Are You Fully Trained?

Luke 6:40 is an incredibly important verse that is often overlooked. To be completely transparent, I overlooked it myself. However, twenty years ago, that changed in my life.

Again, consider the words of Jesus:
“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

Jesus is telling us that we can be fully trained disciples. Of course, “fully trained” does not mean perfect (the apostles make that perfectly clear). This became a “wow moment” for me. As followers of Christ, we are called to be “fully trained” and to “make disciples.”

Jesus spent three years training twelve men to continue His mission of disciple-making. There was no Plan B. Plan B was Plan A! These twelve young men had gone from “untrained” to “fully trained.” They were “all in.” And now, they were ready to display the “character and conduct” of Christ and to “Be and Build” disciples of Christ—and the world was forever changed.

Over twenty years ago, I committed my life to becoming a “fully trained” disciple of Jesus and to “make disciples.” It was non-negotiable. No more riding the fence. No more being half in and half out. Every year, I committed to leading a discipleship group for athletes and/or coaches—teaching them, leading them, and discipling them to become “fully trained” disciples.

Below is a powerful testimony from a Head Football Coach:

“The Coaching with Impact discipleship group, led by Kevin Burrell, had a profound impact on me as a person and a coach. Week after week, month after month, I learned about the ‘Character and Conduct’ of Jesus. Learning how Jesus led, influenced others, and prioritized building relationships was eye-opening to me. I thought I did it well, but wow—had I fallen short. This study has both encouraged and challenged me to go beyond what I was doing as a Christian coach. I now clearly understand the Great Commandment and Great Commission, and what we are called to be and do every day as a coach to build God’s Kingdom.”

Listen closely: I encourage you to be all in! You have one life here on earth. You get one chance to invest your life in others—by leading them, teaching them, and training them to become “fully trained” disciples of Jesus.

Live your life with the end in mind.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.