Appropriate humility  

117.  Simple lifestyle          

118.  Financially responsible, thrifty, pays own bills          

119.  Filled with the Holy Spirit     

220.  Temperate, self-controlled     

221.  Prizes wisdom

222.  Values the unknown - mystery          

223.  Reverence for what is truly important           

224.  Optimistic, positive, hopeful  

225.  Open to learning        

226.  Serves others without regard for acclaim or repayment

227.  Wholesome attitude toward opposite sex      

228.  Positive attitude toward nature, environment           

229.  Values diversity         

330.  Not motivated by financial gain        

331.  Values truth

332.  Speaks the truth in love

333.  Positive regard for change     

334.  Enthusiastic    

335.  Willing to confront in love     

336.  Flexible, adaptable, tolerant (not rigid or dogmatic) 

337.  Attitude of brokenness – a wounded healer  

338.  A clear vision of God’s call on their life

339.  Cooperative, team/partnership mentality (not a “Lone Ranger”)      

440.  Positive attitude toward church         

441.  A passion for serving God

442.  Sense of belonging to a larger cause  

443.  Does not avoid difficult situations

444.  Caring, empathy for others    

445.  Appreciative of other religious traditions      

446.  Tactful

447.  Hospitality, welcomes strangers        

448.  Not jealous of others  

449.  Appreciative of others

550.  Respects the dignity of others           

551.  Submissive to the Body of Christ      

552.  Senses others’ needs and feelings      

553.  Acknowledges one’s own limitations and mistakes  

554.  Dependable, trustworthy, faithful     

555.  Compassionate           

556.  Loves people  

557.  Nondefensive

558.  Trusting

559.  Vulnerable      

660.  Accepting of people who are “different”

661.  Integrity

662.  Honest with self and others   

663.  Loyal  

664.  Open to other peoples’ ideas and problems   

665.  Willing to accept guidance    

666.  Helpful           

667.  Keeps word - fulfills promises           

668.  Friendly, outgoing, warm      

669.  Courteous       

770.  Kind, gentle   

771.  Respectful and open toward people of other faiths  

772.  Unselfish        

773.  Committed to justice 

774.  Inclusive, unprejudiced, unbiased, fair          

775.  Gracious         

---

[1] John H. Aukerman, “Competencies Needed for Effective Ministry by Beginning Pastors in Church of God Congregations in the United States” (EdD dissertation, Ball State University, 1991), 11.

What a Disciple Looks Like - Part 1

In our consideration of 21st Century Discipling, the time has come to begin developing a profile of what a disciple looks like. That is to say:

• [COGNITIVE] What should a disciple know?

• [AFFECTIVE] What feelings, attitudes, values, lifestyle commitments should a disciple have?

• [BEHAVIORAL] What skills should a disciple have?

This post will consider only the first question, “What should a disciple know?” (I will address the other questions in the next two posts.) I invite your contributions – please add your thoughts to this list!

A disciple should know:

1. The content of the Bible
2. The names, in order, of the books of the Bible
3. How the Bible came to be
4. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
5. The story of God
6. Basic Christian doctrine
7. The church
8. The kingdom of God
9. Christian history and its influence in the world
10. How to pray
11. Disciplines for a growing relationship with God
12. How to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit    
13. How to share the Gospel in a loving, knowledgeable way
14. The basic beliefs of cults and other religions
15. The interaction between faith and culture
16. Their own spiritual gifts
17. The beliefs, practices, and polity of their own church
18. What else?
19.

A Disciple is a Learner!

Last week I shared my definition of learning:

Learning is a relatively permanent
change in behavior,
based on experience.
(credit due to LeRoy Ford
for helping me with this wording)

Let’s explore how this might work in the life of a disciple. A child is born into a Christian family; mom and dad are both Christ followers (disciples), and they raise their child to love the Lord. This infant is brought to church, but understands nothing of what happens there. However, it feels loved and accepted and safe. Important learning in the Affective Domain!

As time passes, the toddler comes to know many of the other children, and some of the youth and  adults in the church. At the appropriate time, the child leaves the nursery and sits with dad and mom in worship – and begins to learn some new behaviors! Behaviors like how to be quiet and respectful, how to fold hands, close eyes, and bow head during prayer, how to find songs in the hymnal, how to find books in the Bible, and so on. Relatively permanent changes in behavior, based on experience.

At some point, the child begins to develop a conscience. This might begin around age 7. Many of my seminary students have told me that they were saved at around age 7, 8, or 9. What exactly happens when a child this young professes faith in Christ?

Well I don’t really know, but here’s what I think: After a (short) lifetime of being loved and nurtured in the Family of God, the Concrete Operational child (reference Piaget’s stages of intellectual development) makes a conscious decision to accept Christ and to become a Christ follower. A relatively permanent change in behavior, based on experience.

As the child continues to mature, and enters adolescence, a series of life changing decisions is made. Decisions about who my friends will be, who my role models will be, who I am, what I will do with my life. Relatively permanent changes in behavior, based on experience.

The same analysis and understanding can be applied to anyone who comes to faith in Christ and then follows Christ into mature Christian adulthood. Take for example a woman who came from a broken home and never heard the Gospel until she was 43 years old. A coworker shares Christ with her, she explores Christ and makes a decision to accept Christ and ask forgiveness of sin. Her life continues, but on a brand new trajectory. A relatively permanent change in behavior, based on experience.

There is no end to examples of how this paradigm applies to discipleship and discipling. My big point is simply this: We disciplers need a fresh view of learning and how it factors into the life of the disciple. We can learn to share in the normal, natural comings and goings of life so that others begin to experience Christ and have some relatively permanent changes in behavior, based on those experiences.

Peace, and good discipling to you!

What is learning?

In this article, I’m beginning our exploration of how people learn (and then we’ll discuss how we might become better disciplers - teachers!). My fascination with learning goes all the way back to childhood. If my mother said it once, she said it a thousand times, “You learn something new every day.” I’ve quoted her just about as many times as I heard her say it, and you know what? I came to believe that you do learn something new every day!

So when I got started on my doctoral program, I was driven by curiosity to discover what learning is, and how people learn. And I found out -- the short answer is, “Nobody really knows” (because the full answer is still under investigation).

You see, God created us in His image, after His likeness. And one of the marvelous things about our createdness is learning! Like God, we learn! Like God, we are curious! Like God, we want to know!

Among the many definitions of learning, I have adopted and personalized LeRoy Ford’s (see his landmark book, Design for Teaching and Training, Broadman Press):

Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior, based on experience.

Let us examine that definition:

...relatively permanent…

It would be nice if all learning would/could go immediately into long term memory. But God didn’t make us that way. We seem to function best in this world with a balance between short term and long term memory. But for learning - real learning - to take place, it has to be more-or-less permanent. Of course, this is a fuzzy definition (remember, nobody really knows what learning is!), but it seems to be the best we can come up with.

...change in behavior…

My most recent post discussed the three domains of learning: Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral. I said that the Affective is the most important. But for the purpose of defining learning, I focus on the Behavioral Domain. Why? Because when learning is complete, it will show up on our behavior! Let me illustrate:

Growing up, my brothers and I were required to brush our teeth after supper. Had to do it. I hated it, but I did it. So when I moved away from home, went to college, and got married I did NOT brush my teeth after supper. I brushed only when my teeth felt dirty or when I had bad breath. After a few years of this, I woke up one day with a toothache. I called a dentist, made an appointment, and found out that I had a mouth full of cavities - the result of poor dental hygiene!

After many hours in the dental chair, and many hundreds of dollars for fillings (today it would be many thousands of dollars), I had a change in behavior. I became a fanatic about dental hygiene. Now I brush -- and floss! -- daily! And man, are my teeth clean!

My point here is that I knew about teeth brushing, but didn’t value it, so my behavior didn’t include it. But as a result of that experience, I not only know dental hygiene, but I value it, and you can tell because you can observe it in my behavior! In a similar way, the things we really learn show up in our behavior!!

...based on experience.

This differentiates learning from other changes in behavior we might experience, like when we just decide to change; like you might go on a diet to lose weight -- not based on experience, but based on volition - an act of the will.

So as you seek to grow in your own discipleship, and to disciple others, keep in mind this helpful definition of learning: A relatively permanent change in behavior, based on experience.

The Philosophical Foundation of my Approach to Discipling

The root meaning of “disciple” is “learner.” When Jesus said μαθητευσατε (2nd Person Plural Aorist Active Imperative: disciple, learn by practice or experience, be taught by practice or experience, acquire a custom or habit), I believe He meant that we should 

·         teach all peoples,

·         help them learn by practice or experience, and that

·         we are responsible to lead them to acquire certain customs and habits.

In recent decades, psychologists and educators have discovered that all learning can be classified as

·         Cognitive (facts and information),

·         Affective (emotions, feelings, values, attitudes, lifestyle commitments), and

·         Behavioral (skills and abilities).

                  (See my YouTube video about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzsgC9479Y)

For us in the ministry of discipling, I believe that all three are necessary, and that the Affective is the most important. Why? Because that’s the realm where the Holy Spirit works. Here is some (not all) of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives; note that these are all in the Affective Domain:

·         He CONVICTS (John 16:8) Makes us aware of sin and draws us toward seeking forgiveness.

·         He bears witness to our SALVATION (Rom 8:16) Through Him, we know that God has accepted us. This banishes doubt and fear concerning our relationship with God.

·         He REGENERATES (John 3:5-6) He renews our heart, causing us to respond positively to God’s love.

·         He GUIDES (John 16:13) He goes with us – leading, counseling, assisting in decision making, giving direction.

·         He FILLS us (Eph 5:18). When we are full, there is no room for anything else!

·         He GLORIFIES CHRIST (John 16:14) One manifestation of a Spirit filled life is the preeminence given to Christ (vis-à-vis self-glorification).

·         He gives FRUIT and GIFTS (Gal 5:22-23; 1 Cor 12:3-11).

·         He warns of SPIRITUAL DANGER (John 16:8) When your “inner voice” tells you to stay away from something, maybe you better listen!

This is why I believe that the Affective is the most important domain of learning. And for us to be effective disciplers, we need to know how to guide learning experiences in the affective domain – and of course, in the other domains, also.

If you have nothing better to do with your time, you can listen to me talk about this at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4xFOo8HHkKJUHFKT3pPX2NuM0E/edit?usp=sharing J