To train or not to train

What is the purpose of church. Is it only to reach out to ever increasing numbers of people in need? Shall it focus solely on bringing them to congregate with others who are needy? How shall it reach those in need, what shall it say to those in need, what shall it offer to those in need? At some point, more a focus than else, but real nevertheless, and in need of time, substance, place, and earnestness, there must be the effort to learn of the people, to learn of their needs, to learn their dreams, their culture. There must be an effort in the same brush stroke to learn the capacity of the Church and the churchmember, to concentrate the interest of the Church and focus the effort of the church into a Christ centered, Holy Spirit inspired, amalgamation of individual and grouped missions emanating from within the Church.

Now, perhaps you noticed, I have capitalized the word church at almost every instance, in order to indicate the universal church. But the universal church hardly needs man's(our) attention to it so much, because we appropriate that attention to the manifestation of that Church as we find it in our local sphere of attendance. The storehouse, as it were! So, no I am not railing against the Body of Christ, it will continue with or without me or my consent. Rather, I speak to those of us who attend, and pray, and work within a particular set of walls, a stack of bricks and mortar and steel and electricity and plumbing, on a regular basis, for the purpose of ministering to each other and those from outside our group as we realize their need.

To this group I say, pause, consider your roots. A plant which is constantly subjected to the harshness of the weather can only wither until and unless such a time as relief is granted it in the form of respite from the weather and nourishment from the ground and water.

While I am assured of God's ability to accomplish despite my frailty and stubbornness, I am sure that He wants my best effort, my fullest attention and my sincerest willingness.

So how do I get to that point without some descipleship?

Is there not a time when Christ called His very closest to Himself and leaned on them or closely instructed them.

Instructed them, descipled them, TRAINED THEM.