STRATEGIC TRAINING
All Blueprint training courses are designed with one thing in mind: to equip the saints to maturity.
There is always a "point A" and a "point B" in mind-each "point B" represents the embodiment of an attribute of kingdom living but it does not infer an arrival at perfection. In this age, we are ever-progressing in our maturity as we are being renewed in the image of God each and every day.
The journey between "point A" and "point B" in the kingdom of God is often simple, yet very difficult. Jesus taught about a narrow path that leads to a life that few will every find (Matthew 7v13-14). This imagery suggests not so much that the path is hidden, complicated, or confusing...but that the path is difficult.
The most central barrier to Christians becoming mature and embracing the full life offered by Jesus is simply this:
it's easier to stay where you are.
And the irony is: many people hate where they are.
Henry David Thoreau once said, "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation."
The Enemy of God, the culture and even our own flesh beckons us to stay in the desperation that we know rather than embark on the uncertain, difficult journey of maturation, healing and growth.
Jesus invites into the risk and adventure of his kingdom…but we must be willing. A seed can fall on four different types of soil, but only one soil is prepared to produce what is intended (Matthew 13v1-23).
Kingdom living is about willingly and intentionally investing the physical for the reward of the eternal.
We want to train with this kind of intentionality...the way we see Jesus train the disciples in the accounts of the Gospel...the way we see Paul train Timothy.
All Blueprint courses are designed with a basic understanding of strategic discipleship:
RELATIONSHIP
When we observe Jesus making disciples in the gospel accounts, it is evident that relationship was at the core. Jesus knew the 12 disciples intimately.
He spent time with the disciples and understood them.
His invitation was to “come follow” him (Matthew 4v19).
He was present to wrestle with their questions (Luke 11v1).
He knew when his disciples were grumbling (John 6v61).
He entered into their arguments (Luke 9v46).
Relationship seems foundational to Jesus’ strategy of influencing others. For this reason, all Blueprint courses are designed with some degree of relational investment in mind. We do not limit the ability for God to utilize truth through the Spirit alone to change people, and we certainly believe that it is ONLY God who actually does the work of changing people. But, God uses people to plant and water (1 Corinthians 3v6) in order to help the process of growth. Therefore, the role of discipleship and community is the core of Blueprint training.
It is important to understand that Blueprint courses are designed to be tools used within a relational context.
PRINCIPLE
From this relational foundation, Jesus was able to teach (and re-teach) principles about the kingdom of God. Matthew 5-7 is a powerful, compelling transmission of principles regarding the kingdom of God that Jesus initially taught to the disciples.
We use the term "principle" to represent the truth that is communicated within each Blueprint course. Unless a trainer chooses to teach, principles most often involve listening to audio, watching video or reading text in order to convey the necessary concepts. Because we believe strategic discipleship involves relationship, principles are designed to be wrestled through in community or with a trainer who is discipling you in this area.
PICTURE
As Jesus discipled, he would often go out of his way to create a parable or even demonstrate the truth of a principle in some way so that it became tangible for the disciples. Matthew 8-9 contains many examples of Jesus demonstrating the principles he communicated in the previous chapters.
"Picture" represents the contextualization of truth so it can be understood by the disciple. This may come in the form of interviews, parables or invitations to observe principles in action in order to better visualize a principle at the ground level. The best picture is the embodiment of principle within the life of a trainer or someone in the community around the disciple. Blueprint courses will typically create a framework for contextualizing principles in order for each student to have a personal vision for a principle.
PRAXIS
As we observe Jesus influencing his disciples, it’s evident that there are strategic moments during which he would challenge the disciples to practice what they were learning. In Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples to go and practice what they have heard him speak about and seen him do. The challenge to embody truth is what seemed to move the disciples from spectators to participants in the kingdom of God.
We call this action-oriented portion of training “praxis". Praxis invites us to a movement from word to flesh...an opportunity to personally embody truth...a moment of faith. Praxis will most often appear as a invitation to go and do; but presented within a framework that allows the Spirit to guide and empower you.
If a Parent teaching a child to ride a bike was equivalent to training a disciple in the kingdom of God, Here’s how it might go:
Principle: Parent explains how the pedals work, how to balance, how to stop, etc.
Picture: Parent hops on his/her own bike and rides around in front of the child…maybe pops a wheelie or two.
Praxis: When the child is ready and willing, parent helps the child get on the bike and ride with his/her hand grasping the back of the child’ shirt for security until competence is developed.
Each Blueprint course contains elements of Principle, Picture and Praxis...all with the intention of being used strategically in relationship.