STRUCTURING A GREAT COMMISSION TRAINING PROGRAM

 1. Objective: Clearly define the objective of the training. Jesus defined it clearly when he said to his disciples, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men". So the objective of our training is not to train theologians to become aquarium keepers (Pastors) but to equip followers of Christ into prolific fishers of men or disciplers who birth more disciple makers or sowers of the seed who reproduce more sowers of the seed or seekers of the lost sheep who find more seekers of the lost sheep.

2. Content: Based on the above objective, the content must resonate with it. Focus on the Great Commission as the core of the core and carefully choose topics that help fulfill it.  We must resist the temptation to add on interesting topics that are informative but do not have immediate bearing on the objective unless it is a completely new group in which case you might have to do some vision casting. Explain WHY? Because Jesus commanded (See Twelve commands of Jesus); WHAT? The Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations; HOW? Luke 10:1-9 Go two by two and find the person of peace and plant a healthy reproducing church there; WHERE? People sit in darkness and in the shadows of death. WHO? YOU! If the Samaritan woman could change her community within the hour, there is no reason why you cannot do it.

3. Methodology: Lecture method is the least effective method. We know that Jesus and his disciples never used this Greek method. Whether in homes, or the street or the synagogue, it was highly interactive. They reasoned, persuaded, asked counter questions and even disputed (Acts 19:1-10). Remember it is not enough to sermonize, cast vision, motivate, chide, rebuke and even challenge if you do not passion skills on how to make disciples. Every profession needs training and there is no way a person can make disciples unless he is coached.

The secret is to divide them into small groups of less than five after each topic and practice: Five "I"s: 1. Insights: Write down the Insights gained; 2. Interpret: What it is saying: literal, allegorical, historical and the context. 3. Implement: To write down what they are going to implement and 4. Impart: Write down the names of those you want to go and share. 5. Inquire: Intentional follow up to see that the goals that were set at the seminar are being implemented.

It is in the small group interaction where real internalization takes and should never be skipped just because the lecturer for the next topic has arrived. Then each group should be asked to make a brief presentation because that is where spritual growth and leadership development takes place. This way you may cover less number of topics but then the trainees have some solid “Take Away.”

Where possible do “skills” mock sessions on how to conduct a house church, The Great Commission, prayer walking, Luke ten, spiritual warfare, praying for the sick and casting out evil spirits, generational mapping, foot washing and NT model of breaking bread etc.

4. Filter: You can preach to thousands but filter out those who can be trained as trainers. Jesus focused on a few to reach many. He trained twelve who went and changed the world. Paul trained twelve in Ephesus and all Asia heard the gospel. The world is full of mission leaders who want a new convert to repent and make a 180 degrees turn around, but themselves are not willing to change, "We have always done it this way." This is the main reason why the kingdom advance tarries.  So where possible carefully filter them and invest only on those who are ready for a paradigm shift. The shift required is from “Specials”: Special Person, Special Day and Special Place, Special Gathering and Special Gender to “ANY FIVE”: Any Place; Any Day; Anyone; Any Number and Any Gender”

5. Follow up: Make sure they write down the goals (how many disciples they plan to make, baptize, equip and send them on to do the same), before they leave to which they will be held accountable. Paul and Barnabas reported to the church that sent them and then went back to follow up their trainees Acts 14:27; 15:36. If you are not intentional about it and leave it open ended, then things tend to fade away. 

I am sure you already know this but I have penned it just as a reminder.

The book TEACH THEM TO OBEY that we use as training manual is available on the Internet from Amazon. THE TWELVE COMMANDS OF JESUS ARE ON THIS BLOG.

Shalom my friend in Christ,

Victor Choudhrie