At St Michael’s, our vision is to see more disciples of Jesus shining as lights in our city.
One of the key strategies we employ to achieve this is to equip generations of believers for ministry. Equipping our members looks like:
• Initiative in leadership and use of gifts by members;
• Training disciple-makers to speak the truth in love to one another and beyond;
• Partnering with and sending workers for global mission, until Jesus returns.
Training and ‘equipping’
Training and equipping comes in many shapes and forms in the New Testament. There are a variety of words for ‘training’ which infer how disciples are to follow the pattern of life and teaching handed down. Training or equipping then is not just a ‘sit-in-the-classroom’ thing receiving knowledge from a teacher, but also imitating a godly conduct in life. Look at the table below for the proof:
| Training word | References to consider | Meaning or idea in ‘Training’ |
| Gumnazo, Gumnasia1 To excercise / exercise vigourously | Heb 5:14, Heb 12:11 1 Tim 4:8 | Heb 5:14 – by solid food (word), train ourselves to distinguish good from evil. Heb 12:11 – Discipline trains us painfully to produce a harvest of righteousness 1 Tim 4:8 – godliness has value for training in all things – for the life now and to come. |
| Sophronizo To be or right mind / sober minded | Titus 2:4 | Older women train younger women to love their husbands and children (seem to have a practical aspect) |
| Matheteuo2 Become a pupil / disciple / be discipled | Matthew 13:52 Matthew 28:19 | Matt 13 – trained to bring new treasures out with the old. (trained to understand Old covenant in the light of the new – Jesus training his disciples) Matt 28:19 – Carries idea of making disciples – baptising in the name and teaching them everything. |
| Katartizo3 To render something fit for something. | Luke 6:40, Mark 1:19, 1 Cor 1:10 | Luke 6:40 – Teacher means more than a classroom – it means someone who leads the way. Mark 1:19 – mending the nets – mending has the idea of making of the same pattern. 1 Cor 1:10 – idea of united there – trained in the same mind. |
| Entrepho To nourish one’s mind / to educate / form the mind | 1 Tim 4:6 | This is training in sound doctrine. It seems to have a teaching element to it. Who is involved in this training? (Timothy and his hearers) |
| Paideuo, Paideia4 To train children | Eph 6:4, 2 Tim 3:16, Acts 22:3 | Eph 6 – Raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 2 Tim 3 – Scripture trains us in righteousness Acts 22 – Paul Educated at the strictly manner of Gamaliel |
We would presume that much of the training then should be done at St Michael’s is not just in the classroom, but as ‘elder’ brothers and sisters, as each other hand down a life of sound doctrine put into action or ‘practice’.
However, sound doctrine is to be purposefully taught and it is not an optional extra in the life of the church. Paul commands Timothy as such in 1 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV):
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. [7] Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; [8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come… Command and teach these things.
Timothy is to ‘educate’ one mind through teaching sound doctrine. Interestingly though, it’s Timothy’s mind that is being educated – he is being trained as well as his listeners! As teachers teach, they too are trained as well as the people hearing them.
A different word for training pops up in v8 – the exercising word, the practice. As Timothy avoids irreverent myths presumably as he himself is trained in sound doctrine, this will lead to godly practice, and not the false practice expressed in vv 1-6 about marriage or food. The presenting sound doctrine in 1 Tim 4 interestingly is particular – that is a doctrine of creation and marriage. Sound doctrine about creation and marriage will lead to no nonsense talk and godly practice in those spheres of life. We can take particular topics and consider them theologically.
Romans 12:1-2 teaches us that our minds need training in God’s ways, or we will follow the world.
‘Equip training’ is an excellent way for that to happen – to be trained in God’s mind. There will be lots of table investigation and discussion to help you grasp the scriptures for yourselves; and there will be a summary teaching point at the end.
We will cover meaty doctrinal topics such as the Trinity or Eschatology (whatever that means!) and practical or current topics such as Gender and my humanity, or talking with my Atheist friends.
At Equip training, all topics will be theological. We will look at the theological foundations for all topics, even practical topics in the Christian’s life, because ‘Theology determines Practice’. Eg: understanding emotions is intensely theological.
In 2025, James Kerr will be running a 3-4 week Equip training course each term, on the following topics:
DATES: Sundays 8, 15, 22 & 29 June 2025
TIME: 2:30-4pm
LOCATION: In the Wollongong Church Hall
All church members are welcome to join us; afternoon tea will also be provided.
There is no need to RSVP in advance, but we encourage you to commit to attending all 3-4 weeks in each topic of study to get the most out of the course.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact James Kerr or speak with a member of our pastoral staff on Sunday.
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