Is Teaching About Jesus the Same As Training Them to Follow Him?

What if we’re teaching people many true and beautiful things about Jesus—but not actually training them to follow Jesus? That question is worth asking. As pastors, leaders, missionaries, and disciple‑makers, we regularly need to return to the bottom line: What did Jesus actually command us to do?

Jesus did not say, “Go and teach people about me.” He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” How do we define a disciple?  A churchgoer? Someone who calls themselves a Christian?  No. A disciple is someone who obeys Jesus and helps others learn to do the same.

There is a part of the Great Commission we often overlook. It matters greatly. Jesus said,
“Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20- NIV).

Some translations use the word observe, others use obey. Either way, this is not about awareness or agreement—it’s about practical obedience.

There are a few reasons why the Church has gotten confused about the importance of this. One is that we misunderstand what the word observe means.  A second reason is the influence of the Enlightenment on Christianity today.  The third is that we lack key principles and skills in applying this. 

Let’s start with the first and clear that up.

What Jesus Meant by “Observe”

The Greek word used in Matthew 28:20 is τηρέω (tēreō). It means to keep, guard, watch over, or hold onto carefully. This is not a cognitive word like “know” or “remember.” It’s a relational and obedience-oriented word.

Jesus did not say:

• Teach them to understand what I commanded
• Teach them to agree with what I commanded

He said:

• Teach them to keep it
• Teach them to live it
• Teach them to obey it

In other words, disciple‑making is not complete until there is practical obedience.

Why We Default to Teaching for Knowledge vs. Training Disciples to Follow Jesus

Scripture affirms knowledge. “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15). But the Bible is clear that knowledge alone does not produce transformation.

James warns us plainly: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). Jesus asks an even sharper question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).

The problem isn’t learning—it’s how we separate learning from obedience.

Since the Enlightenment or Age of Reason, Western culture has treated knowledge as the highest good. Over time, the church too absorbed this mindset. We began to assume that if people knew more, they would naturally live differently.

That assumption has failed us and proven false.  Knowledge does not automatically lead to obedience.

3 Shifts We Need to Make

Change how we evaluate success.

What if we evaluated our effectiveness not on whether the hearers enjoyed it and were entertained, but instead asked ourselves whether they actually did something in response?

Teach toward action, not insight.
We tell people they should make disciples or share their faith—but rarely show them how, practice it with them, or follow up.

Build obedience and accountability loops.
Every teaching moment should include a clear next step and a gracious follow‑up. Not pressure. Not shame. Just loving accountability that you yourself also model.

The Bottom Line

When we train people primarily to know rather than to obey, transformation slows and multiplication disappears. Teaching about Jesus is important—but Jesus commanded us to train people to follow Him.

The question for all of us is simple:
Is our church or small group creating informed listeners—or obedient disciples?

Let’s Discuss:

• If God’s Word is not transforming your group or church members, how could the above help things change?
• In what ways have we gotten lazy or nervous about asking people to obey or put what we teach into practice?
• Are there key skills our members are missing that we need to equip them in? Model and practice? Until they become confident that they can do them?

We’d love to hear your answers in the comments below or on our free Dare to Multiply Community.