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Resolve to Be a LIfelong Learner · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed thinking, where we seek to understand
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God's truth in a world full of noise.
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And welcome back to the deep dive.
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This is where we take your sources, your questions, your
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curiosity, and really try to uncover the most valuable
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insights for you. Today we're diving into a
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collection of notes and their focus on a really vital subject,
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cultivating wisdom and, you know, the Christian calling for
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lifelong learning. Yeah, we've got a pretty
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comprehensive set of materials here.
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It draws from theological principles, but also some very
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practical guidance, includes some specific points from David
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Mathis book Habits of Grace, particularly the chapter on
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resolving to be a lifelong learner.
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So our mission today really is to figure out why wisdom doesn't
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just happen automatically, why learning is so central to our
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faith, and importantly, how we can practically build habits for
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continuous growth. Growth and understanding God,
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ourselves and the world he made. Hopefully you'll leave this deep
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dive with some practical steps and maybe a renewed outlook on
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what it really means to grow in Christ.
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OK, let's open this up then. The sources, they start right
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away by challenging something pretty common.
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I think it's this notion that wisdom just sort of arrives as
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you get older. Many of us may subconsciously,
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we kind of carry the assumption, don't we, that the older you
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get, the wiser you automatically become.
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It's almost like a a comfortable cultural idea.
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We picture the wise old elder, you know, just wise because
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they've lived a long time. But our sources, they're quite
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clear, maybe even bracingly direct, that this isn't
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necessarily true. They really push back on that.
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Easy assumption suggests there's a lot more to it than just time
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passing. The materials don't really mince
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words here, do they? They actually state there are
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plenty of foolish old fogies out there, which is, you know, a
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striking phrase. It just immediately shatters
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that myth. Age equals wisdom.
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And it backs this up biblically, quoting Eli Who from the Book of
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Job. That's Job 32 verses 8 and 9.
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Eli who? Who's the younger man
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challenging Job's older friends? He says it is the spirit in man,
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the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
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And then, crucially, it is not the old who are wise, nor the
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aged who understand what is right.
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So that gives us a clear biblical foundation for this,
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this kind of counterintuitive truth.
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It shows that physical years alone, well, they don't
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automatically grant spiritual or intellectual discernment.
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Real understanding, it seems, stems from a divine source, the
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breath of the Almighty. It makes it something we receive
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by grace, doesn't it, rather than something we just generate
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through experience or time. That distinction feels pretty
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vital. So that's a really significant
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point for us to think about. If wisdom doesn't just show up
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with more birthdays, and if it isn't simply a byproduct of
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living longer, why doesn't experience automatically lead to
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clarity? You'd think, wouldn't you, that
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experiencing more life, seeing more patterns that would
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inherently lead to greater insight, but the sources say it
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can actually lead to more confusion.
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How does that work? Well, this is a crucial
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distinction the sources are making.
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They explain it like this. Life experience may increase
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inevitably with age, that part's obvious.
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But without some long term pattern of receptivity and
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intentionality, multiplied experiences will only create
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more confusion than clarity. Think about that for a second.
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It's not the sheer quantity of experiences, it's our posture
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towards them. Without a deliberate approach to
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learning, to understanding, without a willingness to
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examine, interpret, integrate what happens through the lens of
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God's word, well, experiences can just pile up.
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Instead of giving clarity, they can overwhelm us, leave us
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feeling more jumble, maybe less enlightened.
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It's kind of like gathering more and more data but never
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processing it. You know, you might have a lot
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of raw information but not much understanding.
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Our minds, without that active engagement, they can be prone to
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things like confirmation bias, can't they?
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Where we just filter new experiences through old, maybe
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faulty beliefs and that just reinforces confusion instead of
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clarifying it. Right, and it goes even further
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than just confusion, doesn't it? The material mentions how for
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some people, negative traits can actually become more entrenched
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as they get older. It's a pretty sobering thought.
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It sounds like time for some acts more like setting concrete
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than like a refining fire. Precisely.
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The sources paint a stark picture.
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They note that for some, a longer life can only entrench A
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stubbornness, irritability, and careless ways of thinking and
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living. It highlights a sobering
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reality. Time just by itself, without a
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cultivating hand, doesn't inherently prune our vices or
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soften our rough edges. In fact, without genuine
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spiritual growth, without repentance and striving for
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godliness are natural sinful tendencies.
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They can just solidify these habits of mind, habits of heart.
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They become deeply ingrained, makes change even harder as the
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years go by. So it's a powerful call really,
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for consistent self-awareness, active self correction, and
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above all, relying on God's grace throughout our lives.
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Recognizing that just existing longer doesn't guarantee a
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better character or deeper spiritual insight.
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OK, so this raises a really important question then.
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If wisdom isn't automatic, if it's not just a byproduct of
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age, and if unchecked experience can even solidify negative
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traits, what is its true source? Where does genuine understanding
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actually come from? Our sources consistently point
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towards the spiritual origin for true understanding.
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Like Eli who said in Job, it is the spirit and man, the breath
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of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
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This moves the whole discussion beyond just human effort or the
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simple passage of time, doesn't it?
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For the Christian, this points directly to the Holy Spirits
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work. He provides us with
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comprehension, with spiritual illumination.
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It's not just intellectual grasp though that's involved.
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It's an inward work of the Spirit that grants us genuine
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spiritual insight into divine truths.
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It allows us to see and understand in a way our natural
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minds, well, they just can't on their own.
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So while we're definitely called to diligent, study, reflection,
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all that, the ultimate capacity for true wisdom is a gift, a
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divine enablement. It requires our humble
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receptivity, our active seeking. It's Grace working through our
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diligence. OK, and here's where this gets
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really vital for us. Practically speaking, if wisdom
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comes from God, if it requires this spiritual dimension, then
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it clearly demands active cultivation from our end.
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It's not something we can just passively wait for.
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It needs our participation. Exactly.
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For Christians, developing wisdom involves, as the sources
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put it, cultivating holy curianity and the mindset of a
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lifelong learner. It demands a long term pattern
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of receptivity and intentionality.
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And that really shifts the responsibility onto US, doesn't
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it? We're not meant to be passive
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recipients, just hoping wisdom somehow descends on us as we get
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older. Instead, it's about active
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seeking, an ongoing disposition of holy inquiry, being both open
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to receiving truth and purposeful in pursuing it.
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This intentionality means we approach experiences,
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interactions, scripture passages with a readiness to learn.
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It's an active engagement of our minds and spirits in this
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continuous quest for understanding, recognizing that
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this very pursuit is itself part of our worship.
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It's an expression of our reliance on God's Spirit to
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grant us discernment. OK, so with that foundation
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laid, wisdom isn't automatic. It needs cultivation.
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It's divinely sourced. Let's turn to why learning is so
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central to our Christian faith. Our sources say that for
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Christians, the stakes are even higher.
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This isn't just a nice idea, it seems to be a core part of who
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we're called to be as followers of Christ.
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Yeah, and what stands out immediately here is the literal
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meaning of a word we use all the time, Disciple.
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To be a disciple literally means to be a learner.
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That's not just a casual connection, it's definitional.
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This immediately sets the tone for our whole walk with Christ,
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doesn't it? It implies that from the moment
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we say yes to Jesus, we're signing up for a life of
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continuous learning. Faith, by its very nature, isn't
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static. It's dynamic.
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It's a growing process of continuously understanding God's
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ways, His Word, His will. It shapes how we read Scripture,
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how we pray, how we engage in community.
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Our identity as followers of Christ is just inherently
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intertwined with our identity as learners, always seeking to know
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Him more. And the church itself, then, is
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designed around this very idea, isn't it?
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It's not just about individual learning, but it's a community
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structured for this shared purpose.
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Absolutely. The church is explicitly
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designed by God to foster this learning.
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Our Master Jesus, well, he's consistently described as the
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consummate teacher and a central aspect of his under shepherds,
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you know, pastors, teachers, and the local church's teaching.
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This isn't just a suggestion, it's a biblical directive.
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You see it in Matthew 28, First Timothy 3 and five, Titus 1,
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Hebrews 13. God designed the church to be a
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community of lifelong learners under the earthly guidance of
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leaders who are teachers at heart.
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This shows the institutional, the communal design for ongoing
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growth. It's not meant to be an
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individual pursuit in isolation. It's a shared journey within the
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body of Christ where teaching and learning are reciprocal,
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constant. A healthy church fosters an
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environment where questions are welcomed, truth is sought, and
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members learn from leaders and from each other, growing
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together in grace and knowledge. So this isn't like a finite
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course then? Not something we complete at
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some point like finishing school and getting a diploma?
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It sounds like an ongoing process, no expiration date.
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Not at all. The sources are really clear on
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this. The Christian faith is not a
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finite course of study for the front end of adulthood.
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Our thinking shouldn't be, you know, to front load all the
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knowledge when we're young and then just draw from that
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reservoir for the rest of our lives as if we reach a point
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where we just know enough. That misconception can really
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stifle growth. Instead, the materials argue
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that ongoing health in the Christian life is inextricably
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linked to ongoing learning that sets a perpetual expectation for
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growth. It moves us beyond a school's
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out mentality to recognizing that for the believer, school is
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always in session. Our spiritual vitality, our
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sanctification are ongoing, becoming more like Christ.
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It's directly tied to our continuous engagement with
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learning, with truth, with fresh encounters with God's Word.
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We are always in some sense students of our Lord.
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And it even goes beyond this life stretching into eternity.
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What's the reasoning behind that?
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That's quite astonishing to think our learning never truly
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stops. It is a mind expanding thought,
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isn't it? The sources point us to
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Philippians 1.6. Paul writes that he who began a
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good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of
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Jesus Christ. So that tells us learning is a
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lifelong endeavor right up until he returns.
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We're not finished growing until then, but it stretches even
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further. Even in heaven, in the new
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creation. We shouldn't expect our learning
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to be finished. Ephesians 2.7 speaks of God
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showing the immeasurable riches of His grace and kindness toward
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us in Christ Jesus in the coming ages, plural ages.
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This paints a picture of eternal progression and unending
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unfolding of divine wonder. We will eternally receive new
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mercies to receive fresh revelations, to discover new
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things to learn about our Lord. It's described as an increase
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that is not only lifelong, but eternal.
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You never simply arrive at a point where learning ceases.
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Because God's glory, His grace, they're infinite.
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Our capacity to grasp them while growing infinitely will always
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be finite compared to Him. Eternity will be the ceaseless,
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joyful discovery of God Himself. OK, if lifelong learning is not
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just important, but a calling, new, eternal calling, then what
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exactly should we be learning? What's the central focus, the
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guiding principle for all this? With so much information out
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there, what's the North Star for a Christian learner?
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The materials are wonderfully clear on this.
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It is the word or message about Jesus, God's Incarnate Word.
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This means the focal point and center of our lifelong learning
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is the person and work of Christ.
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This isn't just one topic among many.
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It is the ultimate lens through which all other learning is
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viewed and understood. The sources remind us, quoting
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Colossians 1.17, that all things are in him, through him, and for
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him. So whether we're studying, I
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don't know, biology or history or economics or art, Christ is
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the ultimate context, the giver of all meaning.
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For example, studying environmental science, a Christ
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centered view would see God's design as stewardship mandate,
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recognizing the world as his creation to be cared for, not
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just a resource to exploit or an ecosystem to preserve for its
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own sake. He really is the Alpha and the
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Omega of all knowledge and truth.
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So it's definitely not just about accumulating facts then?
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Not just information or mere head knowledge.
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It sounds like it's something far more relational, more
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personal. We're not just collecting data
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points. You've absolutely hit on a
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critical distinction there. The material stress that
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Christian learning is not mere facts, information, and head
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knowledge. Now those elements have their
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place, right? They give us concrete
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understanding. But the text clearly states we
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don't just learn facts, but we learn a face.
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We are not just learners of principles, but of a person.
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And that distinction makes Christian learning a relational
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pursuit. It's about knowing and enjoying
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God Himself, not just mastering a subject.
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We're engaging with a living Lord, not just a curriculum.
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Our learning is meant to deepen our intimate relationship with
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Jesus. As the sources say, we hear his
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voice in his Word and have his ear in prayer and sharing
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community with his body all through the spirits.
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Enablement UN quote. It means every bit of truth we
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grasp should ideally draw us closer to Him, fostering
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adoration and obedience, not just intellectual agreement.
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And how do we grow in knowing this person, then this living
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face? What specific aspects of Christ
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should we be leaning into as we pursue this lifelong learning?
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Well, one of the primary ways the sources suggest we know His
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person more is by learning more about His work for us.
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This includes striving to comprehend, as Ephesians 3 puts
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it, the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
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It's about plunging into the infinite flood of Christ's love
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and how it all comes back to this and seeing everything else
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in its light. So this means understanding not
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just that He loves us, but how that love was shown in his life
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of perfect obedience, His sacrificial death at Calvary,
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his victorious resurrection, his glorious ascension, his atoning
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work, His boundless love that becomes the foundational truth
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informing all other knowledge and understanding.
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It's really in seeing the staggering immensity of his love
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for us, his gracious provision for our salvation, that we truly
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begin to know him, His character, his attributes, His
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deepest affections for His people.
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This love is the lens. It gives all other truths their
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proper focus and weight. OK, so if we put all of this
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together, the divine source of wisdom, the Christian calling
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for ongoing learning, Christ is the absolute center.
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What is the overarching aim here?
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Was the final purpose of this Christ centered lifelong pursuit
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of knowledge? The ultimate aim, the sources
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conclude, of lifelong learning for the Christian is knowing and
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enjoying God himself in Christ through the Gospel Word and the
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written word of the Scriptures. And it specifies how in the
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hearing and reading and study and meditation and memorization
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of the Bible, This clarifies the practical avenues for pursuing
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this Christ centered learning. It really underscores the
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Bible's central role. It's through his inspired,
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inerrant Word that we genuinely encounter his face, learn of his
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work, and grow and enjoying him. And this is precisely why this
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whole topic of lifelong learning is so closely linked to hearing
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God's voice. The Scriptures are where his
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voice is most clearly heard, where the gospel message is
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proclaimed, and where we're continually drawn into a deeper
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and more satisfying relationship with the God who has revealed
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himself in Christ. That's a really powerful what?
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A clear focus on Christ through his Word, a pursuit that never
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ends. Now let's get practical.
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How do we actually do this lifelong learning, especially in
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our busy, often fragmented lives?
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Our sources offer five principles or maybe big picture
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suggestions to guide us. Right.
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And it's true, the sources admit.
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The short answer is that the list of particular practices for
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lifelong learning can be as diverse as creativity will
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allow. So there's no single rigid
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formula everyone has to follow. Thank goodness.
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But these five big picture suggestions, they're an
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excellent guide. They help us build habits for
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continuous growth and integrate this vital calling into our
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daily routines. OK, principle one.
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Vary your sources and seasons. So diversify where and how we
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learn, not putting all our learning eggs in one basket, so
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to speak. Exactly.
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The recommendation is to learn from a whole range of formats,
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and 1st on the list, perhaps surprisingly high, are personal
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conversations with experienced, knowledgeable people.
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These are tops on the list, the sources say.
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Why? Because they allow for real time
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dialogue. You can ask specific questions,
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and you can receive words of wisdom tailored just for you.
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The person you're talking to can address your unique situation in
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a way that you know general content often can't.
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Think of a mentor or just a discerning friend.
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There's an immediate, personalized aspect that books
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or videos can't quite replicate. That makes sense.
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What's next? Then, of course, there are
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books. Their great advantage is
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accessibility. You can go at your own pace,
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your own time, your own place, and they provide that option to
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reread, reflect, mark them up, make notes.
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They become a very personal, flexible learning tool, and the
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breadth of theological literature available now is just
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a massive gift. Then you have classes.
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They provide a different but equally valuable benefit,
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contextual learning with others, whether that's seminary, a
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church, small group, an online course.
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You benefit from other people's questions, their insights, and
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maybe the force focus that comes with set times in a curriculum.
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That communal learning can really deepen understanding,
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expose you to different perspectives, challenge your own
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assumptions in a hopefully safe environment.
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OK. What else?
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Videos. Audio.
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Yep. Next, educational videos.
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They offer flexibility and timing, obviously watch when
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convenient, and they leverage visuals, diagrams, charts, even
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just seeing the speaker's body language can convey information
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dynamically, helpful for visual learners or certain concepts.
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And finally, recorded audio. Things like audiobooks, sermons,
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podcasts like this one. These provide remarkable
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flexibility for multitasking. Learn while driving, exercising,
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cleaning, doing routine tasks. It engages the mind differently
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too, leaning more on imagination.
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You have to construct the scene, the arguments in your mind.
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That can actually enhance retention sometimes.
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And the sources mentioned adapting these two different
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seasons of life. Yes, that's crucial.
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Adapt these methods to your various seasons of life.
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A college student might lean heavily on books and classes.
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A busy parent might find audio resources during commutes or
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tours are their main Ave. Someone in a more settled season
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might have more time for in depth personal study.
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The messages evaluate the particulars of your season of
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life and choose the media and venues most conducive to your
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ongoing learning. Be strategic.
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Be discerning with the time and resources you have right now.
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OK, Principle 2, Createspace and redeem spare time.
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This feels like the $1,000,000 question.
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For many people. It can feel impossible to fit
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learning into an already packed schedule.
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We all have so many demands, competing priorities.
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How do we create this space? Well, the practical wisdom here
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is to create little windows for learning.
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It's about being intentional with small, seemingly
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insignificant blocks of time, recognizing that consistent,
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even tiny efforts add up wonderfully over the long haul.
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This principle moves away from needing huge dedicated blocks of
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time which might never happen, and focuses on practical,
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achievable steps, maybe daily. Like what kind of?
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For instance, it might be 5 or 10 minutes of reading as you go
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to bed at night, just a few pages consistently every
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evening. That can mean dozens of books
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read over a year, or maybe a few extra minutes of lingering over
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the scriptures in the morning before the day gets crazy.
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Rereading a passage, meditating on a verse.
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Another practical suggestion? Listening to a short podcast as
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you brush your teeth, commute, or run errands.
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Those moments, otherwise filled with silence or just routine,
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become opportunities for growth. It also includes setting a goal.
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Maybe read an article or two each day online at a substantive
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site like the Gospel Coalition has mentioned, or working
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through a good book just a few minutes at a time.
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Keep it handy on your phone or e-reader.
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The idea is to just chip away at learning consistently.
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Make it a regular, even a brief part of your day.
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Foster that habit. These small moments like
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compound interest. They yield great returns over
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time. OK, principle three.
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Mind your mindless moments. This one.
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Yeah, this one hits home. It's about how we use those
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moments when we're just unwinding, scrolling on our
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phones, watching TV. It's so easy for those times to
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just evaporate without leaving any real lasting benefit,
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siritually or intellectually. Indeed, and the sources
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acknowledged, look, there's a place for mental rest and
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recreation, for ball games and television and pop tunes and
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motion pictures. We're not being called to
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eliminate all leisure or relaxation.
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That wouldn't be healthy. However, the lifelong learner
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will want to take care of that. Most of life's spare moments are
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not cannibalized by mere mindless entertainment, emphasis
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on most. So there's a strong call to
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action here. Develop the resistance to simply
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veg out whenever you feel the impulse and rather to turn some
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of these moments, if not many, into opportunities to grow.
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So it's not about never relaxing, but being more
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intentional even in our relaxation.
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Exactly. It doesn't mean every single
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moment has to be, you know, overtly educational, but it
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encourages intentionality in our leisure.
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For example, watching sports or TV with intentionality for
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learning, maybe checking reputable news sources, watching
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The History Channel, good documentaries, and actually
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processing what you're watching. We can even approach recreation
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thinking about how it reflects God's common grace or what it
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reveals about human nature. The principle highlights that
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the payoff over the long haul is enormous for these seemingly
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small daily choices. If you consistently choose a
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documentary or a substantive article over, say, endless
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passive scrolling, those moments really accumulate.
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They add up to significant growth over time.
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It's about making a conscious decision about how we use our
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precious leisure time, seeing it as an arena for sanctified
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living, even our rest. Right Principle 4 Adapt to new
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media. Technology has just dramatically
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changed how we access information and learn, hasn't
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it? And the sources seem to
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encourage embracing that evolution rather than maybe
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sticking rigidly to older methods.
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It sounds like a call to discernment with modern tools.
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Yes, the text traces this evolution quite nicely.
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It notes how we've moved from maybe relying on a large
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personal library, physical books, clippings to E readers or
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laptops that store a veritable library in a tiny space.
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Or how MP3's once hoarded on hard drives are available online
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through near ubiquitous Wi-Fi. It just shows this consistent
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shift towards greater accessibility, greater
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convenience in how we consume information.
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And the opportunities now are just huge.
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They really are. Modern opportunities are
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abundant. Podcasts have become a favorite
22:05
channel of the endlessly curious, providing this wealth
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of information, theological discussion on almost any topic,
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and free video and online education courses are accessible
22:14
like never before. That really democratizes
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knowledge, powerfully bringing seminary level teaching to
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anyone with an Internet connection.
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Even social media gets addressed with a thoughtful challenge.
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What teachers or entertainers or athletes or friends you let fill
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your feet says a lot about how eager you are to simply kill a
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few moments scrolling or bring them to life with learning.
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So this principle highlights the unprecedented availability of
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information and the pressing need for us to be strategic,
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intentional with these digital platforms, turning potential
22:44
distractions into learning tools.
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It's about leveraging these advancements for spiritual and
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intellectual growth, not letting them lead to just passive
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consumption or frankly, frivolous waste of time.
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OK, finally, principle 5. Embrace the identity of learner.
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So this isn't just about external habits or choosing the
23:01
right apps. It's about an internal shift who
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we see ourselves as cultivating a mindset.
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Precisely this final principle really speaks to our self
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perception. It's about cultivating an inner
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disposition. The call is begin to consider
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yourself a learner. Claim it as your 6th strength.
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You know, like the character strength.
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This means consciously owning this identity, allowing it to
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shape how you approach your days.
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We have to fight against the tide.
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That takes learning to be something quarantined to school,
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days essential to childhood, but something beneath adulthood.
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That societal misconception can really hinder our growth.
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It implies that once we're grown up, we're kind of done learning.
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It also means resisting the urge to squander spare time on
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mindless entertainment without limit.
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Again, balance, but resistance to the limitless squandering.
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And what's the motivation behind embracing this identity?
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The motivation comes from a deep spiritual perspective.
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It's about embracing your finitude and the glorious
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Infinity of God. And brace yourself to never stop
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learning. Not as a burden, but a great
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joy. The truth is, we creatures never
24:06
arrive, not even in the new creation.
24:09
There will always be more of God to know and enjoy.
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So this principle underscores the attitude needed for a life
24:16
of continuous learning. It's a joyful pursuit.
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It stems from a humble understanding of God's boundless
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nature and our own limited yet ever growing capacity to know
24:25
Him. It's an act of worship really, a
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delight in the face of an infinitely knowable God.
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The source ends with a clear call to action for each of us
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resolved to be a lifelong learner, seeing it not as an
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obligation but as a privilege and joy.
24:39
Wow. We've covered so much today from
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you know why wisdom isn't automatic to the really Christ
24:45
centered heart of our learning and those five practical
24:47
suggestions for continuous growth.
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It's really clear that for those who follow Christ, learning
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isn't just a suggestion, it's an essential part of our walk,
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woven right into the fabric of discipleship.
24:55
Indeed, this deep dive has really highlighted that learning
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isn't just about piling up facts for a limited time.
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It's fundamentally about a relationship with Jesus, knowing
25:05
his face, knowing his work, and seeing everything through the
25:08
lens of his love. And it's a process that
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continues eternally, always discovering new mercies, fresh
25:14
revelations of His grace. It never stops.
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So thinking about all this, what stands out to you listening
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right now as you consider your own journey?
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How might embracing your identity as a learner, how might
25:28
that reshae your mindless moments into oortunities for
25:31
joyful discovery of God's truth? Think about how those small
25:34
intentional windows for learning could add U / a lifetime.
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Shaving your character, deepening your understanding of
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Christ. And maybe consider this, if
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learning truly is eternal, how might that frame your current
25:45
struggles or questions? Knowing that you are always
25:48
moving toward fuller understanding in Him and that
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even in eternity there will always be more of God's glorious
25:53
grace to behold? It puts today's learning into a
25:56
much bigger, grander perspective.
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That's a powerful thought to leave you with.
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Thank you so much for joining us on this deep dive into
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cultivating wisdom and lifelong Christian learning.
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Until next time, keep seeking, keep growing, and keep leaning
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into the Word Incarnate, spoken and written.