Information or Transformation?

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          Often in churches we have set up our Bible study and "discipleship" programs to be primarily sources of information.  Imitating the western educational system, churches tend to age-grade their educational programs, focus on mastering information before moving to the next level, and center the experience around a classroom.  The classroom experience includes printed literature or books in addition to the Bible, lecture or class discussion, and the evaluation of learning is based on what "facts" participants can remember about the "lesson."

          Yet, when we look at Jesus' way of making disciples and at the disciple-making that took place in the book of Acts, we don't see this modern western system.  We see a more organic method that combines information with life sharing opportunities.  It is more like an extended family experience than a school house experience. Ultimately the objective of Jesus' kind of teaching is transformation.  He indicates this in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-26) and in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20).  Paul emphasizes it in Romans 12:2 and James insists on it in James 1:22-24.

           If we are to imitate Jesus' way of making disciples and if we are to pay attention to the New Testament's focus on transformation rather than simply the passing of information, we need to re-think how our programs at church are structured and how our sessions are designed.  It requires a paradigm shift for most of us.  Before we can see transformation in the lives of those we teach, we need to undergo transformation (of our mind and our lives).

          In this week's video blog Pastor Paulo and I discuss the Information-Imitation-Innovation triangle.