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Know Yourself, And The Way You Learn
Bible study on learning.

God has always required His children to learn His will (Deut. 4:10; 5:1). As Christians, God also expects us to learn the things we need to know, so we can obey Him and serve Him (1 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:10; Tit. 3:14).

Therefore, we have a responsibility to know how to learn, so we can learn God's will for us.

Three Basic Learning Styles
Visual learners learn through seeing, and often prefer to take detailed notes. They learn well from the demonstration process, and need to see the teacher's body language and facial expressions to fully understand the lesson. They prefer sitting up front to avoid visual obstructions, may think in pictures, and learn best from visual displays.

Auditory learners learn through listening. They learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through, and listening to what others have to say. They interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed, and other nuances. They often benefit from reading text aloud and using a voice recorder.

Tactile (kinesthetic) learners learn through moving, doing, and touching. They're good at hands-on tasks, and learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around them.

Seven Basic Learning Techniques
For the remainder of the bulletin, I want to review seven basic learning techniques we can use to help us learn God's word.

Make It Meaningful
Before learning anything, we should understand why it's necessary, and beneficial for us to learn it. For example, it's necessary to learn God's word to be saved and go to heaven (Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Tim. 2:4).

In understanding the benefits of learning a subject, we often discover the greater good that we can produced. For example, as a church we are a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling of God in the Spirit, the pillar and support of the truth (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Tim. 3:15).

Schedule Your Study Time, Don't Cram
Cramming is an ineffective method of learning. The most effective learning occurs when we schedule frequent breaks, setting goals and objectives for study sessions, and rewarding ourselves with timed breaks.

For example, the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). They didn't try to cram it all into one or two days.

Organize Information In Your Mind
For effective learning to occur, we need an organized method of filing information in our brain. Just like we use an organized method when filing papers in a filing cabinet, or organizing files on a computer hard drive. If information isn't organized, it's difficult to recall.

For example, Paul commands that our assemblies be orderly (1 Cor. 14:40). As a result, we're better able to process the teaching, resulting in greater edification.

Repetition
Repetition is one of the most important learning techniques for every style of learner.

God uses repetition as a teaching tool. Therefore, we should use it as a learning and a teaching tool.

  • Rom. 15:15 Paul reminded brethren again of some points when writing them.
  • 1 Cor. 4:17 Paul sent Timothy to Corinth to remind them of his ways in Christ.
  • 2 Tim. 1:6 Paul reminded Timothy to "kindle afresh the gift of God."
  • 2 Tim. 2:14; Tit. 3:1 Paul commanded Timothy and Titus to remind Christians of the things he wrote.
  • 2 Pet. 1:12 Peter used repetition in the Scriptures he wrote.
  • Jude 1:5 Jude used repetition in the Scriptures he wrote.

Association
It's easier to learn something new, if we associate it with something we already know.

God uses association as a teaching tool, and we should use it to learn.

  • Jesus uses association when teaching with parables. For example, He teaches us the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, leaven, treasure hidden in a field, a merchant seeking fine pearls, a dragnet cast into the sea, a head of household, children, and a landowner (Matt. 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47, 52; 18:3; 20:1).
  • Peter teaches us about salvation by associating it with Noah's salvation (1 Pet. 3:20-21).
  • Paul teaches us about Jesus by associating Him with Adam (Rom. 5:14).
  • Paul teaches us about Jesus and His priesthood by associating Him with Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1-28).

Visualization
Visualization helps us learn, because our brain believes what it sees.

For example, prophesy, presented in pictures, helps us visualize the message God is communicating, such as the eternal glorify awaiting us in heaven (Rev. 7:9-17).

Some effective ways to learn using visualization are:

  • Create a picture or diagram in your mind. For example, imagine what it would be like at the cross when Jesus died.
  • Visualize events to help remember historical facts (dates, events, etc.). For example, I remember the events of Jesus' life from the upper room to his burial, by visualizing those events in sequence.
  • Mentally role play, visualizing successful accomplishment of a task, such as successfully teaching a Bible class.

Recitation and Explanation
We learn more effectively when we put things in our own words. This helps us file information in a logical method, and ensures that we understand it.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to share the gospel with others, which necessitates the ability to express it in our own words.

  • Heb. 5:11-14 If we understand the first principles, we can tell others about them.
  • 1 Pet. 3:15 We must be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks us about our hope.

Conclusion
God tells us we need to learn His word. Therefore we have a responsibility to learn how to learn.

Although these techniques can be applied to learn any subject, we must studiously apply them to learn God's word.

Just like the brethren in Colossee, we must hear God's word, learn it, know it, and understand it. As a result, we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work (Col. 1:3-10).