By

Shelby G. Floyd

This is the time of the year when young people begin to think about going back to school. Let us capitalize on this thought and apply it to the Christian life.

From the beginning to the end the Christian life is like a school. In the great commission Jesus commanded his people to go out and “make disciples” out of all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). “Make disciples” is from (matheteuo), and means “to make a disciple; to teach, instruct” (J. H. Thayer, p. 386). Therefore, we are to be teachers and pupils under the Master-Teacher, Jesus Christ.

THE SECRET OF LEARNING

The secret of learning in this school as in all schools is to teach much, ask much, remember much and do much! The School of Life perhaps is best summarized by the statement of David,

Psalms 143:10
Teach me to do Your will,
For you are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness
NKJV

David was a great student in this school, because he excelled and earned the mark as “a man after God’s own heart.” So, with that thought in mind let us look at some of the branches of learning
that are usually found in schools, colleges, and universities of learning.

GRAMMAR

First, let us look at the science of grammar, which deals with the proper use of words in speaking and writing. Someone said that some people are “born in the objective case and the kickitive mood.” Here are some rules of spiritual grammar that will help us to live a better and more influential life for Christ.

1. Live in the first person, criticizing yourself rather than finding fault with others (Philippians 2:14-15).

2. Live in the singular number, caring more for the approval of your own conscience, than the applause of the crowd.

3. Live in the active voice, not the passive. Think more about what you make happen than what happens to you.

4. Live in the indicative mood, rather than the subjunctive mood. Be concerned with the real world as things are, rather than what things might be.

5. Live in the present tense, facing your duty at hand without regret for the past, or worry for the future.

This concludes our first lesson in the school of life. Study this lesson over very carefully and God will help all of us to use better grammar in all of our relationships. So, with that thought in mind let us look at some of the other branches of learning that are usually found in schools, colleges, and universities of learning.

PSYCHOLOGY

Our second branch of learning in this school of life is psychology. This is the science that treats the mental phenomena of how we think, reason, postulate, and draw conclusions.

The Bible has a lot to say about our thought processes and the condition of our mind—intellect, conscience, emotions, and will-power.

1. Solomon was wise above his peers, and he taught in this School of Life that it is best to “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). He also stressed that our thinking is so important “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

2. Both Jesus and Paul agree that in order to have good psychological health, we must seek to maintain a “pure heart and mind.” Jesus taught is his school at the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Paul wrote a letter to his students at Philippi encouraging them to think on all of the things that promote truth, honesty, justice, purity, beauty, goodness, virtue, and praise (Philippians 4:8). These are the things that principally should fill our minds.

3. All nature abhors a vacuum. If all of us who enrolled in The School of Life do not fill our minds with sound thoughts, then the False Teacher—Satan, that Diabolical Instructor will fill our hearts and minds with the thoughts that promote actions that defile and destroy our souls. Jesus taught just the opposite:

Matthew 15:18-20
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “
NIV

Let us all cultivate a sound mind and sound body by training the mind to think properly according to the best instruction book there is on Psychology—The Bible.

Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 45142