Jeff Tunnell
Training should have an end in mind at the onset. Training is task oriented. It would be pointless to have a soccer match without a goal. Endless running around with nothing to aim at is ridiculous! No one wants that, even though the general Christian church has convinced believers that they should submit to never-ending learning without ever producing fruit. This is unacceptable. Jesus stated in John 15:8 that our Father is glorified when we become His disciples and bear much fruit.
Jesus in Luke 13:6-9: “He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ â€
Likely the reason we take so long to prepare a believer for actually doing the work of ministry is that we do not provide close supervision in monitoring their growth in character. Coming alongside someone to disciple them is a task of love and commitment that requires time, a lot of time. Benchmarks for growth can be discerned from scripture rather than conjecture or culture. By walking together with a goal in mind, an end to the training combined with activation in the task, the learner can begin practicing what they have learned.