A lady asked me the other day about our ministry with The Navigators, about whom she knew nothing. In the middle of the conversation, responding to something I’d seen in one of her emails, I asked what she was teaching two days each week. I was shocked when this 76-year-young lady said, “Martial Arts.” Wow, I said. That’s a participation sport! Can you tell me about that? Part of her response went something like this:

I asked God to give me something I could be passionate about. One day, in a Starbucks, I met a man who told me owned a martial arts school – why don’t you visit? So I did. Two sessions were free. My instructor started working with me and observed that I was a visual learner, so he adapted his instruction to fit my learning style. I took to it, and before I knew it, I was a red belt. I said, well, I’ve come this far, I can be a black belt! And I did. And now I’m one of the teachers.

I said, “May I tell you what I heard?”

• You had an instructor who worked with you one-on-one.
• Starting from nothing, with participation, doing what the instructor told you to do, you experienced growth in your skills .
• You reached a level of competence with the red belt and then the black belt.
• You’re repeating the process by being an instructor yourself.

Yes? Yes!

And then I said:

That’s exactly what I do as a Navigator. I invest time in people who want to follow Jesus and be involved in his mission. I teach them some basic skills: how to have daily time with God, how to memorize scripture, how to do Bible study, how to share the gospel, how to help someone else do those things. I’m expecting they will participate – not just listen. That they will grow in their skills and in their love for Jesus and become competent to do what I’m doing. Participation, Growth, Competence.

And I asked her to look up 2 Timothy 2.1 – 7 after our conversation was over.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (NIV)

The text gives the method (verse 2) and examples (verses 3 – 7). In addition to the specific applications belonging to soldiers, athletes, and farmers, I think all three are examples of activities in which Participation leads to Growth leads to Competence. 

Martial Arts…Discipleship: the process is the same.

Train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4.7, NIV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 8.24 – 27, NIV)