Passing on the faith is not only a matter that each Christian family must address but also a challenge facing the church today. The Chinese church has young believers but lacks disciples who are fervent for the Lord. If church leaders want to build a healthy church, they must invest effort in discipleship training.
Recently, Pastor W, a third-generation pastor from Western China, shared his experiences and methods of discipleship training for church succession. He emphasized that to be a disciple, a believer should not merely learn knowledge but also follow the humility and self-sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Discipleship Training is More Important Than Knowledge Learning
W graduated from seminary at 25 and returned to serve in his hometown church. During his four years of theological study, he took over 60 courses. However, after graduation, W realized that he still knew very little. He realized that knowledge must be applied in ministry work.
"When we talk about theology in the church, we need to be clear that we must understand the Word of God," W said.
Training Church Successors Through Discipleship
Since starting his ministry, W has been conducting discipleship training for 20 years. The trainees primarily are church volunteers, college graduates, and young people passionate about the Lord but with limited education.
Discipleship training takes three years to complete. The main courses include Discipleship for Life Transformation, Overview of the Bible, The Life of Jesus, Missions Through the Lens of Acts, and Church History. Then students move on to the studies of Hermeneutics and Homiletics, as well as pastoral work. After finishing these courses, students know how to serve in ministry.
W also requires them to learn worship studies, as those involved in ministry need to understand the meaning of church liturgy.
A more important thing than completing the biblical courses is to practice what is learned in daily life. Teachers can have a great influence on students, as they observe the lives of their teachers. Through those who lead them, students learn how to follow Jesus in a life of self-sacrifice, much like when Jesus led His twelve disciples.
Challenges in Training
W shared that among his trainees, the best ones are the first batch of students. While the subsequent batches were also good, their faith was more easily shaken when facing trials.
Reflecting on this issue, he noted the importance of good teachers. Students do not only learn the knowledge but also learn from their teachers’ lives. He invited many teachers, whose quality varied. The first batch of students were all personally guided by him, living and serving with him. He believes it is a crucial aspect of discipleship training.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
信仰传承不仅是每个基督徒家庭所需要解决的，同时也是现今教会所面临的问题。中国教会并不缺信主的年轻人，缺少的是为主大发热心的门徒。如果教会想要健康且可持续发展，那就要在培养门徒上下功夫。
日前，西部一位牧者W牧师针对教会传承，分享了个人经历以及他做门徒训练的经验与方法。并且他特别强调成为门徒不仅要学习知识，更要效法主耶稣的谦卑舍‘’己。
W牧师是牧三代，他的爸爸在约半个多世纪前曾经到上海的一所灵修神学院读了神学。他的爸爸也曾学习过建筑设计，现在W牧师服事的教会就是他的爸爸设计的，然后W牧师帮助一起建堂的。
神学院毕业后发现比起学知识，门训的实际意义更大
W牧师25岁从神学院毕业，然后回到老家教会服事。在神学学习四年的时间里面，他一共修了60多门课。必修课在本科期间就是填鸭式的学习，研究生领域才会有自己研究的方向。当毕业后，他突然发现自己什么都不懂。他意识到去学习神学不代表自己很厉害；而知识需要落地，应用在具体的服事当中。
W牧师说：“当我们在教会里讲神学的时候，我们要有明确的认识，那就是我们需要明白上帝的话语，这个是正确的方式”。
他提到大教会面临的几个现象：农村教会迷信化，城市教会世俗化，神学教育知识化。针对这种情况，有的领袖提出来新的策略。即信徒门徒化，家庭基督化，万民福音化，教会属灵化。W牧师表示，如果我们要把这些期待落实下去，教会要拉起手来一起走。建立关系是开始，关系好了之后大家就可以一起做主的工。
通过门徒训练培养教会接班人
W牧师自服事以来，已经做了20年的门徒训练。其中参与培训的人主要是教会的义工、大学毕业刚工作的人，还有为主热心但文化不高的年轻人。
门徒训练需要为期三年的时间。主要的课程有《生命转化的门徒训练》《圣经概括》《耶稣生平》《从使徒行传看宣教》《教会史》，然后进入到《释经学》《讲道学》和教牧工作等。学习完这些之后，大家就知道在服事当中怎么做了。然后W牧师还要求大家也要学习一些崇拜学，作为服事人员需要知道教会礼仪背后的含义。
学习圣经课程不是结束，重要的是要在生活当中可以实践出来。神学老师对于学生的影响也是很大的，因为学生还要看老师的生活。通过前面的人，后面的人会知道如何跟随耶稣、效法耶稣去过舍己的生活；就像当时耶稣带着十二个门徒。
培养人的过程中遇到的挑战
W牧师分享，在自己培养的学生当中，只有第一批门徒的质量是最好的。接下来的几批门徒虽然也不错，但是当他们遇到风浪的时候容易摇动。
反思这个问题时，W牧师表示有好的学生也需要有好的老师。因为学生不仅是在学习老师教导的知识，也是在学习他们的生活。当时他请了很多的老师，但是水平参差不齐。有一部分老师就只是照本宣科的教导，他认为这个是不够的。老师也需要更接地气，参与到学生的生活和服事当中。他带领的第一批门徒全都是他一个人手把手带出来的，带着他们一起生活；他觉得这也是门徒训练中很重要的一点。
W牧师同时也发现，现在的年轻人很浮躁。在培养人这个方面，有好的老师很重要。只是跟老师学习知识是不够的，现在的年轻人需要让信仰跟自己的生命挂钩。
他分享在教会里面一般有一种现象：教会领袖们喜欢用有能力和有文化的人，甚至可能在社会上有职位、地位的人。但是实际上，有能力的人不一定有智慧。而有职位、地位的人，一旦遇到风浪，一旦涉及到自己的利益，他们就妥协了。
最后，W牧师强调不管环境如何，作为主的仆人我们要尽好自己的本分；剩下的就在祷告当中交托给上帝，相信主会工作。
西部一牧者：如何通过门徒训练培养教会接棒人？
Passing on the faith is not only a matter that each Christian family must address but also a challenge facing the church today. The Chinese church has young believers but lacks disciples who are fervent for the Lord. If church leaders want to build a healthy church, they must invest effort in discipleship training.
Recently, Pastor W, a third-generation pastor from Western China, shared his experiences and methods of discipleship training for church succession. He emphasized that to be a disciple, a believer should not merely learn knowledge but also follow the humility and self-sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Discipleship Training is More Important Than Knowledge Learning
W graduated from seminary at 25 and returned to serve in his hometown church. During his four years of theological study, he took over 60 courses. However, after graduation, W realized that he still knew very little. He realized that knowledge must be applied in ministry work.
"When we talk about theology in the church, we need to be clear that we must understand the Word of God," W said.
Training Church Successors Through Discipleship
Since starting his ministry, W has been conducting discipleship training for 20 years. The trainees primarily are church volunteers, college graduates, and young people passionate about the Lord but with limited education.
Discipleship training takes three years to complete. The main courses include Discipleship for Life Transformation, Overview of the Bible, The Life of Jesus, Missions Through the Lens of Acts, and Church History. Then students move on to the studies of Hermeneutics and Homiletics, as well as pastoral work. After finishing these courses, students know how to serve in ministry.
W also requires them to learn worship studies, as those involved in ministry need to understand the meaning of church liturgy.
A more important thing than completing the biblical courses is to practice what is learned in daily life. Teachers can have a great influence on students, as they observe the lives of their teachers. Through those who lead them, students learn how to follow Jesus in a life of self-sacrifice, much like when Jesus led His twelve disciples.
Challenges in Training
W shared that among his trainees, the best ones are the first batch of students. While the subsequent batches were also good, their faith was more easily shaken when facing trials.
Reflecting on this issue, he noted the importance of good teachers. Students do not only learn the knowledge but also learn from their teachers’ lives. He invited many teachers, whose quality varied. The first batch of students were all personally guided by him, living and serving with him. He believes it is a crucial aspect of discipleship training.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
Raising Church Successors Through Discipleship Training
