Life-Long Learning
One of the things that was so evident at our Training Day last weekend was the general attitude of excitement towards learning among everyone who attended. The buzz about the teaching was palpable – and it was expressed in lunch table conversations about all of the good truth being fed to us. I loved being a bit of a fly on the wall, overhearing good conversations about strategies for raising kids, new Bible study methods, and how we can be effective in our ministry to the homeless in Clark County.
One of the things that made last weekend such a success is that Ryan Donovan curated a bunch of individual teachers who everyone could trust. The teaching was not only helpful, but Biblical. Now, I didn’t get to sit in every class, but from the many conversations I had afterward from others, this was the general consensus. And good trusted teaching is an incredible asset to the Christian. I was so glad for Ryan’s work in compiling such good teachers.
In our pursuit of lifelong learning as Christians, I was thinking about how important it is to have trusted sources for continued education in the things of God. Not only on Sunday mornings during church, but throughout the week. Perhaps you already have some sources that are your “go to” resources. But on the chance that you don’t, let me leave you with a couple resources that I use regularly that feed my soul. Perhaps they’ll be helpful in feeding your soul as well.
Desiring God
One of my favorite resources is the website desiringgod.org. The Desiring God ministry was started by Pastor John Piper – so it contains a lot of his teaching, sermons, and podcasts. But more than that, Desiring God curates articles, historical biographies, and in-depth resources from a collection of trusted pastors and professors of theology. I find that my soul is always fed when I use this as a resource in my week.
Gary Breshears
One of my professors at Western Seminary, Gary Breshears, has continued to be an invaluable source of education for me and for anyone! Gary has been a professor at Western Seminary since 1980 – and while I don’t agree with everything he says or writes, he does an amazing job at making Christians think critically about the doctrines that they hold. He has a blog that he updates regularly, and he has also made all of his theology resources available for free to anyone who wants to use them and peruse through them. I find this to be an incredibly helpful resource.
Bible Talk
If you’re like me, you’re always searching for a good podcast – and Bible Talk is a great podcast. Pastor Jacob introduced me to this show about two years ago, and the rest is history. Dr. Jim Hamilton, along with two other Co-Hosts, simply sit down and work through the Scriptures together. They started a couple of years ago in Genesis, and they’re working chapter by chapter through the whole Bible. The wealth of knowledge and insight from these men is astounding, and so helpful. I cannot recommend this as a resource highly enough!
For God’s glory and our good, we as Christians are to be life-long learners. As Hebrews 6:1 exhorts us: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…” There are many sources for our continued education as Christians. And as we saw last week in our 1 John text, we are to “test the spirits” when it comes to what we are learning about the faith. I have found the resources above to be trustworthy, helpful, and encouraging. My hope is that you will find the same.
In Christ’s mercy,
Pastor Ryan Aufenkamp