Teaching or Training?

Aren't they the same thing?

Absolutely not!

In fact I strongly suggest that you become a trainer, and not just a teacher! Well, since I do suggest that, I'd better tell you the difference between them.

A teacher

A teacher is someone that just instructs somebody in something. In this case children.

A trainer

A trainer does more than just teach! Sure they teach. But then they apply that teaching molding the person, ( in this case kids) by implementing the teaching.

Now I now that many of you are thinking that my definition of a good teacher is a trainer.

Then they're not just a teacher, but a trainer!

Sure they teach things, but they go a step further and help their students apply the teaching, and that makes them a trainer!

A brief look at Proverbs 22:6 will show you just exactly what I'm talking about.

"Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,"(Proverbs 22:6, WEB)

For years that promise has been used by those who teach, and then they wondered why it hasn't been lived up to by God. God didn't promise to do something if a child was taught, but only if a child is trained!

This verse was actually wriiten to tell parents how to raise kids. But a Christian educator is supposed to be just an extention of a parent. A child's taught something at home, and then it's reinforced by the educator! And I know that's not true! So that makes it all the more important that we train as much as possible when we have the kids!

An understanding of what the word that's translated "train" here will reveal important things to you. It literally means to take something and to narrow it. That's right, to narrow it. So the process is to take all of the input a child has from the world, and narrow it down until they're only keeping those things that vbeuild a rock solid foundation in their Christian lives. Have you heard, as I have, people say that they're giving their children a "choice" in something?

But it's not in the New Testament!

I know. The word "train" is not found in the New Testament. There is, however, a word in the New Testament that means exactly the same thing. And that word is disciple. That is the action form that means to disciple somebody. A wonderful example we're given many times in the New Testamnt is Jesus. He taught the crowds. Granted, as one having authority. And that was a "far cry" from what they were used to! But He trained/discipled his disciples. And so what did He do for them that was different than what He did for the crowds? He not only taught them facts, but He then showed them how they applied to their daily lives. And that's training!

The "Great Commission"

We're going to take a look at what many denominations call the "Great Commission." And that's Matthew 28:19-20.

Go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you," (Matt 28:19-20 WEB)

Some translations have "Go and teach all nations..." What disciple means is exactly what "train" means. The translation means to narrow the choices of those who have accepted God through Jesus Christ, and in that process teach them to obey all that Jesus taught His disciples.

So be a trainer, not just a teacher!

To go the next part of "First things first," just click on it.