by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

In the process of moving things around in my office, I came across the following:

• Tell me……..I’ll forget.
• Show me……I’ll remember.
• Involve me…I’ll understand.

Interestingly, despite how simple this sounds, it’s often overlooked because we don’t take the time. Think about this for a moment: if I tell someone what to do, how will they know what it is if I don’t show them and involve them in the process? Yet, we often just tell them and expect that they will do what we want.

A few years ago, I asked my six-year-old daughter to get me a screwdriver. She did exactly what I asked and brought me a screwdriver, except I wanted a Phillips, not a flat head. When I said she’d brought the wrong one, she replied, “Well, you didn’t tell me which kind.” The problem wasn’t with her; it was with me. I hadn’t communicated what I really wanted. The simple truth is that we must do more than tell; we need to show and involve the person for real learning to happen. Information alone doesn’t change a person.

I’m one of those people who get more from diagrams than from written descriptions. The instructions that come with do-it-yourself projects confuse me, but give me a picture, and I’ll understand. I believe many others are like that. Yet, we live in a culture that tries to provide information without the experience that goes with it. Is it any wonder people don’t know how to do things?

True discipleship isn’t just about telling people what to do; it’s about showing them and involving them in the process. Teach by engaging others in the process. Learn to let them walk alongside so they learn as you go. Then you’ll have a disciple. Think about it.