Missional learning journey

Jesus Christ was a master teacher.  Jesus embodied Truth, and He understood perfectly how people learn and change.  He gave extremely effective lessons to His disciples.  His approach to teaching involved doing, not just talking.

I have been reading, The Beauty of Partnership and have enjoyed teaching others who have engaged in cross-cultural mission trips.  You can visit their site at beautyofpartnership.org and take a look at yourself what partnership might look like before you engage in your next missional project.

The challenges of serving a cross-cultural partnership are great.  The risks are substantial.  The opposition to building the Church and expanding God's kingdom is real. Yet, by God's grace, we can develop the skills to be a truly effective advocate for a cross-cultural ministry and partnership is very doable.

I believe that God is a missional or a sending God. Missio Dei (the “God of Mission”) is one of the ways we refer to God. God forms and sends people into our world to be a sign, servant and foretaste of the Kingdom of God. The term “Missional Church” is being used today and we are part of that movement if it is described as a “renewed theological vision for the church.”

Supporting Leadership Education

Since we already have leaders within a number of rank and file team members, let them help in teaching others about leadership by offering teacher-training programs.

There are those who have spent, maybe too much time on the languages or Toastmaster meetings, those who are excited about history or philosophy, but believe it or not, there is a right way and wrong way to teach and usually that is all that is missing to creating dynamic use of the talent you already have on hand.

Look upon the education process not as a specialist, but more like a general practitioner who can carry on the many phases of leadership.  You will find that you eventually will be the one who has to equip others in this vital area whether you want to or not.

Your team will be in differing stages of personal development.Therefore use a setting most comfortable and use methods appropriate to learning abilities and interests.

One small note - a teacher trained in teacher's college may not be your best teacher.  I find those who have the gift of teaching, seen more in the light as a spiritual gift, are the best in this area.

You may find that your role as mentor, may take on a key position in the development or teaching component at the beginning, therefore, prepare yourself in several ways to be teacher of teachers.

Don't be afraid to "borrow" a specialist from another organization and pray for receptive learners who help make teachers look good.

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Leadership Task - Teaching

One of the ways I introduce my financial planning seminars is the introduction that everyone there in the room today are students ready to learn and when everyone leaves the room at the end of the day, they will be all rookie teachers ready to teach others what they have learned.  For those that learn, teach.

You and I have probably noticed the same thing - the people that enjoy learning, enjoying teaching - they are full of passion, zeal, and found exercising a care for the topic. 

When that is true, you will find most passionate teachers want to see your life changed somehow and will call for some type of decision to be made in your life based on the information they have just spent sharing with you.  Again, another great mark for a great teacher.

Teaching is an enabler of truth.  Try and stay away from the temptation to being a refuter of error - and I say temptation because 9 out of 10 times you will not be refuting the error, but rather the group or person holding the position.  Of course that doesn't mean we can't all out the group or person for their position - try and stay to teaching.


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