“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 NKJV)
Donald Kilpatrick put together a model on the four levels of learning in 1959. Many training departments of large corporations adopted his original model as well as subsequent, revised models. The original model had four steps: (1) Reaction, (2) Learning, (3) Behavior, and (4) Results. You can quickly see how companies wanted any training they presented to their employees to produce results that led ultimately to a return on investment, retention of employees, or a reputation of being a great place to work.
Applying his model to our Christian life is easy to do. Think of every time that you have sat in a Bible class or heard a sermon preached in your presence. Your human reaction influences whether or not you sincerely saw the word specifically for you. That step, in my opinion should be eliminated in any Christian model because whatever God has to say; whatever specific message He sends, it is specifically for you, as well as others in the gathering of the saints. If you can get past blocking an attitude that this is not for me, then you will start to learning and with great interest, you will seek further understanding of the spiritual concept being taught. We can’t stop at learning or merely convert our learning into teaching others. That’s good, but you also have to ensure that what you have learned is demonstrated in your behavior. Of course, that shows results that will help you make disciples, Jesus’ commission to us. Yes, in my estimation, I believe that all four steps of the model can be applied to Christian growth. But I also believe there is a fifth level of training.
The fifth level of training, I am thinking about is consciously evaluatingwhether God is pleased with how the training has been exhibited, exemplified, or earnestly demonstrated in our everyday behavior each day.
So in today’s meditation, you get a little pedagogy and a little theology. Let’s put them both to work. Look to Jesus, the greatest Teacher ever. I chose to use the same closing verse as a couple of days ago for a purpose. Have a great Thursday my friend! Remember the old oriental saying, “To hear is to forget. To see is to remember. To do is to understand.” Be blessed!
“Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” (Psalm 86:11 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King