What have you learned lately?

There are a many different learning styles and several ways we can define learning. Learning, as I’m advocating in this post, has two main categories: cognitive (intellectual understanding) and formative (behavioral application).

Western Culture/History has experienced a variety of educational models. We are most familiar with the Greek educational model—which is primarily cognitive. In this model, a teacher informs or lectures students regarding what they need to know. The historical roots of this model are found in the tradition of Greek philosophical education with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In this model gaining knowledge (information transfer) is the primary focus. This model is not altogether wrong, but when it comes to following Jesus (i.e., discipleship) it is insufficient.  

The biblical or Hebrew model of teaching and training was intentionally experiential focusing on behavior and action. This model would be more like an apprentice learning a trade from a master through participation and practice. The biblical model of learning does not lack a cognitive component. The OT law is intentionally cognitive and informative as well as applicational. In the Gospels Jesus taught content and explained doctrinal concepts. In his letters, Paul exegeted doctrine as he applied those doctrines to Christian living. Biblical discipleship (learning) is not inconsistent with knowledge transfer or with understanding. However, the goal of biblical discipleship (learning) is not merely what we know, but rather who we are, or to be more clear who we are becoming. 

The discipleship model found in Scripture is both cognitive and behavioral, with components for both theological understanding as well as experiential understanding. This is because discipleship is relational. Being a disciple (learner) is about following a person—Jesus.

Since learning is embedded in the concept of discipleship, the Learning Value is vital for following Jesus. Disciples are learners. Jesus chose his first disciples and invited them on a journey with him to learn what he taught and how he lived.

The Learning Motto: Never stop learning. 

As followers of Jesus, we should see every circumstance, situation, challenge, difficulty, or experience as an opportunity to learn. 

As the divine Son of God, Jesus modeled learning.

“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” 
Luke 2:40

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” 
Luke 2:52

Jesus grew and increased. If Jesus modeled learning, then learning is something we ought to embrace.

When Jesus called his followers, he called them to a lifestyle.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 
Mk. 1:17

Later, in Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Following Jesus is about adopting his way of life. Adopting his way of life requires learning.

Learning starts where we are. Don’t get discouraged by what you don’t know. Begin where you are. Here are several meditation takeaways that will help us learn where we are.

• Commit to daily Bible reading (listening to God). The absolute best things we can learn are the things that are significant for eternity. God’s Word will last forever, and the things we learn and do as followers of Jesus last forever. If you’re not already reading the Bible, begin in Matthew and read a chapter a day through the New Testament. If you already read the Bible daily, great! Consider adding something to deepen your learning/application. Start a journal where you note specific lessons from Scripture. Join a discipleship group where you share what you’ve read weekly. (For more on Bible reading, download the ESV Bible App and review the reading plans).
• Memorize Scripture and meditate on it. Some of the best learning you will ever experience is the deep learning of memorization and meditation. Wilkesboro Baptist has a monthly memory verse. Commit that verse to memory. Spend five minutes daily working on the verse, then meditating on it.
• Read and track your reading. For the last several years, I’ve kept track of the books I read. Tracking encourages accountability and continued reading. Two books that would help you think about learning as following Jesus would be Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer and A Heart Aflame For God by Matthew Bingham. Both books address spiritual formation and following Jesus. Comer is more popular and ecumenical in approach; Bingham more reformed. I found helpful concepts in both books and recommend reading them together or one right after the other. Best practice in the books is the section on meditation by Bingham.
• Take advantage of your time and listen. Podcasts and audiobooks are great ways to learn something new on a commute or during exercise.
• Learn from a mentor; teach a student. Want to really learn something well? Find someone who knows it really well, sit at his/her feet, and practice after them. Want to learn something deeply and lasting? Find a student and teach them. Our mission at Wilkesboro Baptist is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshipping, learning, serving, and replicating. The idea of replicating is duplicating or reproducing in someone else how we live and what we know. Learning from someone else and replicating what you have learned in another is discipleship learning.

One of the joys of my life has been participating in the plurality of elders at Wilkesboro Baptist. Currently, we have seven elders, two staff elders and 5 lay elders. These men inspire me–especially the ones who are older than me and were successful in different areas of life and business. As elders at our church, they joined our elder body with humility and a desire to learn. They read books, ask great questions, reflect deeply on church leadership, and model humility and teachability. They’re always learning, even in the last quarter of their lives. That’s a picture of learning I aspire to.

Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash