The Difference Between Teaching People About Jesus and Training Them to Follow Him

Summary

Are we teaching peopleaboutJesus—or training them to actually follow Him?

In this episode, we explore a critical but often overlooked difference at the heart of disciple‑making. Jesus didn’t command us to simply transfer information. In the Great Commission, He tells us to teach people to obey everything He commanded—not just to know it.

Using Matthew 28:20, a key Greek word study, and practical disciple‑making insight, we unpack why information‑based teaching often fails to produce transformation—and what it looks like to train people for obedience, practice, and replication.

This conversation is especially for pastors, leaders, missionaries, and disciple‑makers who sense that content alone isn’t producing the fruit we long to see.

Watch the Episode

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between teachingaboutJesus and training people to follow Him

• What Jesus meant by “teach them to observe” (τηρέω) in the Great Commission

• Why knowledge alone doesn’t produce transformation

• How Enlightenment thinking shaped modern discipleship models

• Three practical shifts that help move from teaching to training

• How obedience, practice, and accountability lead to multiplication

Whether you’re preaching, coaching leaders, or discipling others one‑to‑one, this episode will help you re‑center your approach around obedience, not just understanding.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jesus calls us to form obedient disciples, not informed listeners. The Great Commission emphasizes obedience, not just understanding. Disciples live out what Jesus taught.

• Knowledge alone doesn’t transform—obedience does. Scripture affirms learning, but real change comes when truth is practiced, not just known.

• Disciple‑making must train people to act, practice, and follow through. Teaching should lead to clear next steps, lived obedience, and simple accountability.

🎯Key Question

• Are we forming informed listeners—or obedient disciple

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