There are number of points very-concisely stated in this article.
For a challenging opening statement: If we claim to be making a disciple, while failing to equip them for their mission, our claim is false at a most fundamental and foundational level.
Do you agree? If so, here are some challenging thoughts – and a solution!
A cycle that needs breaking
Consider the repeating cycle of ‘non-equipping’ reflects in the below three examples.
- Local church leaders who don’t equip their members for their mission naturally go on to raise up new church leaders who are the same.
- Each generation then justifies their thinking.
- It is possible that most local church and youth leaders have never known different. They’ve never SEEN an intentional model of equipping applied, or the results it can generate.
- (One of the reasons I’m so passionate about this is that I have!)
- Bible college lecturers who are timid in discussing spiritual matters in their everyday conversations – even while academically motivated for and believing in the Christian mission – go on to birth students who have a very low level of intuition for outreach.
- Youth leader who have never been equipped likewise birth youth who are the same.
- We end up with youth groups with few non-church family youth coming to faith.
- The irony is that we are in a cultural environment where there is now clear evidence of increasing spiritual interest amongst this generation. (See a UK study here.)
Common excuses I’ve heard from senior church leaders
We can’t fix a problem we can’t see. I therefore note these common excuses to call them out – while giving no indication as to where I’ve heard them.
- “How could we equip when our members aren’t yet discipled themselves? They aren’t fit to represent Christ!”
- The problem: Ten years later – it’s still the same.
- “Shouldn’t outreach come naturally, as an overflow of the heart? We’re going or that!”
- The problem: I suggest it an observable fact that most people don’t discover the skills needed by intuition.
- “How could we equip them for outreach? Do you know how many hurts they have? They need healing first!”
- The problem: Ten years later…
- “We want to show our community how much we care through our generosity and kindness first.”
- The problem: Ten years later…
What is often missed is that, if we just did what we are supposed to do, many of these problems would self-rectify.
What kind of ‘outreach equipping’ is needed?
- Conversational skills – to know how to ask and lead conversations through good questions.
- Gospel skills – to be able to share God’s story clearly and concisely – ideally within a conversation in a natural way, followed with a natural story, question or invitation.
- Testimonial / storytelling skills – to be able to give evidences to the truth of the message through story, whether our own, someone else’s, the story of amazing things in nature, or of positive societal change enabled by Christianity in history.
- Teamwork skills – because God made us different for a reason.
To be clear – we are NOT talking about accosting strangers on the street to talk at them!
This is about imparting the heart, skills and intuition needed to engage a person in a sensible conversation.
Benefits of committing to annual outreach equipping
1. Outreach equipping strengthens a persons OWNERSHIP of their faith
When a person shares their faith, their faith moves from being ‘a private religious activity’ to something that they now more personally hold, protect and desire to advance.
2. Outreach equipping strengthens a persons BELIEF in their faith
When a person shares their story or God’s story, they naturally think through why they believe it to be true – becoming more convinced in the process. Where questions are asked, they are forced to think through for themselves to find answers. A deepened sense of conviction in the faith itself results.
3. Outreach equipping propels a person to greater HOLINESS
Not only is an equipped and engaged person more convinced of their claimed beliefs; they instinctively now know they are a representative of them to others also. They know that their most-obvious sins will be perceived as hypocrisy. They naturally now seek God’s strength to represent him better.
Mysteriously (or by God’s power), many then find a new level of strength in their faith, lives and conduct – changing for the better!
4. Outreach equipping enables a person to fulfil their God-given MISSION
It is bewildering to consider what might ever have caused some to think that this wasn’t necessary. But we did! This is the failure of our ‘church culture’ and practices that we need to accept – and change.
- Most Christians are significantly disabled in their missional endeavours due to a lack of basic knowledge, as also conversational and story-telling skills.
- Most people don’t come to these skills naturally because their role-models have the same challenges, timidity or weaknesses.
Basic annual training, motivated by a desire to actually apply God’s word, can make a profound difference – if only we would try it.
A challenge to all church and youth leaders:
Here are some challenging words – so they are considered. The logic of them isn’t hard to discern.
1. To not equip is to fail in SINCERITY
If we genuinely believe people need to know Jesus, how could we not equip those we lead?
2. To not equip is to fail in a CORE DUTY IN MISSION
Ephesians 4 is clear that key church leadership roles have been given for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.
Beyond the debates and opinions some have on what the ‘offices’ Paul could mentions are in practice (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) – the chapter very clearly affirms that the core duty of a Christian leader is to equip and mobilise their people!
3. To not equip is to fail in a CORE DUTY IN DISCIPLESHIP
What is discipleship if not teaching the disciple how to live as Christ calls us to? We are to
- love God,
- love one another and
- make Christ known.
To fail to teach ‘evangelism’ is to fail to disciple. Somehow we don’t perceive this – some even believing that the weaknesses in the lives and faiths of those they disciple justify NOT teaching them about the gospel or Christian witness.
Fortunately, all that is now needed is that we ALL make the CHOICE to change this – because the solution to this problem is unbelievably simple!
Fall in love with your role model: Jesus!
Jesus was a first-class role-model regarding conversational skills and storytelling – always to covey a message.
He didn’t only show love to people. There was there to communicate a message!
- What if we learned not only from Jesus teaching content – but also from his heart and method of engagement? He asked questions and told stories. He knew how to intrigue people. He intentionally engagaed to conveyed messages!
- He also pulled no punches. He was crazy-bold.
- He was gracious with sinners – while confrontational to the proud. He was never intimidated
- He didn’t justify sin – while not coming across as judgemental.
A simple decision is needed:
Will you become a part of the solution?
- Will you begin to equip those you lead EVERY YEAR?
The mission God gave us is too important for you to do otherwise – even while most do still fail to equip.
This is awaiting pioneering leaders – who can see how SIMPLE this matter is and can be.
Will you please now commit at least a month of your annual focus and teaching to outreach equipping – to ‘equip the saints for the work of the ministry’?
If yes – please now watch and take notes on videos #4 and 5 at Godtalk.nz/leadership
- These will give you a FRAMEWORK for an intelligent equipping – that might actually mobilise your members (rather than only informing their minds).
- Moving people to action takes leadership – not just teaching.
- The above two videos (which are only 5mins each) show you how!
Resources:
- FOUNDATIONAL youth leader training on outreach: For every new youth leader to study and then to teach to their selected leaders – view 12 x 5min videos at godtalk.nz/leadership
- ANNUAL OUTREACH EQUIPPING RESOURCES for youth leaders to to use – access 16 x 5min videos, plus discussion guides, at godtalk.nz/equipping
