Good News for a Teacher/ Disciple Maker

For the last several months I have felt the need to study Greek.
Though I have studied the Bible and theology with vigor since I became a Christian, I have felt the need to go deeper in order to teach more accurately the things of God to others. I have felt this especially because of the fact that I am preaching more and I will be held accountable by God as to what I teach!

One Greek word that caught my attention lately is "math". 
Yes, Math! It is the origin of our word "math" which basically means "learning". "Mathetes" is a word that means "one under disciplined learning", usually translated as "disciple".

This refreshes me as I think about my role as a missionary.
Jesus said, "Go and make DISCIPLES of all nations..." He did not say, "Go make converts." My gifting and inclination has always been to make learners - as I love to invest in individual learning wherever I am: at school, at home and at church. It was good news to hear that this is exactly what God wants. And yet the qualifier is that he wants his disciples to be characterized by love. "They will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another." (Jn 13:35) Our teaching can never be abstracted from loving individuals and personally training them and walking through life with them. This is the type of missionaries God is looking for!