How Jesus trains leaders
some challenging observations...
When Jesus invited four fisherman to go for a walk with him, little did they know their lives would never be the same (Mt. 4:18-22). He promised that he would have a creative and transforming impact on their occupational skills and the way they looked at life: "Come and follow me and I will show you how to fish for people".These early disciples were called to learn under the tutelage of a skilled practitioner. They were called to be apprentices who would learn by practical experience the way of their teacher. Jesus' educational objective is clearly set forth: "It is enough for students to be like their teacher and servants like their Master" (Mt. 10:25). To transform character and to create the heart of a servant demands a space and time not neatly conducive to our Sunday school model or the environment of a collegiate setting. But the components of Jesus' educational model challenges conventional practice and objectives:1. Jesus as teacher is a co-traveler on a shared journey, not an ivory-towered academician,2. Education is relational not merely informational. The disciples are called "that they might be with him" (Mk. 3:14).3. The educational process is experiential not merely theoretical. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they have done and taught" (Mk. 6:30).4. Jesus' model in empowering not controlling. Jesus turns them loose with "authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness" (Mt. 10:1).5. Jesus' educational model is holistic not dualistic. Discipleship involves the whole of life not just slices of life: "What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?" (Mt. 16:26)6. Jesus' educational model moves beyond the letter of the Law and mere conformity to rules to the heart of the Lawgiver. The complex rhythms of life cannot adequately be engaged by mere legalities: "I desire mercy not sacrifice" (Mt. 9:13; 12:7) 7. Jesus is more an organic gardner than an architect. Jesus trains his disciples to be good environmentalists who understand the symbiotic components of a healthy spiritual life. "The kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seed in his field . . . " (Mt. 13 24f.)8. Jesus is our spiritual guide who opens our eyes to see the spiritual in the stuff of life. He is not a CEO manager driven by a pragmatic concern to maintain the institution: "Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear?" (Mk. 8:17)9. Jesus trains his disciples to ask good questions rather than to take pride in having all the answers. "Every scribe trained in the Kingdom of heaven is like the owner of the house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old" (Mt. 13:52)10. Jesus is about building community rather than an audience. "Everyone is looking for you . . . let us go somewhere else" (Mk. 1:17-18).11. Jesus trains his disciples to be explorers who look for the possibilities rather than mere guardians of the status quo: "Leave them, they are blind guides. If the blind shal lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch" (Mt. 15:14).12. Jesus defines success not in corporate terms (buildings, budgets, and butts), but rather how their transforming power as "salt" made a difference, and the "light" they mediate exposes human futility and illuminates the divine presence. (Mt. 5:13-16)13. Jesus leads his disciples into learning environments where the question is not "what do you think?" but "what do you see and hear?": "Though seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand . . . But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." (Mt. 13:13, 16)14. Jesus creates an atmosphere for change and reorientation. His patience and forgiveness is restorative not retributive: "Simon, Simon, Satan aske to sift all of you as wheat. But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Lk. 22:31; cf. John 21:15-19)15. Jesus redirects self-absorption with a vision of a new reality where greatness is found in service and the true human potential is set free from the tyranny of fear and the limitations of cultural expectations (Mk. 10:35-45).
HT: EO
When Jesus invited four fisherman to go for a walk with him, little did they know their lives would never be the same (Mt. 4:18-22). He promised that he would have a creative and transforming impact on their occupational skills and the way they looked at life: "Come and follow me and I will show you how to fish for people".These early disciples were called to learn under the tutelage of a skilled practitioner. They were called to be apprentices who would learn by practical experience the way of their teacher. Jesus' educational objective is clearly set forth: "It is enough for students to be like their teacher and servants like their Master" (Mt. 10:25). To transform character and to create the heart of a servant demands a space and time not neatly conducive to our Sunday school model or the environment of a collegiate setting. But the components of Jesus' educational model challenges conventional practice and objectives:1. Jesus as teacher is a co-traveler on a shared journey, not an ivory-towered academician,2. Education is relational not merely informational. The disciples are called "that they might be with him" (Mk. 3:14).3. The educational process is experiential not merely theoretical. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they have done and taught" (Mk. 6:30).4. Jesus' model in empowering not controlling. Jesus turns them loose with "authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness" (Mt. 10:1).5. Jesus' educational model is holistic not dualistic. Discipleship involves the whole of life not just slices of life: "What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?" (Mt. 16:26)6. Jesus' educational model moves beyond the letter of the Law and mere conformity to rules to the heart of the Lawgiver. The complex rhythms of life cannot adequately be engaged by mere legalities: "I desire mercy not sacrifice" (Mt. 9:13; 12:7) 7. Jesus is more an organic gardner than an architect. Jesus trains his disciples to be good environmentalists who understand the symbiotic components of a healthy spiritual life. "The kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seed in his field . . . " (Mt. 13 24f.)8. Jesus is our spiritual guide who opens our eyes to see the spiritual in the stuff of life. He is not a CEO manager driven by a pragmatic concern to maintain the institution: "Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear?" (Mk. 8:17)9. Jesus trains his disciples to ask good questions rather than to take pride in having all the answers. "Every scribe trained in the Kingdom of heaven is like the owner of the house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old" (Mt. 13:52)10. Jesus is about building community rather than an audience. "Everyone is looking for you . . . let us go somewhere else" (Mk. 1:17-18).11. Jesus trains his disciples to be explorers who look for the possibilities rather than mere guardians of the status quo: "Leave them, they are blind guides. If the blind shal lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch" (Mt. 15:14).12. Jesus defines success not in corporate terms (buildings, budgets, and butts), but rather how their transforming power as "salt" made a difference, and the "light" they mediate exposes human futility and illuminates the divine presence. (Mt. 5:13-16)13. Jesus leads his disciples into learning environments where the question is not "what do you think?" but "what do you see and hear?": "Though seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand . . . But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." (Mt. 13:13, 16)14. Jesus creates an atmosphere for change and reorientation. His patience and forgiveness is restorative not retributive: "Simon, Simon, Satan aske to sift all of you as wheat. But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Lk. 22:31; cf. John 21:15-19)15. Jesus redirects self-absorption with a vision of a new reality where greatness is found in service and the true human potential is set free from the tyranny of fear and the limitations of cultural expectations (Mk. 10:35-45).
HT: EO
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