Teach and Train

I am seeing a trend that I am a little concerned about. It’s in our churches and it doesn’t seem to be denomination-specific but more a universal problem among Christians today. The problem is time; we think we don’t have enough if it to do the work of growing God’s kingdom.

It seems to cross genders, men are as busy as women and both sexes use it as an excuse not to obey the commands God has given us. I don’t like to think it’s true but I’m sure I am guilty of this as well.

My biggest issue right now is with discipleship and shepherding. It seems that we don’t mind serving on a committee here and there in the church, we’ll sing in the choir and show up on Sunday to do various jobs, but we don’t think we have time to go beyond that. When it comes to really coming alongside someone and working with them on the basics of the faith we see it as someone else’s job.

Sunday sermons and Sunday school classes are good and people learn and grow from them, but new Christians need to be discipled. They need the time and attention of a more mature Christian so they can grow. Pastors and Pastor’s wives can’t be expected to do this with everyone who enters the church.

It seems as I teach and listen to what’s happening in our churches, there are plenty of people who consider themselves mature Christians but few of them who are willing to come alongside a sister and help them become mature. When Paul wrote his letter to Titus he told him to teach the women how to do this. In chapter 2 He said, “3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

So, Paul says in verse 3 that we are to live the kind of lives that set a good example for other women to see. If we are irreverent, slanderous and drunkards (drunkardettes) how will other women see what honors God?

In verse 3b – 5a we are given a command to teach what’s good so the younger women are trained to be loving wives and mothers, doing the work of raising their families and remaining pure. Others may see our example but still need to learn “how” to change their own thinking and patterns of behavior.

In the last phrase of verse 5 Paul tells Titus why he is to teach women to do this, “So the word of God may not be reviled.” Doesn’t that indicate that if women do not teach these things so that the next generation doesn’t do them that God’s Word will be reviled? The positive side of that is that if young women live as they are to be taught by older women then God’s word will be honored. When we honor God’s word we are blessed.

So, if we obey this command to teach the younger women how to live so that they honor God through honoring His word, the blessing is double. We will have the privilege of watching God grow and mature a woman through His word and we will receive the blessing for our own obedience.

The other day someone challenged me about obeying God for the blessing it brings. She thought it sounded selfish. Well, God offered us these blessings and we should show gratitude for them but we should also want them. God is glorified the most when our desire is to glorify and honor Him. What could be more honoring and loving than obeying His commands?

So, when we say we are too busy to teach and help a newer Christian to grow in her faith, we lose the blessing. When we do disciple someone new to the faith God is glorified, the one being discipled is blessed and we are blessed. A three-fer! And God gets the glory in all three.

You see, it really is all about God and His Kingdom. He will grow it with or without you and me. If we think we are too busy to do what God has commanded in His Word regarding teaching one another, loving one another, and serving one another, He will find someone who is willing – and they will get the blessing while He gets the glory.

Is God glorified by the way you and I are spending our time? Do we want to obey God’s commands to teach and train other women? Do we care about His blessings?

Note: If you think you are ready to disciple someone new to the faith – or newer to the faith than you, please let your Pastor know. There are a couple of books that set up a series of twelve or thirteen weeks of individual study requiring a once a week, face to face meeting with the person you are discipling to go over the lesson. Check out:

Growing In Christ, published by NavPress http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891091578/

and

Fundamentals of the Faith by John MacArthur. http://www.gty.org/Shop/Books/451300