What is equipping? That was the question posed yesterday. Is it simply teaching, or a message given from a pulpit or lectern? How are people prepared to serve as engineers, accountants, doctors, pilots, financial planners, teachers, etc.? For that matter how are pastors prepared to lead a church?
I would suggest that it is more than hearing a lecture or a message.
I have firsthand experience in three of those professions and have closely observed three of the others. I was an Air Force instructor pilot, I have a degree in engineering and was involved in starting and running an architectural, engineering, and construction company, and I have graduated from seminary. I have observed my oldest son become a CPA, I watched my middle son go through the process of becoming a doctor, my youngest son was a teacher and is now in the process of becoming a financial planner, and my wife was a special ed teacher for many years.
While lectures and messages were certainly a part of all of the firsthand experience in the three I finished, that was not all. In every case there was instruction followed by observation of my application of the instruction with critique of whether and how my application was adequate and or could be improved.
In seminary, one is tested over the material in class. One’s papers are both graded and marked up with notes on how they can be improved. One is given assignments to share a message on a passage of scripture and that is evaluated and critiqued.
I know for certain that all the other professions listed above go through some semblance of that experience.
We have examined Ephesians 4:11 – 16 (here @ Bible Gateway). From my perspective it is a crucial text in describing what should happen in a local body. The leaders are to equip the saints for the work of service. Note that they are not just to do the ministry, they are to equip those in their care to do so as well.
Is that happening? Do people regularly get instruction on how to accomplish something in ministry, then be observed doing that task, and subsequently get critique on how they fared?
If not, why?
A bit more on this in the next post.
I would suggest that it is more than hearing a lecture or a message.
I have firsthand experience in three of those professions and have closely observed three of the others. I was an Air Force instructor pilot, I have a degree in engineering and was involved in starting and running an architectural, engineering, and construction company, and I have graduated from seminary. I have observed my oldest son become a CPA, I watched my middle son go through the process of becoming a doctor, my youngest son was a teacher and is now in the process of becoming a financial planner, and my wife was a special ed teacher for many years.
While lectures and messages were certainly a part of all of the firsthand experience in the three I finished, that was not all. In every case there was instruction followed by observation of my application of the instruction with critique of whether and how my application was adequate and or could be improved.
In seminary, one is tested over the material in class. One’s papers are both graded and marked up with notes on how they can be improved. One is given assignments to share a message on a passage of scripture and that is evaluated and critiqued.
I know for certain that all the other professions listed above go through some semblance of that experience.
We have examined Ephesians 4:11 – 16 (here @ Bible Gateway). From my perspective it is a crucial text in describing what should happen in a local body. The leaders are to equip the saints for the work of service. Note that they are not just to do the ministry, they are to equip those in their care to do so as well.
Is that happening? Do people regularly get instruction on how to accomplish something in ministry, then be observed doing that task, and subsequently get critique on how they fared?
If not, why?
A bit more on this in the next post.
Excellent analysis, Mike. This needs to be disseminated widely - and above all rigorously practiced.
ReplyDeleteThank you, you are very kind.
Delete