T4T – Training for Trainers Handbook

Starting Jesus Movements

Training for Trainers

The Purpose – The purpose  of T4T is to start movements of Jesus followers who multiply and spread everywhere people don’t know Jesus. The end goal of T4T is to see individuals, families and whole communities transformed and given a whole new way of living.

Training for Trainers is a three-part training program to equip people to share their faith with others, who go and share Jesus with still others.

Jesus is Our Example – The inspiration for T4T comes from Jesus himself. He called men and women to be his disciples, who in turn made more disciples. The first followers of Jesus were both young and old, rich and poor, men and women, and educated and uneducated.

What is a Movement? A movement is a movement because it moves! It is going somewhere! There is purpose and life and motion. It is not just a meeting, or a religion. It is alive. A movement is a collective effort of a large number of people with a common purpose. It is a movement because the people who follow Jesus are committed to achieving something.

Simple Churches – T4T works best when the lessons taught are practiced in “simple churches” of a few people. A simple church is a church of 2 or more people that gathers in someone’s home or office or school, or wherever they can meet.

T4T – Those who are trained in T4T are given skills and knowledge that will empower them to be part of the movement Jesus started 2000 years ago. A “trainer” is a person who catches the “virus,” not the HIV virus, but the Jesus virus!

A Practical Goal of T4T – Many of the people you know don’t know Jesus loves them and has a purpose for their lives. Just as you have been invited to join the T4T – Training for Trainers – course, you can invite others as well. In T4T people learn the purpose God has for their lives. As you learn in T4T how to be a trainer, you can help start a movement of simple churches and train others to do the same thing.

Three parts to T4T

-          Part 1 – Sharing Jesus – Helping people to come to know Jesus who in turn lead others to faith in Jesus. There are two goals emphasized in Part 1:

o       Find a few people… you will learn how to find a few people to train by sharing your personal story of how Jesus changed your life. You may need to share your story with lots of people to find a few people who will meet with you faithfully to study the Bible. But if you are faithful you will have a big reward.

o       Meet with a few people to train them to find a few people – and so forth … Training for Trainers is not just about gaining more knowledge. It is about putting what you learn into practice.

o       There are two lessons in Part 1 of T4T:

§         Lesson One – Sharing Vision

§         Lesson Two – Sharing Jesus

-          Part II – Following Jesus – There are two lessons in Part II of T4T:

§         Lesson One – Experiencing assurance of personal salvation. This lesson teaches the message of how to have peace with God and assurance of salvation.

§         Lesson Two – Water baptism. This lesson explains the symbolism of baptism and the reality of moving from death to life through Jesus. IT explains the importance of giving up idols and turning to the one true God.

-          Part III – Obeying Jesus - There are eight lessons in Part III of T4T:

§         Lessons One – Devotional Life

§         Lesson Two – The Father Heart of God

§         Lesson Three – Obedience to God

§         Lesson Four – Growing Christ-Like

§         Lesson Five – Holy Spirit

§         Lesson Six – Church

§         Lesson Seven – The Kingdom of God

§         Lesson Eight – God’s Story

Structure – How to organize T4T

T4T will be run by you and by those you are training. That means you will get together for a training session each week with your leaders, and then you can find a few people and start training them.

In addition, all the trainers and people being trained with get together one Sunday morning a month for a celebration and to hear more about what God is doing. We encourage you to use Sunday mornings for your training times when possible.

What makes Training for Trainers Work Well?

There are many ways to make disciples who in turn train others, but one of the main differences in the T4T training is that it is obedience-based. Most discipleship methods focus on learning content. They are knowledge based. T4T is obedience based. Maturity as a disciple is not based on what you know, but how much of what you know you actually do. This is a huge difference. The T4T process requires the passing on of certain knowledge and skills. This knowledge is filtered so that a person receives more knowledge once they are obeying the knowledge they already have. In the T4T discipling process obedience is the standard of success, not knowledge.

We seek to use the MAWL (Model, Assist, Watch, Leave) process of training and making disciples.

Accountability throughout the process is key. Each week’s lesson starts by finding out who has actually done what was discussed and agreed at the previous training session.

In order for T4T to work well there has to be a constant dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit; rather than dogmatically trying to follow the lessons in strict order we can view T4T as one of the tools in a disciple makers/church planters tool box which provides an array of resources that can be used as and when it seems right.

T4T can easily be customized to suit the needs of those being trained. Each group or individual being trained can start at a different place and progress at a different pace. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you at every stage. Use each part of the T4T program and each set of lessons as directed by Holy Spirit.

Remember that discipling is predominantly relational – most ‘teaching’ will happen in the course of daily interaction as you share life together. At the same time, we must be very intentional about making disciples and be constantly re-envisioning people towards multiplication and starting self-reproducing movement.

Continually ask yourself if what you are doing is easily reproducible by others? Training people in T4T is about empowering others, not finding personal fulfillment. Our purpose is fulfilled in others finding their purpose. It is about being spiritual good spiritual mothers and fathers.

Part 1: Sharing Jesus

Lesson 1: Sharing Vision

A.                  Ask – Adoration – Accountability  (about 25% of your time)

Ask – how people are doing

Adoration – start your training time with praise and worship to Jesus

Accountability – review things you have discussed before and give each person an opportunity to share their victories and their struggles.

Celebrate successes.

Agree about what each person will do by the next time you are together.

B. Bible (about25% of your time)

1. Jesus gives us all a commission

Read the following verses and describe in your own words what you understand Jesus wants us to do as his followers:

Luke 24:44-49:

____________________________________________________________

Matthew 28:18-20 (memory verse)

____________________________________________________________
What four things did Jesus ask his disciples to do?

____________________________________________________________

What did Jesus tell his disciples to teach to other disciples and followers of Jesus?

_____________________________________________________________

2. Where did Jesus want his disciples to make disciples? _______________

3. Jesus has given us an invitation to be part of a very big family of people all over the world. For the Jesus family to be relational, it needs to be small and personal. Big meetings of Christians can be helpful and they are often joyful, but small “families” of Jesus followers are how we can get to know each other and help each other grow.

We call these small Jesus families ______________________________________

Story: rabbits versus elephants – which can grow faster?

C. Commit to obey, reach out and pray for others (about 50% of your time)

1. Read Acts 2:42-47. Based on what you read in these verses, describe the benefits of meeting in homes as a “simple church:” _________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. Read Luke 10:1-2. Answer the following questions from these two verses:

Who are we to pray for? ________________________________________________

What will they do? _____________________________________________________

Where do we find them? ________________________________________________

Optional Story: Tell the story of how the church exploded in growth from just Jesus and the twelve disciples to more than 20 million people in 300 years, or the story of the Mouk people in New Guinea – as told in the video/DVD called “Ee Taow.” If you don’t know that story, tell another story about a fast and spontaneously growing movement of followers of Jesus. These movements are taking place today in Iran (750,000 people), Algeria (150,000 people), China (200 million people), and the Dalit peoples in India (millions of new Jesus followers).

Action steps for personal application – sharing vision

1. Ask each person in your training group to join the Jesus movement that is growing around the world. Challenge them to start where they are to tell their friends and neighbors and family members their personal story of how they came to faith in Jesus.

2. Pray for “harvesters.” Take time now to pray for people we know who could make a difference if they knew Jesus personally and began to influence their family, friends and the people they work with.

3. Remind everyone to memorize Matthew 28:19-20

4. Ask them to make a list of people they will pray for to become harvesters – see Luke 10:2

Lesson 2: Sharing Jesus

A. Ask – Adoration – Accountability (about 25% of your time)

Ask – how people are doing.

Adoration – Start each lesson with a time of praise and worship to Jesus

Accountability – Through discussion, review last weeks lesson and the actions that each person agreed to.

How did they do?

Celebrate successes.

If nothing was done or people struggled, give them an opportunity to share why they did not follow through, and discuss what needs to happen for them to be able to do what was agreed on. The purpose of this discussion is not to put pressure on people, but to allow each person to discover for themselves why they did or did not put into practice what they agreed to do.

Review and agree again what each person will do by the next meeting.

B. Bible (about 25% of your time)

This lesson will answer three questions:

What do I say when I share Jesus?

Who do I share Jesus with?

What do I do if they a person wants to know more or to accept Jesus?

Personal Story. Explain from your own life that we are not Christians because our parents are Christians or we grow up in a Christian nation. Being a true Christian happens because we realize that we need Jesus. Swimming in the ocean doesn’t make a person a fish, and going to MacDonald’s doesn’t make them a hamburger. Neither does attending a church meeting make a person a Christian. Something has to happen on the inside of a person. The Bible calls this being “born again.” It means we turn from living for ourselves and begin to live for Jesus.

John 1:12 (memorize) This verse teaches us that we each need to do two things to become a follower of Jesus Christ. What are they? ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

1.      What do I say when I share Jesus with other people?

Luke 8:4-10 – Jesus tells a story that helps us understand who we should tell our story to, what our story is about, and what to do when people respond.

Luke 8:4-10 – Read the story and discuss it with your group. Follow the “SOS” way of studying the Bible: what does it say, what do we obey, who do we share it with? Say, Obey, Share = SOS.

Questions for discussion:

1. What is this story saying? What is the message of the story?
2. What in the story should you do? What should you obey?
3. Who should you share this with?

Discuss what the soil is, what the seed is, and who are the ones sowing the seed?

The most important way for you to spread the seed of God’s word is to share how Jesus has changed your life. We each have a story of how Jesus has changed us. Our story is about three parts of our life:

-          our life before we came to know Jesus personally – the results of sin in our life without Jesus

-          how Jesus became real to us – how we heard about Jesus and he became real to us

-          what difference Jesus made in our life – how Jesus changed our life

Write down your story. When you are finished, take turns reading your story to each other. You should not take more than 3-4 minutes to read your story.

Tell your story to someone in the group without reading it.

At the end of your story, ask people if they would like to know Jesus in the same way. Give them a personal invitation to know Jesus and experience his love and forgiveness.

2.      Who do I share my story with?

In the parable of the sower and the soil, Jesus said the farmed sowed the seed everywhere. What does this mean?

Jesus is an example of telling everyone about the good news. Jesus shared his message with people by the sea, in the market place, with rulers and tax collectors in their homes, with a woman by a well. He shared with both men and women. Here are some examples of Jesus reaching out to different kinds of people:

-          in a friend’s home – Luke 4: 38

-          by a lake – Luke 5:1

-          in the home of an official – Luke 5:29

-          on a farm- Luke 6:1

-          in a synagogue – Luke 6: 6

-          in an open field – Luke 6:17

The best place to start to tell our story is to speak to people we know. To do this yourself, make a list 30-40 people you know by name. Include family members, neighbors, people at work, your boss, people you have met in shops, stores and sports clubs.

Take time to pray about who you should tell your story to. Start with a short list of 4-5 people on your long list of names. Ask God who you should tell your story to in the next week.

These are the people you should go to first to tell your story. But also tell it to people in shops, on sport fields, in taxi’s and on buses and trains. Don’t be afraid. Ask people if you can tell them your story.

3. What do you do if people would like to know more about Jesus?

You can do two things:

1.      You can pray with them to ask Jesus to forgive them and to live for him.

2.      You can invite them to come to a Bible study with a few other people.

C. Commit – Commit to obey, reach out and pray for others (about 50% of your time).

Action steps for personal application – sharing Jesus

Pray for the people on your list now – pray for the 4-5 people you will talk to about Jesus

Ask people this week if you can share your story

Start a small Bible study for people who want to know more about Jesus

When you start your Bible study do A,B,C  =  Ask, Bible, Commit

PART 2: FOLLOWING JESUS

Lesson 1: Assurance of Salvation

A. Ask – Adoration – Accountability (25% of your mentoring/training time)

Ask – how people are doing.

Adoration – Start each lesson with a time of praise and worship to Jesus

Accountability – Review last weeks lesson and the actions that each person agreed to.

How did people do?

Celebrate successes.

If nothing was done ask why not, and discuss what needs to happen for them to be able to do what was agreed.

Agree again what they will do by the next meeting. If necessary repeat last lesson!

B. Bible (about %25 of your time)

Steps to Peace with God  (Q & A version)

1. God’s Purpose: Peace and Life

Read the following verses and describe in your own words God’s original intention for us.

Genesis 1:27-28 ________________________________________________________________________

John 10:10 (memorize) ________________________________________________________________________

There is a God.  He is real.  He exists.  God is not nature or the creation of man.  God is our creator.  That means you are not here by accident.  God made you to bless you and give you a purpose. He wants you to experience peace and life – both eternal and abundant.

2. The Problem: Separation from God

Read the following verses and describe in your own words sin and its results

Romans 3: 23 (memorize)  ________________________________________________________________________

Romans 6:23 (memorize) ________________________________________________________________________

Isaiah 59:2 ________________________________________________________________________

Have you ever sinned?   Yes     No     I don’t know (If “no” or “I don’t know” read and discuss Exodus 20:1-17)

Which statement below best describes what you believe? What is wrong with the other statements?

a. I have made a few mistakes, but mostly I am still a good person.

b. A loving God wouldn’t send “good people” to hell – just really evil people.

c. I have sinned against God, so I deserve death and eternal separation from God.

(See 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

What are some ways people try to get to God?  Why do they fail? ______________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. God’s Bridge: the Cross!

Read the following verses and describe in your own words what God has done for us.

John 14:6 (memorize)  ________________________________________________________________________

John 3:16 ________________________________________________________________________

Romans 5:8 (memorize) ________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 2:8-9 ________________________________________________________________________

4. Our Response: Receive Jesus

Read the following verse and describe in your own words what we must do to receive God’s offer of salvation.

Romans 10:9 (memorize) ________________________________________________________________________

Check the responses necessary for you to be saved. (see also 1 John 1:7; Acts 2:37-39; I Corinthians 15:1-5; 1 Peter 3:8)

___Do more good things than bad things

___Admit that you have sinned

___Sincerely try to be a better person

___Go to church more

___Be willing to turn from your sins

___Believe Jesus died to forgive your sins and rose from the dead

___Choose one of the many ways to get to heaven

___Invite Jesus to come in and control your life

Have you believed in Jesus and received this new life?  Yes   No    I don’t know

If you died today do you know where you would go?

_____________________________________________________________

How do you know?

_____________________________________________________________

Now that you are saved what do you do if you sin? (see 1 John 1:9)

________________________________________________________________________

(Optional story version for lesson 1 – for oral based groups)

Scriptures to read to prepare for the story:

• John 10:1-18, 27-29
• 1 John 5:13 (memory verse)

Story:

Jesus told a story about some shepherds and their sheep.  There were several shepherds who all grazed their flocks of sheep on the same mountainside.  The shepherds gave each sheep a name by which they called them.  Each evening, they brought all the sheep together to one place to keep them safe.  During the late hours of the night, each shepherd took a turn being the watchman whose job it was to keep an eye out for robbers and wild animals.  Each morning, the shepherds came to get their sheep out of the pen.  Each shepherd entered through the gate and called his sheep by name.  The sheep heard his voice and came to him.  As they went out, the shepherd walked ahead of the sheep and they followed him because they recognized his voice.

One night, a thief came to steal the sheep.  The thief did not enter through the gate of the pen where the watchman would see him. Instead, like a robber, he climbed into the pen by another way.  Because he was a stranger, the sheep did not recognize his voice and would not follow him.  He was a thief and the sheep ran away from him.

Another time a wolf came to kill the sheep and eat them.  Unfortunately a hired man was watching the sheep.  He was not willing to risk his own life to protect them.  He ran away because he did not really love the sheep.  The wolf attacked and the sheep were scattered and some were killed.

However, the good shepherd was not like the hired man.  When a thief or wolf came to attack and steal the sheep, he sacrificed his own life to save the sheep.

Jesus told his followers this story to teach them about his love and protection.  Jesus also said, “I am the good shepherd.” Because he is the good shepherd, he knows each of us by name.  Like a father knows his own children, so Jesus knows us.  He has sacrificed his life to save us.  Jesus said, “I give you eternal life, and you will never perish.  No one can snatch you away from me. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

[Don't forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story in their own words.]

Questions for discussion:

1. What is this story saying?
2. What do you not understand?
3. What does it teach you about God?
4. What should you obey?

Memory Verse:

“I have written these things (the Bible) to you who believe in the Son of God in order that you may know for sure that you have life forever with Him.” 1 John 5:13

1. What does this verse say?
2. What do you not understand?
3. How should you obey?

1. Commit to obey, reach out and pray for others (about 50% of your time)

Action steps for personal application – assurance of salvation

P- IF you have not done so, would you like to pray to receive Jesus into your life?

Record your spiritual “birthday” here:

On ________ (month) ___ (day) ______ (year) I received Jesus into my heart to be my savior.  He forgave my sin, became my Lord and took control of my life.  Now I have become a child of God and a new creation.  I have begun a new life.

Signature:___________________________________

Memorize the steps to peace with God with the scriptures and the bridge illustration shown above.

Agree with your mentor/trainer on a realistic but challenging goal to share your story and/or the gospel this week.

Take time to pray for the people you will share your story with, and for the others with you now.

Lesson 2: Baptism

A. Ask – Adoration – Accountability (25%)

Ask – how people are doing.

Adoration – Start each lesson with a time of praise and worship to Jesus

Accountability – Review last weeks lesson and the actions that each person agreed to.

How did people do?

Celebrate successes.

If nothing was done ask why not, and discuss what needs to happen for them to be able to do what was agreed.

Agree again what they will do by the next meeting. If necessary repeat last lesson!

B. Bible (25%)

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian

Read Acts 8:26-40      (or tell story in your own words and have 2/3 repeat it)

What is this story saying?___________________________________________________

What does it teach about God? ______________________________________________

Romans 6:3-4

What is baptism a picture of? _______________________________________________

Acts 2:38 (memory verse)

What does it mean to repent in your own words?

________________________________________________________________________

Is there anything right now, which you need to repent of?

________________________________________________________________________

Do you have any idols or witchcraft items in your house?  Yes         No       Don’t know

Idol Worship:

Idols represent demons

• We are told to flee from idolatry.
• Why? Because God is a jealous God (1 Cor 10:22) and will not tolerate you having any lovers besides Himself

o       Demon worship represents adultery – cheating on our commitment to God.  (See Ezekiel 23:37)

o       Example: what if your spouse told you, “I’m going to sleep with someone else, but it will only be one night a month.”

• How would you feel?
• You would not tolerate any adultery (not 1 night a month or 1 night a year!)
• In the same way, we cannot even dabble in a little idolatry, because God is jealous.

• When you become a Christian, tear down all that is associated with idols in and around your house

o       Renounce your allegiance to them.

o       Ask God to bless your home as a place of worship of Him

• Choose to be baptized to signify that you will worship God only
• In the future, do not go back into old ways, or God’s presence will not dwell with you fully.
• Do not fear what the devil may do, God will protect you.

o       1 John 5:18-21 promises God’s protection if we guard ourselves from idols.

C. Commit to obey, reach out & pray for others (50%)

Action

Repent of anything you have discussed and deal with any idol worship/witchcraft items

Agree a time to be baptized with your trainer

Agree with your trainer on a realistic but challenging goal to share your story and/or the gospel this week.

Pray for those people and for one another.

PART 3. Obeying Jesus

8 Lessons:

1. Devotional life – Prayer and the Word

2. Father Heart / Grace of God

3. Obedience

4. Growing Christ-like

5. Holy Spirit

6. Church

7. Kingdom / Spiritual warfare

8. God’s Story – Creation to Christ