Into the World

In today’s world of theological academia and structured church education, it’s easy to assume that one must have extensive biblical knowledge and formal training to make a meaningful impact on making disciples. However, a journey through the Bible reveals a different perspective—one that challenges this assumption and invites us to reconsider the essence of true faith and its application.

The disciples of Jesus and the apostle Paul offer us a new, at least what we would call a new, yet effective, approach to building the Kingdom of God. This approach requires a deep commitment to faith and the practice thereof.

The Disciples Learned Through Experience

Imagine a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds—tax collectors, fishermen, a political revolutionary, and even a thief—coming together to follow a teacher named Jesus. These disciples embarked on a transformative journey that would forever shape the course of Christianity. What’s remarkable is that they weren’t scholars, theologians, or church leaders. They didn’t possess formal education or a comprehensive knowledge of the Scriptures. Yet, they became torchbearers of a movement that would change the world.

Only a year into their time with Jesus, he sent them out to heal, cast out demons, and proclaim the kingdom of God. Their success wasn’t rooted in their scholarly prowess; rather, it lay in their unwavering faith and their willingness to put what they had learned into action. They learned by doing, by experiencing the transformative power of their faith firsthand.

The Apostle Paul Empowered Others

Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, encountered a life-altering revelation on the road to Damascus. His transformation from a persecutor to a disciple for Christ is a testament to the radical power of faith. Paul’s approach to building communities of believers was anything but conventional.

Paul’s strategy was unique: he would share the message of Jesus, form small groups of believers, and then leave them to continue building the church in their respective communities. These individuals were not scholars or trained theologians; they were ordinary people with a genuine faith. After a very brief stay with them, Paul empowered them to take charge, emphasizing the importance of their personal relationship with God rather than their mastery of theological concepts.

Lessons for Today

The stories of the disciples and Paul offer us a different perspective on faith and its role in building the church. In a world where “education” takes precedence, we are reminded that becoming a disciple doesn’t require years of learning.

Many believers today find themselves immersed in years of study, yet struggling to share their faith with anyone. It’s important to acknowledge that knowledge, though valuable, must be accompanied by action. The essence of faith lies not merely in knowing, but in sharing what we know.

Focusing on sharing faith is paramount. Just as the disciples were sent out only after a year and under Paul’s guidance, the church was expected to expand, we too should put our feet and words to action. Rather than becoming bogged down in the small group and Sunday School classes, we can prioritize sharing our faith experience with others. Imagine, rather than gathering within the confines of a church classroom or small group living room, you spent that time going into the community to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to make sharing faith a priority, I wrote a daily devotional about it.