Category Archives: Ministry Training – Equipping

God’s equipping plan involves spiritually gifted Trainers using the Textbook authored by God Himself, the Bible, depending on His Spirit to work in and through them to train people for ministry.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service … (Eph. 4:11-12a)

When we follow God’s plan, the outcome yields eternal good as described in what follows the above verses.

so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:12-16)

What are God’s Equipping Objectives?

People equipped to do ministry God’s way have a role in reaching the following objectives seen in Ephesians 4:12-16:

Objective #1: the building up of the whole Body to become spiritually mature and discerning, becoming more and more Christ-like in all aspects, holding to God’s Truth and loving as He loves

• Environment Conducive to Spiritual Growth
• Motivation to Grow in the Christian Life
• Spiritual Growth: Overview

Objective #2: the Headship of Christ wherein we not only find our connection with one another but reflect Him and let Him control every aspect of what we do

• Connected to One Another

Objective #3: the effective working of individual members of the Body to do their part

• It Takes a Culture Shift
• Culture Shift Based on God’s Commands
• Your Best Fit in Ministry

God’s Equipping Objectives Elevate Ministry Training

When we understand that God’s goals for equipping people go beyond the skill level of individual teachers, leaders, and workers, to the effect they have on building up the whole Body and the supremacy of Christ in our midst, ministry training takes on an added importance.

• We need to make sure the agenda for our ministry training lines up with God’s equipping objectives so we truly help people do ministry God’s way.
• We need to invest sufficient prayer, purpose, and preparation in planning the training, rather than slipping into haphazard or sporadic efforts.
• We need to build in a sense of accountability for ministry workers to participate in training opportunities, helping them grasp the big picture God has in their equipping.

The next post will provide some additional tips for ministry training.

For Help with Training: Ministry Training Resources

Equipping people for ministry is God’s idea.

• Intended to be Thoroughly Equipped

Since equipping is God’s idea, it only makes sense we follow His plan in our ministry training efforts.

God’s Equipping Plan Should Guide Our Ministry Training

God intends for spiritually gifted people to equip God’s people — the Trainers.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up … (Eph. 4:11-13)

The primary means God provides for training include:

1) His Word — the Textbook

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

2) His Spirit — the real Teacher

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn. 14:26) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. (Jn. 16:13)

The best training for ministry happens when spiritually gifted Trainers use God’s Textbook to help people do their part, depending on the Real Teacher to do the heart work required to thoroughly equip people.

• How are we Thoroughly Equipped?
• How Critical is the Holy Spirit in Ministry?
• Ministry Tools that Equip Us for Serving

That doesn’t mean Trainers can’t use anything other than the Bible, but it does mean they filter everything through the grid of God’s Word. Ministry done God’s way requires lining up with His character and ways as described in His Word and is accomplished through His power, through His Spirit.

God’s Equipping Plan Reflects the Uniqueness of Doing Ministry God’s Way

We might think public school teachers, business administrators, or community workers get a pass on ministry training due to all their educational background and life experience. Not so, when we consider God’s equipping plan.

Knowing how to teach in the public school system doesn’t mean people are equipped for teaching God’s Word. Bible teachers have a unique accountability for how they handle the words of the Almighty, All-Wise, Supreme God. (James 3:1)

Being business administrators in Fortune 500 companies doesn’t mean people are fit for church administration. Those who manage a spiritual house need spiritual objectives and means. (1 Pet. 2:5)

Working for a benevolent community organization doesn’t mean people know how to extend God’s mercy in ways that minister to spiritual, not just physical needs. We comfort others with the comfort we received from God, with divine love and compassion, not with human emotion or sentiment. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

Just because something seems to work in the world, doesn’t mean it is right or best. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:9). When we follow God’s equipping plan, we’re helping people to not only do a good job but to make an eternal difference. We reach God’s equipping objectives when we follow His plan — the topic of the next post. For these reasons, all believers need ministry training. None of us have arrived at understanding God’s ways and thoughts. We all continue to grow regardless of educational background or experience.

• Who Needs to be Thoroughly Equipped?
• Why Don’t We Train Everyone for Ministry?

Also See: Ministry Training Resources

2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches about:

• God’s intent to thoroughly equip – furnished completely complete
• God’s means of equipping – Scripture
• God’s intended recipients of such equipping – all who belong to Him

Now we get to the final phrase which shows the purpose for which Scripture thoroughly equips us — “for every good work”.

Scripture is Enough to Equip Us for Every Good Work

Scripture contains all we need to equip us for whatever good work we might do. While we can learn from psychology and science, we must always run it through the grid of Scripture. But, if we only had the Bible, it would be enough. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Pet. 1:3) — Scripture provides knowledge about God. — “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Pet. 1:4)

This is why the Train Church Leaders Practicum runs various tasks leaders do through the grid of God’s Word in regard to His purposes, design and mission for the Church, Christ-like character, power, etc. People from around the world can be equipped through this training since it seeks to be scripturally rather than culturally based.

The Kind of Work for Which Scripture Thoroughly Equips

The adjectives used in 2 Timothy 3:17 describe the kind of work Scripture equips us to do.

1) Good Work

What constitutes something good?

• It’s fruitful effect: beneficial, useful
• It’s excellent quality: meets a standard
• It’s upright character: done with integrity, pleasing to God

God uses His Word to teach us what fits the above criteria. Any work we do which is purely selfish or carnal, will not be that which benefits others or pleases God. Don’t expect God to provide wisdom or strength for that which does not align with Him. Scripture equips us for “good” work.

2) Every Good Work

No task falls outside of the scope of “every” good work. Scripture equips us for each and every individual good work we do of all types of good deeds. That means God will equip us, through His Word, for ministry that is …

• behind-the-scenes or upfront
• task-oriented or people-oriented
• a big ministry assignment or a seemingly small one
• full-time, part-time, or volunteer

The Ultimate Purpose in Being Thoroughly Equipped for Every Good Work

If we look at the whole of Scripture, we find the ultimate effect of Christians doing good. The more thoroughly equipped, the more we will bear fruit to the glory of God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:6)

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, (Col. 1:9-10)

When we are thoroughly equipped for every good work, we grow in our relationship with God, others are helped, and most importantly, God is glorified.