Bruce Wilkinson, 7 Laws of the Learner: Law 6a Equipping

The Law of Equipping

Pages 341-379

Tuesday 16 November 2010

The essence of the Law of Equipping is these 3 words:

“Equip for service”The teacher should train

students for a life of service and edification


The primary issues in this chapter are:

1. What is the biblical job description for a Christian teacher?

2. Is the average teacher fulfilling those responsibilities or rebelling against them?


Someday you will stand before God and have to give an account to him about what you have done with your life.

God will be concerned about what he wanted you to do - not what you did!

Are you aiming at the right target - is covering the content the right target or a trap?

Equipping Mindset


Eph 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

What is the job description for a

Christian teacher?

What Bible passage do you think sums it up?


Eph 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.


Principle 1: the primary purpose of teachers is to equip

Equip not merely to explain - yet explaining is what most classes do.

You can have information, education and entertainment without ever being equipped to do anything.

Katartizo = To equip means to prepare, make ready, complete or restore (for ministry and service)


Principle 2: the primary audience of teachers is Christians

...for equipping the saints

The church are busy watching our pastors and teachers preach evangelistically whilst they do not prepare them to do the job.


Principle 3: the primary result of equipping is Christians doing the work of ministry and edifying the Body of Christ

The result of the teaching is - Eph 4:16 - From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


God’s job description for all teachers

The issues that will be on our final exam will include:

1. The nature of the work our students are involved in - the ministry they are doing.

2. The % of our class who are ministering - “every part”


3. The degree to which our students are working at their capacity - its work.

4. The quality and quantity of the work done by our students - are they effective?

5. The % growth in our class - growth in the Body is a result of equipping

6. Constant, normal, mutual ministry between class members - mutual edification, body ministry


Is based upon this text

Eph 4:11-16 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Equipping Model


14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Analyse the text - what conclusions,

about teachers and teaching, can you

draw?


Work of Ministry

Edification of Body

SpeakerSaints World

Equip Evangelise






Equipping Maxims


Teacher performance review:

Reflect on the teacher job description we looked at earlier - are you, the teacher, achieving that?

Do you need a revolution to change from being happy with delivering content, asking a few questions, having a good discussion, do students like the class to fulfilling Eph 4:11-16?

Do you tickle peoples ears?

Is everyone equipped in your

church?Is everyone

involved in ministry in your church?


Maxim 1: equipping is the responsibility of the teacher

God equips for service - we speak for understanding. Compare 2 Tim 3:16-17 and Eph 4:11-16 and you will find that they show that the Bible and the teacher are both: what are the similarities?




By the way this cartoon has no

relevance at all to the teaching

material on this page - I just liked it




By the way this cartoon has no

relevance at all to the teaching

material on this page - I just liked it


A gift of God

For the Christian community

For the purpose of edification and equipping

Result in good works

Did Jesus really say, “If you love me you will know my commandments”?

“Those who have been called to equip..frequently misuse the Bible making it a book to be studied rather than a book to be practiced”


Maxim 2: equipping occurs best when the teacher assumes the biblical role

God has revealed his final exam for us - and it involves not answers but actions, fruit not facts, disciples not data.

“Content is always the servant of conduct”


We need to become coaches helping the team to play better and working on improving each member. Coaches only use information to help the team play better.

Some teachers act like the star payer not the coach.


Maxim 3: equipping is best evaluated by what the student does after class

Most people do not care about practice - they want to see the match. Christians spend all their time at practice and pay no attention to the real “game”.

Real ministry is not at the church but in the arena of normal day to day life.


What questions should we ask to test the ministry done by students?

1. Evangelism: What % of students shared the gospel with someone this week - and how many have led someone to the Lord in the last year?

2. Discipleship: What % of students are involved in a regular discipling class - maturing, accountability, growing others?

3. Spiritual vitality: What % of the students have a regular quiet time, lead family devotions, tithe, have a thriving spiritual life?


Maxim 4: equipping should impact both character and conduct

Equip not only to do ministry but to be a minister. Conduct is a result of character - we are sons of God and that shows in how we walk.

Elders are validated by their character - 1 Tim, Titus 1






Maxim 5: equipping should focus more intensely on the most committed

Equippers carefully select the people they work with.

Look at the example of Jesus.

You have limited resources - steward them wisely.

Test the people you work with - “meet me at 0530 with these three verses memorised”


Maxim 6: equipping requires knowledge, skill and long term commitment

Equipping is one of the hardest things you will ever do - it is one of the most strategic investments you will ever make - that is why so few people do it.

The real test for church or ministry comes when the ‘minister’ cannot do

it all - have people caught the vision, ethos,

values - then other people become your

hands, feet and mouth


Beware of looking for the instant.

Year 1: Plant the seed. Water and fertilise.

Year 2: water and fertilise.



Year 5: water and fertilise - within 90 days it grows 90 feet high.

Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. It can grow over 1m/day.


Maxim 7: the ultimate goal of equipping is independent equippers

Independent equippers have mastered a ministry skill and are using it.

You are to train people who will become trainers of others, who train others, who...

Are you committed to teaching or to reproduction?






Education

Bruce Wilkinson, 7 Laws of the Learner: Law 6a Equipping