What we consider education is mainly
information sharing with little application or practical
use. I am just as guilty of this as a pastor as
anyone. We all assume that if a person understands the
Bible that they will follow it. Unfortunately that is
usually not the case and a sermon or even a small group
Bible study isn't likely to bring about the transformation
that we're looking for.
I believe that people who deeply study
God's Word end up being better Christians but not because
they know more. They make a better attempt to follow
God for the same reason that they study more - they love the
Lord. At best, Biblical education has an indirect
effect on a Christian's life. A person knows more
about God so they love Him more. Because they love Him
more, they want to follow Him more.
This is why discipleship is important
and why more education doesn’t reach the desired goal.
Education isn’t at fault, but rather the lack of
follow up and application.
Disciple groups aim for application and provide
follow up on learned skills.
Jesus obviously spent a lot of time educating His
disciples. They
heard all of the sermons that He preached to the masses and
there was additional instruction just for them as well.
We only have a small fraction of what Jesus taught
recorded in the Bible.
But Jesus didn’t stop with just telling the disciples
what was right and wrong and explaining the Bible to them.
He made them live it.
Jesus sent His disciples out, two by
two, into the towns and villages ahead of Him.
They preached and performed miracles.
Then they came back to Jesus and reported all that
they had seen and done.
Jesus gave follow up instruction based on what they
reported. This
is how discipleship truly works.
A person lives out their daily life in accordance
with what they have been taught.
At the next meeting they report how things went and
adjustments are made and further instruction is given.
Education is great, but it can’t do it
all. A person
can gain the same information by reading a book or by
hearing a teacher instruct on the topic but one will be more
valuable to them.
Millions of students wouldn’t need school if they
could just read it in a book.
Likewise, discipleship takes education a step further
and makes it more applicable to a student than simply being
instructed does.
This is why education is a start but not the finish line.
