Lifelong Students
I was raised in a home where school and learning were considered of utmost importance. My father left home and joined the Navy at fifteen years old. But after he left the service, he earned both a business and law degree which he used to build two businesses of his own. He did this at great personal cost as he supported my mother and their growing family.
Dad believed in schooling. There was never any question about whether his children would attend college. Given this upbringing, I received two business degrees, and, after responding to God’s call to serve as a pastor, I went back to school, earning two more degrees in ministry and theology.
In fact, I spent so much time in school writing papers, preparing for tests, and reading, reading, reading that I continue to have dreams (often nightmares!) related to school and deadlines.
Education is a good thing. Schooling is important. Knowledge, as they say, is power. But as disciples of Jesus, we understand that the teachings of Jesus, which so often conflict with the teachings and ways of this world, are, as he tells us, the narrow way that leads to life.
This brings me to a vital truth about the Christian faith, and one which I believe is greatly overlooked in our day - making disciples of Jesus is not the same as making converts. This is not to say that conversion doesn’t matter. It certainly does. But conversion is just the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning from our Rabbi, our teacher in His school of life.
The fact is Jesus is more than our Savior, more than our Lord, He is our teacher.
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples,” Jesus said to those who believed in Him. Our English word “believe” comes from two words, “by live.” It is an indisputable truth that we live by what we believe.
This is why it is so important that we understand that part and parcel with our belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior is our desire and commitment to live our lives by his words, his teaching.
As our Lord concluded the greatest sermon ever preached, he challenged his hearers, saying “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock.” That is, those who truly follow the teachings of Christ build lives that withstand the storms life inevitably brings their way.
I wish I could say that this is the witness of the church and God’s people in our day. Sadly, it’s not. The church in our day is long on conversion and short on discipleship. But evangelism without training in discipleship is contrary to the call of Jesus. More than ever, we need to encourage people to enroll in Jesus’s school of life and learning.
No prior degrees are necessary. Only one test is required - trusting that God, through His Son, Jesus guarantees acceptance in the school of life abundant.
In light of this, I want to ask you - Are you more than a convert? Are you a lifelong learner? Are you growing in your knowledge of the abundant life Jesus provides for all who carry out his teaching?
It’s never too late to enroll.
In Christ,
Dan
Check out my podcasts from Church on the Edge and my books on Kindle.
You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.