Imagine being a member of a church in which your pastor-preacher had no training in understanding or teaching the Bible, where there are few or no commentaries in his heart language, and where the model of preaching everyone has grown up with (and therefore he has copied) is simply telling stories or speaking on a Bible verse ripped out of context. Add to this the prevalence of the ‘prosperity gospel’, which continues to spread like wildfire.
Though this may seem far removed from your experience of life in a local church, it is not at all unusual within the global church. Even when pastors or preachers have had access to Bible college or other formal training, there may have been little practical assistance with opening up God’s word, understanding a Bible passage in context, and working on improving faithful preaching of that passage.
For over twenty years Crosslinks has been running Schools of Biblical Training (SBTs) in many countries across the world – including Kenya, Uganda, Thailand and other places which cannot be named for security reasons. These training events, usually a week long, are intended to deepen biblical understanding and provide hands-on help with expository preaching of God’s word. We go at the invitation of local Christian leaders who recognise the importance of such preaching and training to equip future gospel workers and for the health of local churches. As more than one senior leader has remarked over the years, “We need this kind of training for our churches.”
An SBT in Thailand
During each SBT we focus on one biblical genre – beginning with gospel, and moving through New Testament epistle, Old Testament narrative and law, to Old Testament prophecy and wisdom. We use one Bible book as our ‘textbook’ for the week: Mark, Philippians, Exodus, Isaiah and so on. Each day we spend the morning on a mix of interactive teaching on understanding this book and genre, with afternoon workshops where participants look at passages from that Bible book – first alone, then in small groups, to work out the main point of a Bible passage and how they might teach it. When we consider the Old Testament in later SBTs, it’s essential to include a Bible overview to explain God’s amazing salvation plan and this is often included early in the training cycle. It has been especially heartening when participants have cheered or applauded as they grasp how all God’s purposes are worked out in Christ, as we reach the end of the Bible!
Of course, we recognise that illustrating and applying God’s word in a different culture is a skill that requires familiarity with that context. This is one reason for involving local preachers or mission partners, who appreciate what we are seeking to do. We have also learned that encouraging participants to regularly meet up in small preachers’ groups is vital, if preaching habits are to improve. Finding creative ways for preachers to meet up like this – when they live in more isolated communities, or where travel is prohibitively expensive, difficult or time-consuming – means that various online options to meet are suggested and explored.
Our long-term ministry aim is to foster locally-owned and run expository preaching movements, with ‘training of trainers’ events equipping a small group of preachers who show a commitment to learn and grow both as preachers and as trainers of others, and who have the respect locally as godly leaders. Returning year-on-year for SBTs builds partnership and trust with these pastors and Bible teachers, who we pray will keep growing as ‘unashamed workmen’.
This piece was originally published by Christian UK-news outlet Evangelicals Now, www.e-n.org.uk, and has been republished here with permission.