BEING A STUDENT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The body of baptized believers saved by the precious blood of Jesus is pictured in many, many ways in the New Testament in an attempt to show the multi-faceted nature of that group of individuals. 

1.    A body (1 Cor. 12:27)

2.    A temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17)

3.    A kingdom (Col. 1:13)

4.    A vineyard (Matt.20:1)

5.    A house (1 Tim. 3:15)

 

B.   There are some figures that are never specifically stated, but the Scriptures give enough details of the figure so we know what it is.

1.    The Bible never states that the church is the army of God.

2.    But, we are fighting a good fight (1 Tim. 6:12) and warring a good warfare (1 Tim. 1:18).  Too, we have weapons (2 Cor. 10:4) and armor (Eph. 6:12-17).  We are likened unto soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3).  All of these things prove the church is truly the army of God.

 

C.   The Bible nowhere refers to the church as a school, that is, an educational institution, but it is.  In this lesson, let’s look at the concept of “Being a Student.”  We have three points to consider in this lesson: 

1.    The Definitions

2.    The Manifestations

3.    The Operations

 

I.             THE DEFINITIONS

 

A.   School

1.    An institution where learning is given

2.    Two verses:

a.    Isaiah 2:2-3

 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:  for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 

1)    The church:  the LORD’s house, the house of the God of Jacob

2)    Teaching:  teach us of his ways

3)    Result:  we will walk in his ways

4)    Curriculum:  the law, the word of the LORD

b.    John 6:45

 

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

1)    Taught

2)    Heard

3)    Learned

 

B.   Education: 

1.    Literally:  “a leading out”

2.    Process of imparting and acquiring information and knowledge

 

C.   Curriculum

1.    Latin:  “a course of action”

2.    The aggregate of courses of study giving in a school

3.    In the school for Christians, we have 66 books that we are to attempt to master.

 

D.   Training

1.    Practical education, information put into practice

2.    In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus had been teaching His disciples many principles.  In chapter 10, He is about to send them on a mission “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6).  Jesus reveals the type of training they are going to receive on this mission throughout the remaining verses of the chapter. 

 

E.   Teacher

1.    One who teaches or instructs

2.    In the school called “the church,” the teacher is Jesus Christ.

a.    Only one time in the KJV is Jesus ever referred to as a teacher (John 3:2).

b.    He is called rabbi (rhabbee) four times.  All four times are found in John’s gospel (John 1:38, 49; 3:2, 25).

c.    Once Jesus is called Rabboni (rhabboni).

d.    The primary term used to denote that Jesus is a teacher is the word “Master.”  The Greek word is “didaskalos.”

 

F.    Student

1.    The word “student” isn’t found in the New Testament.

2.    The word for student is “disciple.” 

a.    It literally means “one who sits at the feet of another.”

b.    It comes from the Greek word “mathetes.”

c.    Matthew 5:1-2

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:  and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  and he opened his mouth and taught them saying.

 

II.           THE MANIFESTATIONS

 

A.   Fears the Lord

1.    Verses:

a.    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” (Ps. 111:10)

b.    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” (Prov. 1:7).

c.    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” (Prov. 9:10).

d.    “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom…” (Prov. 15:33).

2.    The fear of the LORD is a respect and awe for who God is, what He knows, and what He has done and can do.

3.    When I respect God as I should, I want to know all I can about His divine wisdom for my life.

 

B.   Desires to learn

1.    1 Peter 2:2

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

 

2.    This desire is not a natural, involuntary desire. 

a.    This desire is something that requires attention and focus.

b.    This is something that must be intentionally done.

 

C.   Curiosity for knowledge

1.    Inquisitive, searching, investigative, scrutinizing, questioning

2.    Doesn’t know – will research

Doesn’t know – will ask questions

Doesn’t know – will challenge the teacher

 

D.   Has an honest and good heart

1.    Luke 8:15

 

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

 

2.    Honesty with the text.

Honesty with conclusions.

Honesty when in error.

Honest enough to change.

 

E.   Possesses self-disciple

1.    1 Corinthians 9:24-27

a.    The event (1 Cor. 9:24)

b.    The example (1 Cor. 9:25a)

c.    The end (1 Cor. 9:25b)

d.    The effort (1 Cor. 9:26-27a)

e.    The edict (1 Cor. 9:27b)

 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…

 

2.    Study requires self-discipline.

a.    The time

b.    The regularity

c.    The subjects

d.    The notes

e.    The thinking and meditation

f.     The memorization

 

F.    Enthusiastic

1.    Attitude has everything to do with one’s success in any undertaking.

2.    Colossians 3:23

 

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

 

G.   Work ethic

1.    Study is not easy.

2.    Ecclesiastes 12:12

 

…and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

 

3.    You grow tired.

The learning curve is slow.

Your study doesn’t benefit you at the time.

There are other things that you would like to do.

You do not even have to be putting in the time

 

H.   Patience

1.    Patience involves the ability to endure over a long period of time.

2.    Why patience in learning?  Hours of time, digging for information, constant thinking and reasoning, the repetition, the monotony of the task at times, the questions that go unanswered for a period of time, the inability to grasp something

3.    Learning takes a lot of time. 

a.    Quote:  “I would give my life to learn to preach like that.”  Response:  “That is precisely what it has taken me.”

b.    The Holy Spirit

1)    The Person of the Spirit

2)    The Spirit’s work in creation

3)    The Spirit in the Old Testament

4)    The Holy Spirit and miracles

5)    The Holy Spirit and revelation

6)    The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

7)    The Holy Spirit’s work in redemption

8)    The gift of the Holy Spirit

9)    The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

10) Grieving the Holy Spirit

 

I.     Resilient

1.    You get off schedule

2.    You have to learn an additional aspect of a subject

3.    You need to learn something again

 

J.    Willingness to apply the instruction (James 1:22-25)

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For it any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

III.         THE OPERATION

 

A.   Affection: 

1.    A love and respect for the teacher

2.    John 6:68

 

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  thou hast the words of eternal life.

 

B.   Passion: 

1.    A hole that draws in knowledge that cannot be filled, a deep sense of necessity

2.    Psalm 119:97

 

O how love I thy law!  it is my meditation all the day.

 

C.   Perception

1.    The student must be ready to allow his heart and mind to absorb the teachings revealed to him.

2.    James 1:19

 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

 

D.   Dedication: 

1.    Whatever it takes to learn the teacher’s doctrine

2.    2 Timothy 2:15

 

Study (give diligence) to shew thyself approved unto God…

 

E.   Application: 

1.    The teaching moves from the heart to the body.

2.    Romans 2:13

 

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

 

F.    Transformation

1.    There is a radical alteration in the life of the individual.

2.    Romans 12:2

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

3.    Examples:

a.    The image of Christ (Col. 3:10)

 

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

 

b.    I will make you fishers of men (Matt. 4:19)

c.    Becomes a teacher, following the Teacher’s path (Heb. 5:12; 2 Tim. 2:22).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   A student understands the mechanics of his craft.

 

B.   A student develops the proper qualities needed to learn.

 

C.   A student continually goes through the process of learning from his Master.  If any of the six things within the operations develops a problem within it, learning will be adversely affected.