Biblical Training Is So Important

The training of disciples is seriously lacking in many churches. This is a plea for the pastors to train and equip disciples of Jesus Christ in your church. Many pastors and church members wonder why there are so many people walking out the back door as quick as they walk in the front door. Either #1 they are not really saved or #2 they have not been trained, discipled, or mentored.

I wanted to share some important verses about training to encourage you.

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” More times than not we think of this verse as children, I think not! It applies to the newly saved in Christ as well.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

10 All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra — which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
ESV

-Scripture provides positive training “instruction” originally referred to training a child in godly behavior, not merely rebuke and correction of wrong behavior—John MacArthur

Titus 2:11-15

11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”
ESV

-Salvation is transforming (new birth) produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken—John MacArthur

The modern church of Jesus Christ needs to be a training institution, a place where people are saved from sin and trained, mentored, and discipled; in other words grow in their faith. Catch the importance of discipleship!

In Bible times, a student. Whereas a student today studies a subject (law, architecture, or whatever), a disciple in olden days learned from a teacher. Attachment to a specific teacher was the essence of discipleship. The Pharisees and John the Baptist had disciples (Mark 2:18). The Jews saw themselves as disciples of Moses (John 9:28). The term is used often in the Gospels and Acts of the followers of Jesus. They learned from him and attached themselves wholeheartedly to him. It meant putting Christ before family and possessions. It meant taking up the cross (Luke 14:26-33). Today, too, to be a disciple of Jesus means total commitment.

The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), pp. 348-349