Why isn't there more training for church members?

Dear Editor,

I was particularly grateful for the letter in your April edition raising the question of training for ordinary Christians and church members. The concern raised was an entirely valid one that churches must take seriously. Failure to offer such training raises the spectre of creating a two-tiered religion with a caste of super-believers that require special training that is simply beyond the ken of the ordinary Christian. Or, to put it another way, runs the risk of a return to the errant clergy-laity divide of Roman Catholicism that fundamentally denied the existence of a priesthood of all believers.

For this reason, each week for an hour before our main service, my own church holds an hour’s theological Bible study. We have developed a syllabus that runs across two years and covers Systematic Theology, Biblical Theology, Historical Theology, Hermeneutics and Ecclesiology. These are accessibly delivered and open to all. It has been our experience that those who spend the time with us in these Bible studies benefit in a far greater way from the regular teaching in sermons and midweek Bible studies and are able to make theological connections that others sometimes miss.

The truth is that many of our churches have a theological deficit and it is a basic reality that sermons – though a vital and Biblically mandated part of our teaching and discipleship – are simply not enough on their own. Pastors and elders are called to teach and build up their flock. This is not something to outsource to Bible colleges and, even if it were, it is simply not credible to expect all, or even most, of our people to go to one. Churches must get serious about teaching our people and must provide ways and means – particularly for those like the letter writer – to access the Bible teaching and theological input that many of them rightly crave. Such should be an encouragement to us that the Spirit is moving in our people, not a problem at which we roll our eyes!

Yours sincerely,

Steve Kneale
Pastor, Oldham Bethel Church

Dear Editor,

I felt really sad to read the letter by the person in need of training on how to get the most out of their Bible reading. I imagine we in the UK are privileged to have more versions of [the Bible], and aids and commentaries on how to read it, than possibly anywhere in the world.

As someone who has relied upon Scripture as my handbook all my life, my personal help has been Scripture Union’s reading plan and notes, but there are masses of others.

May I suggest that you might get someone to research what is available which could be of help to our reader and others who similarly need help.

It is a failing in our churches if they are not helping their members in the habit of daily Bible reading.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Cory
By email


See further response from Jen Charteris of Crosslands here: How to make training available for all church members