Author: Pastor Steve Duff
Disclaimer: In what follows I do focus on the Biblical Counseling (corrective discipleship) context, but the content is adaptable to any discipleship context such as 1-1 type relationships (like a Paul-Barnabas or Paul-Timothy), growth groups (2-4 people), or LIFE groups.
When the Bible uses the word “learn”, it generally is referring to knowledge gained through teaching/instruction or experience. So why learning? To answer that, let's review a few common references in God’s word that help shape a Biblical worldview of “learning”.
FACETS OF LEARNING
The purpose & substance of learning - to fear the Lord by way of His words
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children— how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’” -Deuteronomy 4:9-10
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 3:14-17
The best example to learn from - Jesus
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” -Matthew 11:29
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” -John 15:15
Learning through the lives of other faithful followers of Jesus
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” -Philippians 4:9
Preserving that which is of first importance - the Person and work of Christ, both in doctrine and living (put off / put on)
“But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” -Ephesians 4:20-24
The specific experience of learning through suffering - Jesus & others
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” -Hebrews 5:8
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” -Philippians 4:11-12
Learning as a lifelong journey
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” -Proverbs 9:9
Learning to influence the lives of others in Christ
“...and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” -2 Timothy 2:2
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,..” -2 Timothy 3:16
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
With the previous Biblical basis for demonstrating the high value of learning Christ through teaching & living, let me mention a few opportunities for you to evaluate before we approach the new “ministry year” starting in September.
- Track 1-6 virtual training through Faith Church (Lafayette, IN): Track 1 is the best starting point for anyone exploring Biblical Counseling, including those in a shepherding role. We are looking to partner with a few area churches to see about getting a cohort to work through this training together, depending on interest. See the details of each track in the link provided.
- ACBC Annual Conference: This is a good alternative or addition to the Track (2-6) training
- ACBC Certification: For those looking to be certified by a counseling organization.
- EIBCC monthly meetings (Eastern Iowa Biblical Counseling Coalition): Held the 3rd Thursday of each month at Grace Community Church (North Liberty). Great fellowship and helpful equipping with an area wide group of counselors.
- Podcasts: I’d recommend starting with the Truth in Love podcast and go from there. Refer to this newsletter for a few other recommended podcasts.
- Booklets: CCEF (or other counseling publishers) booklets that serve as great starting points for jumping into just about any topic that you or a counselee may be confronted with.
- Books: As a next step from a booklet, blog, podcast or article, there are countless books on any topic that you’d like to learn about. I can provide recommended resources from first hand use (mine or other counselors) and recommendations provided during previous training.
WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP?
What do you think, what might be a good next step for you? Consider a few options such as:
- Pick something from the list above. Possibly start small, like a topic of interest or one that you are currently engaged with, and find a Booklet or Podcast to do some digging in. Consider doing this with another person, to share thoughts & questions.
- Or, how about choosing one of the training opportunities such as one of the Track trainings. Even better, do so with the intention of inviting someone else along who has a heart for counseling/shepherding others.
- Or, just reach out to me and I’d love to sit down with you, hear where you are at, and walk through options that might be a good next step fit for you.
Whatever you decide, refer back to the Scriptures shared earlier and make it your aim to learn from Christ and about Christ as an on-going pursuit so that as you are shaped into the image of Christ that you would impact those around you for His name’s sake!
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
