一种神圣的托付： 对姐妹门训的反思
我们很多人渴望有意义的肢体相交。我们去教会找寻友谊和团契关系，但常常失望而归。
作为基督身体的一部分，意味着要在主日上午以外的时间继续寻求深入的团契关系。而且耶稣通过祂的话语和榜样也告诉我们如何去做。耶稣说：“所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒… … 凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了”（太28:19-20）。
门徒的行列
耶稣希望你加入祂的门徒的行列。祂命定这作为一种生活方式，以至于你在祂里面的生命完全可以传递给别人，他们转而也可以传给其他人，直到“世界的末了”。
想想你三十年后的生活。那时你会是多大年纪？我将92岁。我的两位祖母都活到了九十几岁，我的妈妈今年也快要过90岁生日了。我很可能也还有30年的快乐日子来服侍主。不过，我不想成为站在耶稣门徒行列的最后一人。我希望身后还跟着一批全心爱主的姐妹。《诗篇》78:1-7 挑战一代人向他们的子孙述说“耶和华的美德和他的能力，并他奇妙的作为”。如此一来，我们就把基督带给了后代子孙，“使将要生的后代子孙可以晓得，他们也要起来告诉他们的子孙，好叫他们仰望神。”
这是神给我们的世世代代的管家职分。当我们门训姐妹的时候，她们的儿女、孙辈甚至曾孙辈也很可能会从此得到祝福。我们现在和将来的生命会产生长期影响。一座冰川看起来每次一点点的侵蚀，但最后也会形成一座科罗拉多大峡谷。我们要愿意做冰川的一小部分。我们期待最终可以留下几代“仰望神”的女性。
如何开始？
门训的第一步是你自己先要成为门徒。“门训、门徒”不仅是动词，也是名词。你自己首先要是耶稣的一个门徒。相比“按我说的做”，门训更多涉及的是“成为我所是”。你的所是影响很大。
我非常感激两个曾经在我生命中投入非常多的姐妹。我今天传递给姐妹们的很多内容都是从她们身上学到的。你在谁的身上看到属灵的生命，还有她生命的各种不同层面所反映出的耶稣基督的美德？你想要效法谁呢（林前11:1，腓3:17）？邀请她出来喝茶，并把你心里的这种愿望告诉她，看她是否也愿意。我邀请到的第一位姐妹告诉我她做不了。没关系，继续尝试。门训意味着要在关系中冒险。
你在基督里的身份是什么？如果你想在基督里长进，太好了！把别人也带上吧。如果你感到软弱和需要帮助，就是神的能力要最多彰显的时候。即便在你的软弱中，也可以帮助别人学习怎样在她们的软弱上信靠神。
你认识耶稣吗？你爱祂吗？祂值得你摆上全部生命吗？会有人需要听到那些内容，更近地接触到它，看到你拥有它。有人需要在平时从近处看到你活出来那些确信的信仰内容，而不仅仅是在主日上午。
门训不是专业基督徒把自己最好的操作方法传授给业余基督徒。作门徒，并学着去门训别人，意思是带着极大的热情和喜悦来看待耶稣，以至于在你每天的生活中开始反映出祂的美德。当你在恩典中成长之时，耶稣也会变得更加珍贵，更能带给你满足，比其它任何事情更让你兴奋。而且当你专注于耶稣，其他人也会想要来加入你，然后你们可以一同来仰望祂。门训别人最重要的就是你自己首先情不自禁地以基督为乐，然后你的喜乐会感染别人。
邀请别人加入你的人生旅程
每个人都在走在一条路上，结果或生或死。
在公义的道路上有生命，其路之中并无死亡。（箴12:28）
有一条路人以为正，至终成为死亡之路。（箴14:12；参考16:25）
在门训当中，我们邀请别人一起在人生道路上同行。我们应该一路上都挑战和勉励他们吗？当然是的，但是作为同行的天路客，而不是已经穿越信心终点线的人（腓3:14-15）。我们应该帮助他们认识、赞美、尊崇、回应、还有享受耶稣，祂的轭是容易的，祂的担子是轻省的（太11:30）。
要像耶稣爱你那样去爱那些你所门训的人（罗15:7）。记住，我们的任务并不是去指出别人的罪有多深，而是让他们看到耶稣有多美！所以，当你们同行之时，要看到你们共同的需要是耶稣。
门训并不总是被组织架构框起来的。有些人并不适合那样的方式。但是你可能也想找到有利于建立亲密感和互相督责的形式。以下是从我自己的门训小组而来的一些建议：
我们约好多久见面一次，以及见面多长时间。
我们轮流分享自己的“生命地图”，里面有到目前为止生命中那些有意义的记号。
我们花时间一起敬拜神。
我们查考不同的圣经经文。
我们分享代祷事项，为彼此祷告，并为此保密。
我们会学习一首歌或者圣诗，一起唱。
我们一起阅读并讨论一本书。
我们一起背诵圣经经节。
我们一起服侍。
我们尝试认识彼此的家人。
这显然需要花费一些时间。哪些对你管用？自己去发现吧。
我们神圣的托付
我们必须在自己可影响的范围内—— 家庭、教会、邻舍、职场—— 培育属灵的女儿，就是那些会继而将此真理传递下去的人。我们当中那些年轻的女性是我们从天父所领受的神圣的托付。使人作门徒并不是谁拍脑袋想出来的好点子而已——这是从圣经而来的命令。
在这种美好的门训关系中，每个人都会受益。想想我们收获了什么—— 一位新朋友，一位祷告的勇士，一个对生活崭新的视野，对另外一代人更深的认识。当我们给出去的时候，我们同样被充满、被祝福、被鼓励，也被爱。神是那么恩慈地赏赐欢喜顺服的人！
A Sacred Trust: Reflections on Discipling Women
Many of us hunger for meaningful Christian togetherness. We attend church seeking friendship and community, but often leave disappointed.
To be part of Christ’s body means growing in deeper fellowship than we can accomplish on a Sunday morning. And Jesus tells us through his words and example how to do that. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
A GREAT LINE OF DISCIPLES
Jesus wants you to be part of a great line of his disciples. He commands this as a way of life, so that the fullness of your life in him can be passed on to others, who in turn can pass it on to others until “the end of the age.”
Think of your life thirty years down the road. How old will you be? I’ll be 92. Both of my grandmothers lived well into their nineties, and my mother is celebrating her ninetieth birthday this year. I may well have thirty more happy years of serving Christ ahead of me! Still, I don’t want to be the end of the line. I want to leave behind a trail of women who love Christ with all their hearts.
Psalm 78:1-7 challenges one generation to make known to the “coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done.” In this way we bring Christ to distant generations as well, “that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God.”
This is a generational stewardship, given to us by God. When we disciple women, their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren stand to receive the blessings of our efforts. Our lives matter and will matter for a long time. A glacier seems to be accomplishing little at the moment but it leaves behind a Grand Canyon. Be willing to be part of a glacier. We want to leave behind generations of women who “set their hope in God.”
HOW TO GET STARTED
The first step in discipleship is to be a disciple yourself. “Disciple” is not just a verb, it is also a noun. You are, first, a disciple of Jesus. Discipleship involves “Be who I am” more than “Do what I tell you.” Who you are will make an impact.
I am deeply indebted to two women who have made a costly investment in me. Much of what I am passing on to women today is what I have learned from them. In whom do you see spiritual life and the radiant beauty of Jesus Christ spilling over into different aspects of her life? Whom do you want to imitate (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17)? Ask her out for tea and tell her your heart’s desire. See if she is willing. The first woman I asked said she just couldn’t do it. That is okay—keep trying. Discipleship means taking relational risks.
Who are you in Christ? If you want to grow deeper in him, that’s perfect! Take others with you. If you feel weak and needy, that is when God’s power is strongest. Even in your weakness you can help other women learn what it means to trust God in theirs.
Do you know Jesus? Do you love him? Is he worth giving your whole life to? Someone needs to hear that, be close to that, see you embrace that. Someone needs to see you live those convictions up close, and more than on a Sunday morning.
Discipleship isn’t about professional Christians passing on their best practices to amateur Christians. Being a disciple, and learning to disciple others, means looking at Jesus with such intensity and delight that you actually begin to reflect his beauty in everyday life. As you grow in grace, Jesus becomes more precious, more satisfying, more exciting than anything else. And as you behold him, others will want to join you and you can begin looking to him together. The most important way you can disciple others is by enjoying Christ yourself in such an irresistible way that your enjoyment becomes contagious.
INVITING OTHERS ONTO THE PATH OF LIFE
Every single person is heading down a path to one of two places—life or death.
The path of the righteous is life, and in its pathway there is no death. (Prov. 12:28)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Prov. 14:12; cf. 16:25)
In discipleship we ask others to walk with us down the pathway of life. Should we challenge and exhort them along the way? Yes, but as a fellow pilgrim, not as one already across the finish line (Phil. 3:14-15). We should help them to recognize, admire, esteem, respond to, and enjoy Jesus, whose yoke is easy and burden is light (Matt. 11:30).
Love those you’re discipling as Jesus loves you (Rom. 15:7). Remember, it is not our mission to show others how sinful they are, but how beautiful Jesus is! So link arms as you walk together in your common need for Jesus.
Discipling does not always have to structured. Some people do not work that way. But you might also find it helpful to build systems of intimacy and accountability. Here are a few suggestions from my own discipleship groups.
We commit to how often we will meet, and for how long.
We take turns sharing our own “biography bag” filled with meaningful symbols of our life so far.
We spend time worshiping God together.
We study different Bible passages.
We share prayer requests and pray for each other, keeping requests confidential.
We learn a song or a hymn and sing it together.
We read and discuss a book.
We memorize passages of Scripture.
We serve together.
We try to get to know each other’s families.
Obviously, this takes time. What will work for you? Make it your own.
OUR SACRED TRUST
We must cultivate in our sphere of influence—our homes, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces—spiritual daughters who in turn can pass on the Truth. The younger women among us are our sacred trust from our heavenly Father. Making disciples is not just a nifty idea someone thought up—it is a biblical mandate.
In this beautiful relationship of discipling, everyone wins. Think what we gain—a new friend, a prayer warrior, a fresh look at life, a deeper understanding of a different generation. In our giving we will be filled, blessed, encouraged, loved. Isn’t God kind to reward obedience with such joys?
作者：Jani Ortlund
珍妮·奥特兰德是田纳西州纳什维尔以马内利教会的成员，她同时也是教会牧师雷蒙德·奥特兰德的妻子。她也是“更新事工”的副总裁。
翻译肢体：侯淑婧
用圣经视野和实用资源装备教会领袖
进而通过健康的教会向世界彰显神的荣耀
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