BT Only, or Beyond?

Posted on: 
May 1, 2018

PART 2 of 3
THE BT/CHURCH-PLANTING TEAM

Bible translators in training with ABT spend a lot of time developing language skills, learning the biblical languages, and studying things like linguistics. However, if Bible translation is not merely an academic project, but a part of the church planting process, what additional skills do Bible translators and their teammates need?

Church planters need to understand people, cultures, and worldviews. But most of all, they need to develop character traits and lifestyle habits like those of Jesus. Nobody has discipled others more successfully than Jesus. How did He do it?

Jesus Discipled by Relationship
Jesus loved His disciples. (“He loved them to the end.”)
He encouraged them (“Fear not!”). He rebuked them (“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of!”)
In return, Jesus’ disciples loved Him. They spent time with Him. They knew Him.
And Jesus led them to know and love the Father.

Jesus Discipled by Example
-Noticing needs and taking opportunities.
-Responding to both the proud and the lowly
-Operating by faith, not fear
-Obeying the Father and depending on Him

Jesus Discipled by Teaching
Through Jesus’ teaching, the disciples learned. . .
. . .what God is like.
. . .what pleases God.
. . .to value the Scriptures.
. . .the nature of their calling and how to pursue it.

Jesus’ Discipleship was Effective
Jesus’ disciples passed on His teaching.
They propagated the faith across generations and cultures.
They valued the Scriptures, studied them purposefully, and used them with skill and spiritual power.
They passed on the work of overseeing and teaching to qualified men in each new location.

Bible translators, and all church-planting team members, must be first discipled by Jesus. As His devoted disciples, they can help others learn to follow Jesus too. Gathered around Jesus and His Word, the new disciples form a faith community, a maturing church prepared to carry forward Jesus’ great commission.

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  • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
  • “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witness of these things.” Luke 24:47, 48
  • “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19
  • “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3
  • “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel.” Ephesians 3:6
  • “That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21
  • “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” Mark 11:17
  • “Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance.” Psalm 2:8
  • “Behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.” Revelation 7:9
  • “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
  • “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
  • “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
  • “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.” Proverbs 25:25
  • “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:10
  • “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” Psalm 22:27
  • “Truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” Numbers 14:21
  • “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:3, 4
  • “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
  • “That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” 1 Kings 8:60
  • “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations.” Malachi 1:11
  • “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” Psalm 86:9
  • “For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:11
  • "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10
  • "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3, 4
  • "You are worthy. . .; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God." Revelation 5:9, 10