The Bible is very clear about this truth. Be doers of the word, not just hearers(James 1:23). Likewise, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The truth of the matter is that it isn’t enough to simply know the Bible well. Biblical leaders in the church are those who act not only as masters of Scripture but even more so, those who are mastered by the Word of God in how they live.

Encompass Global Worker Jason has been teaching at the Bible Institute in Yaoundé, Cameroon for several years. Like many African countries, Cameroon is in need of biblically trained pastors and leaders. Part of the spiritual health of the Cameroon church rests on filling the pulpits and streets with those who know the Word of God.

Though, as Jason began teaching his class, he realized there was more work to be done than just biblical training.

He discovered that many of his students held the misunderstanding that what it meant to be a biblically-qualified leader was solely based on biblical knowledge, which probably stemmed from a lack of such. In order to correct the misconception and better his class curriculum, Jason decided to include biblical mentoring alongside the biblical training.

The result of Jason’s reconfiguration of the curriculum is the Be, Know, Do model for biblical leadership. In it, he wants his students to be what is biblically expected of them as leaders, to know what Scripture teaches, and to do what Scripture commands. Through this model, Jason has helped his students re-envision what it means to be a biblical leader in the church.

Since developing this model, Jason has seen an incredible transformation. It’s been so effective that other Bible Institutes are considering how they might adopt it. The Bible Institutes across Central Africa seek to have a unified message, and this curriculum is coming at the right time to meet their need for better methods of training.

Like Jason’s students, many around the world fall into the same misunderstanding. The Bible is not only something to know, memorize, or teach, but also something to be internalized and joyfully obeyed. The equipping of the saints is a matter of the head and the heart. Go then and make disciples of all peoples teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” –Matthew 7:24