We are looking at my friend Ray Bandi’s pattern for disciple-making through intentional relationships.
- Love
- Pray
- Model
- Teach
- Repeat
Today, we’re thinking about Teach. Ray writes:
So, disciple-makers also teach our disciples. Let’s picture that. As you know, there are lots of ways to teach the Bible. But, ultimately all teaching for discipleship has one goal. And that goal is to help people to become more and more like Jesus. A few years ago, a friend sent me this question:
“If someone asks you what is the objective for meeting one-on-one, what verse would you pick to help them get the life-change vision?”
After thinking about that question for a few days, I chose Colossians 1:28:
“We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ.”
I chose that verse because Paul’s goal was to provide the personal accountability and the application-focused teaching that every person needs to become more like Jesus, and that’s what disciple-makers do. – Ray Bandi, emphases his
Ray is right: there are lots of ways to teach the Bible, but I’m convinced that not all are equally helpful. Teachers can teach just to satisfy their need to show off their knowledge and the student’s curiosity. Or one can provide, as Ray wrote, application-focused teaching to help people become more like Jesus.
I used to teach mathematics to adult college students. My goal, of course, was for them to do mathematics, not just watch me do mathematics – which they loved to do! Everything always went fine until we got to the part of, “OK, take out your books, turn to page 132, and work problem 12.”
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7.10, ESV)
Anyone who does not know the Teaching, you teach them. (Ezra 7.25, MSG)
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. (1 Corinthians 2.1, 2, MSG, emphasis mine)