T4T Student Manual

Produced by Lost Sheep Ministries2951 Marina Bay Drive

Suite #130-144League City, Texas 77573

713-412-0582 cell281-559-2170  fax

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Contents

Introduction:................................................................................................................................................3

The Purpose of T4T:....................................................................................................................................3

T4T Sessions:..............................................................................................................................................4

Part 1- Pastoral Care - How are you doing?.............................................................................................4

Part 2 - Worship......................................................................................................................................4

Part 3 - Accountability.............................................................................................................................4

Part 4 - Vision Casting.............................................................................................................................4

Part 5 - Brief Discipleship Lesson...........................................................................................................5

Part 6 - Practice.......................................................................................................................................5

Part 7 - Goal Setting and Prayer..............................................................................................................5

What to do during the first T4T session.......................................................................................................5

1. Ask each to share How They are Doing...............................................................................................5

2. Conduct a Brief time of Worship.........................................................................................................5

3.Accountability Time.............................................................................................................................5

4.Vision Casting......................................................................................................................................7

5. Brief Discipleship Lesson - Parable of Four Soils...............................................................................8

6. Practice................................................................................................................................................9

7. Goal Setting.......................................................................................................................................10

Short T4T Discipleship Lesson - The Four Soils..........................................................................................11

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Introduction:This student training manual is taken from the book, T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution by Steve Smith. It is highly recommended that the reader of this training manual purchase a copy of T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution for much more in depth study. If practical, please study the entire book before attempting to launch a T4T movement.

One of the most dynamic Church Planting Movements (CPMs) in the world is unfolding today in Asia, through a mighty work of God called "Training for Trainers," or "T4T." T4T is not a Western invention. It was developed by an Asian-American missionary named Ying Kai. Overwhelmed by the millions of lost souls surrounding him in Asia, Ying asked God to show him how he could be more fruitful.

God taught Ying to go beyond his limited vision of planting churches, and showed him how he could train scores of church planter trainers. The result was what Ying called T4T, Training for Trainers. In less than a decade, T4T had multiplied a small band of disciples into a movement of more than 150,000 new churches and nearly 2 million baptisms.

In ministry, many of us have a certain tool for evangelism, another for discipleship, maybe one for church planting or starting new groups, another for equipping leaders, etc. There is nothing wrong with that. All of these, however, can be accomplished well with T4T! T4T helps bring all of these together in a balanced process that builds sustained CPMs.

And this is what we want you to start in your community A Spiritual Awakening will be started across an entire country by a small group of Christians that catch the vision and obey the scriptures cited in the T4T process.

The Purpose of T4T:T4T is a process rather than a program. It depends upon the Holy Spirit's energizing Biblical scripture in the lives of faithful Christians. It is a process of systematic obedience to what Jesus Christ has commissioned each Christian to do. It will be very easy to lose sight of what this process is designed to accomplish; Train Trainers!

Please note that there are four generations in II Timothy 2:2b; 1) Paul is speaking to 2) Timothy to teach these truths to 3) other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them onto 4) others.

T4T will become a sustaining CPM when the 4th generation is reached.

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This is the process that teaches how to; 1) share your story (very brief) with people you know that are away from God (either non-Christians or Christians that are not living life as a daily Disciple of Christ), 2) bridge your story to the Gospel, 3) tell the Gospel in a very brief manner, and 4) ask if they would like for you to show them how to enjoy life as you do.

T4T Sessions:If you are already in a small group that meets weekly, you are in a great position to launch a CPM in your community. If not, ask 2 to 7 Christians that you know to join you in a series of weekly meetings to learn how to start a Spiritual Awakening! Plan to transition the purpose and format of your present group into T4T team sessions. Each session is from one to two hours in length divided into three parts made up of seven sub-parts as

follows:

Part 1- Pastoral Care - How are you doing?Always open a T4T session by asking each person in your team, "How are you doing?" Give each one time to share any concerns, problems or accomplishments since the last meeting.

Part 2 - WorshipInclude a brief time to enjoy group worship. This may be in the form of music, prayer, or personal

sharing about what God is doing in the lives of the team.

Part 3 - AccountabilityEach T4T session is concluded by setting goals to be accomplished before the next meeting. The accountability time is to be used to have each member of the team share the results of their goals agreed to at the previous meeting. This is extremely important. There is no point in setting goals if they are not to be accounted for. This, of course, must be performed in a loving and supportive manner but each team member must anticipate sharing their accomplishments since the previous meeting.

Part 4 - Vision CastingThe team leader should be prepared to provide encouraging instructions that assures the team members that they can accomplish the goals the team sets. This is best accomplished by using scripture like Matthew 28:20, where Jesus assures His disciples that they are not expected to carry out His commission alone; He is always with them.

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NOTE: Approximately 1/3rd of the session time should be given to these first four sub parts. If the meeting time is one hour, then approximately 20 minutes should be devoted to these four sub-parts. If the meetings are one and a half hour long, then 30 minutes can be used to accomplish these four sub-parts. If time is a problem, major on Accountability and Vision Casting.

Part 5 - Brief Discipleship LessonApproximately one third of a T4T meeting time should be devoted to teaching a brief discipleship lesson. It is highly recommended that the initial T4T sessions teach on The Church, Baptism, The Lord's Supper, Stewardship or resource management, etc. Single sheet reproducible copies of these lessons should be provided to teach G0 team member.

Part 6 - PracticeIt is imperative that all members of the team practice the first five parts of the T4T session that they have participated in. Have the team gather into smaller groups of 2 to 3 members and repeat their story and bridge to the Gospel. The leader should move about the room and offer encouragement and help during this practice session.

Part 7 - Goal Setting and PrayerThe members of the team should be reassembled to set goals to be accomplished by the next meeting time and to dismiss with prayer for each other. They should be encouraged to add to their list of names that they know to be away from God. They should be called to a disciplined lifestyle of daily prayer and Bible study.

What to do during the first T4T sessionOnce the Generation Zero (G0) T4T team meets, there are several tasks that should be done.

1. Ask each to share How They are Doing.This will help get the members of the T4T G0 team acquainted, be encouraged and remember how to pray for each other.

2. Conduct a Brief time of WorshipCreate a quiet time to be reverent, pray, be prepared to sing a song of worship, etc.

3.Accountability TimeDuring the first third sub part of the first meeting, pass out sheets for the team members to spend a few minutes listing people that they know that are away from God. This may be non-Christians and it can be Christians that are not practicing a daily discipline of following Jesus.

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Once each person has filled out some names they know that are away from God, then give them a My Story form and provide a few minutes to write their brief story about how Christ has

changed their lives.

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Assure the team members that a simple way to tell others the gospel will be provided in future T4T sessions. The students should be told that their story must be very brief (no more than a minute) and it must be written with the thought of introducing (bridging to) the Gospel of Christ to another person. Avoid saying that you were raised in a Christian home and that you went to church all during your youth; focus on specific ways that you have been changed (even recently) since becoming a Christian. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind the students of ways that they have been transformed.

During subsequent meetings, the G0 team will be asked to add additional names to their list as prompted by the Holy Spirit and to make revisions to Their Story and their Bridge. They should practice saying their Story and their Bridge over

and over so that they can spontaneously repeat it to someone on their list of names.

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During the first T4T practice time, the G0 team members should be rearranged into smaller groups of two or three members to tell their story and their bridge to the Gospel to each other.

The team leader should circulate amongst the students and help them to make their Story short and leave off any churchy terms that will not likely be understood by one that is away from God.

Their bridge or transition from their Story to the Gospel must be short and relate to both their Story and to the Gospel.

Examples of My Story: My Life Before Christ Was One of Depression, My Life Before Christ Was Without Purpose, My Life Before Christ Was Held Hostage by Addictions, My Life Before Christ Was Filled with Loneliness, But Now I Am Free from my past! You can be also! Let me tell you how.

It is very important that you only use ONE bridge. Practice it often – Be able to use it under all circumstances

4.Vision CastingBe prepared to share the Great Commission taken from Matthew 28: 18 - 20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Stress the underlined parts; 1) Go, 2) Make Disciples, 3) Of all nations - everyone, 4) teach them to obey all of His commandments. Jesus introduces the commission by first stating that He has all authority in heaven and on earth; He is King; everything is under His authority and He is not asking you to perform this commission alone - He is always with you to the very end. He is not asking you to do the impossible. Be willing to go to the people on your list. Tell them your story, bridge to the gospel and share the gospel. Ask if they want to enjoy life like you do. If they say "Yes" then agree to spend more time with them by inviting them to start meeting in their

home or another place other than where your G0 team meets. This will be the start of your G1 (Generation 1) T4T group.

There are three basic reasons why Christians do not share the Gospel; 1) They don't know why they should, 2) they don't know who to share with, and 3) they don't know how. In addition, they are often intimidated for fear that they will be rejected.

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The reason why is simply to be obedient to Jesus' commission. We are instructed to share the Gospel and Jesus promises to always be with us as we share.

We are to share the Gospel with everyone; our friends and relatives in our homes, our neighbors, fellow students and workers - everyone. You should start with the names on your list of people you know that are away from God.

Start with your story and bridge to the Gospel. This should be very brief (no more than a total of two minutes). Tell them the Gospel and ask if they want to have what you have. If they say Yes, offer to spend more time with them by meeting in their home or a place other than where you G0 team meets. Those

that say Yes will be the beginning of your G1 (Generation 1) team.

5. Brief Discipleship Lesson - Parable of Four SoilsTell the parable of the seeds cast on four types of soil and explain it.

As you tell your story and bridge to the Gospel, some will be so spiritually blind that they will reject your witness.

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Others will respond enthusiastically but will not agree to respond to your invitation to accept the Gospel nor participate in T4T team meetings.

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Some will appear to be responsive and commit to Christ but will soon let the ways of the world draw them back.

Some will, however, respond to the Gospel favorably and become fruitful Disciples of Christ. These are the ones that really encourage you to keep on keeping on. They will become very fruitful in the Kingdom and will be used to bring in many others as they begin telling their story, bridging to the Gospel and sharing the Gospel. These are the ones the Holy Spirit has prepared for you to call into His Kingdom.

Though some will not be responsive, you have planted seeds of the Gospel that will likely be used to draw them in the future.

6. PracticeIt is now time for you to have your G0 team members practice the first parts of their first session. Have them tell their story and their bridge to the Gospel to each other.

They are being prepared to conduct T4T sessions with their Generation 1 converts to Christianity

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7. Goal SettingThe final part of the first T4T session is to set goals to accomplish before the next G0 meeting.

Each member of the G0 Team will set a goal of starting a daily time of Prayer and Bible study. This daily discipline will greatly enhance their life as a Disciple of Christ and better equip them to help others to become Disciples of Christ.

Review and add more names of those you know that are away from God; pray for them to be receptive to your Story, Bridge and explanation of the Gospel.

Review Your Story; shorten it if you can. Mentally recite Your Story, Bridge and the Gospel so you will be able to spontaneously share it with those on your list.

Remind the Team members of the time and place for the next meeting and that they will be asked to report on how they accomplished their goals at the next meeting.

Close by leading the G0 Team in prayer.

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Short T4T Discipleship Lesson - The Four Soils

Jesus told His disciples a parable (story) of The Sower and Four Types of Soil. The reason He told them this story was to prepare them for rejection from some of the people that they would be telling their story to.

The reason we review this Parable at the start of our T4T course is so you will also realize that not all who hear the Gospel from you will respond with “YES”.

Behold, the Sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.

Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and

some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9 This Parable is also found in Luke 8:4-15 and Mark 4:1-20

Jesus then explained the parable as follows: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one

comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.“

The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

As you apply T4T, be extra sensitive to the "Good Soil" people. They are the ones that will be used to start a Church Planting Movement (CPM) across your community. You will need to spend extra time with them by training them to be trainers.

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