Training

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Last Updated on January 21, 2025 by Rocklyn Clarke

Overview

We want to train you! We want to help you train others!

If you don’t have a church background, you may not have a frame of reference for what we mean by “training”. If you do have a church background, you can probably attest to the following:

  • You received formal training in basic Christian doctrine, including baptism.
  • You received formal training in what it meant to be a member of the congregation, including giving and serving on a ministry team.
  • You learned informally how to “fit in” as a church member.
  • You learned informally to depend on “paid religious professionals” to do the work of ministry for you – including making disciples.

For far too many church members however there was a serious omission:

  • They never learned about their own responsibility for doing the work of God’s Kingdom outside the walls of the church building.
  • They never learned how to establish a safe, healthy, and effective basic Christian community (e.g. life group) for mutual support and edification.
  • They never learned how to work with other brothers and sisters as a team to win people to Christ.
  • They never learned how to disciple another believer.

This page is a brief description of the training that we want everyone at Life Church to receive – regardless of their past church experience. Our goal is that, within 3 years of attending Life Church, you will become competent in all of these areas.

Note For Teachers

Those who are preparing to teach this material should checkout our Teaching Page:

Following Jesus: Teaching

Key Passage

  Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching  them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you  always, to the very end of the age.”  
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

Key Questions

In the course of your training, you will learn how to answer these questions:

  • “What is a disciple and how will I know when I’ve made one?”
  • “How do I make a disciple?”
  • “How long does it take to make a disciple?”
  • “What’s the connection between life groups and making disciples?”

(hint: Check out the Following Jesus: Purpose page)

Why Get Trained?

As we said above, many of you come from churches that didn’t actually train you to do the work of God’s Kingdom. You may be wondering, based on your past experience, why you need to be trained. The following web page explores some of what the Bible says on that subject:

Training: Why Get Trained?

It’s a Family Affair

The training journey can be a challenge. Learning new skills takes time and commitment. Engaging in the work of God’s Kingdom involves, not just new skills, but a new lifestyle as well. We strongly encourage you, where possible, to include your family in the process – especially your spouse, if you are married. It’s easier to establish a new lifestyle with the help of supportive family members!

How To Proceed – Are you . . .

In this section we will ask you to review the list of categories below and to decide which one best describes you. Once you’ve identified your category, you will be asked to follow the identified course of action.

Which training category best describes you?

  • Unsure that you are actually a Christian?
  • A new Christian or someone who has decided to “start over” from scratch?
  • Connected to a new Christian or someone who has decided to “start over” from scratch?
  • A Christian who wants to begin making disciples?
  • A Christian who is experienced in making disciples who make disciples?
  • A Life Group Leader?

Now – find that same category below and pursue the designated course of action! Also, if you have a critical attitude towards evangelism and discipleship, be sure to check out our section on people who are:

Critical of Evangelism Efforts

Training Category 1:
Unsure that you are actually a Christian?

  1. If you are not already a member of one of our life groups – join one! Ideally, if you came to Life Church through the invitation of one of our members, strongly consider joining his or her life group.
  2. Reach out to your life group leaders and to the person who invited you to let them know that you are unsure about your status with Jesus. Make sure your life group leaders know who, if anyone, invited you to Life Church.
  3. Follow your life group leaders’ instructions about what to do next.

Training Category 2:
A new Christian or someone who has decided to “start over” from scratch?

Each one reach one!

  1. If you are not already a member of one of our life groups – join one! Ideally, if you came to Life Church through the invitation of one of our members, strongly consider joining his or her life group.
  2. Reach out to your life group leaders to let them know your status. Make sure they know who, if anyone, invited you to Life Church.
  3. Ask your life group leaders to arrange for you to begin discipleship training. In most cases this will be with the person who invited you to Life Church.

Training Category 3:
Connected to a new Christian or someone who has decided to “start over” from scratch?

Each one reach one!

  1. Invite them to join your life group!
  2. Reach out to your life group leaders to let them know the new Christian to whom you are connected.
  3. Ask your life group leaders about taking your friend through the discipleship curriculum.
  4. Your life group has a life group email list and is also registered in e-Life. Make sure that your contact information is up to date in both places.

Training Category 4:
A Christian who wants to begin making disciples?

Each one reach one!

  1. If you are not already a member of one of our life groups – join one! Ideally, if you came to Life Church through the invitation of one of our members, strongly consider joining his or her life group.
  2. Read through the various areas of training on this web page. 
  3. Identify the areas of training in which you ARE NOT proficient. Ask your life group leaders to help you identify the right training opportunity. While you are waiting for the next training class, feel free to begin working through material on your own or one on one with someone else.
  4. Identify the areas of training in which you are already proficient. With the help of your life group leaders, identify someone in your life group whom you can help train.
  5. Your life group has a life group email list and is also registered in e-Life. Make sure that your contact information is up to date in both places.

Training Category 5:
A Christian who is experienced in making disciples who make disciples?

Each one teach one!

  1. If you are not already a member of one of our life groups – join one! Ideally, if you came to Life Church through the invitation of one of our members, strongly consider joining his or her life group.
  2. Read through the various areas of training on this web page. 
  3. Identify the areas of training in which you ARE NOT proficient. Ask your life group leaders to help you identify the right training opportunity. While you are waiting for the next training class, feel free to begin working through material on your own or one on one with someone else.
  4. Identify the areas of training in which you are already proficient. With the help of your life group leaders, identify someone in your life group whom you can help train.
  5. Your life group has a life group email list and is also registered in e-Life. Make sure that your contact information is up to date in both places.

Training Category 6:
A Life Group Leader?

Teach each one to reach one and teach each one to teach one!

  1. Make sure that your life group is meeting weekly and that they are on a path to have at least some of those meetings take place away from the church building and for at least 90 minutes.
  2. Read through the various areas of training on this web page. 
  3. You and your assistant life group leader should meet with each of your life group members to determine what training they should receive and/or what training they should be prepared to help provide.
  4. Your life group has a life group email list and is also registered in e-Life. Make sure that your members’ contact information is up to date in both places.

OK – Before you start working on the training components below, let’s make sure you have the right attitude towards evangelism.

Training Category 7:
Critical of Evangelism Efforts?

Do you have a critical attitude towards evangelism and discipleship because of problematic practices in past church experiences?

Remember the story of the Church in Ephesus from Revelation 2:

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:1-7 (NIV)

Although they were proud of their track record for recognizing problematic ministry leaders, Jesus declares that this church had forsaken the love they had at first. What should characterize the “love we had at first”?

It is also important to remember these words from Paul:

  Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,  that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard  and to everyone else that I am in chains  for Christ. And because of my chains,  most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 

  It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,  not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

  Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 

Philippians 1:12-18 (NIV)

Paul didn’t let the problems with the way others were preaching the Gospel become the focus of his attention. He rejoiced that the Gospel was being preached and he kept on doing the work of the Kingdom!

Now that you’ve read this far your next step is to visit, call, text, or email someone! Don’t settle for passively “lurking” on this web site. If you can’t figure out which of the above categories applies to you, ask one of the pastors for help.

Disciple-Making Skills

Discipleship Lesson 1: Overview

Our goal is to establish safe, healthy, effective life groups that produce disciples who make disciples leading to multiplication.

Here are the skills we need to build a robust system that produces disciples:

Personal Skills

Life Group Skills

Harvest Skills

This Big Blueprint diagram below shows you how the skills on the left fit together with our discipleship activity.