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“BECOMING A LEARNING CHURCH”
Acts 17:10-12—1 Thes 2”13-16—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang


On the survey done in 2016 by Central Connectictut State University ranked Indonesia second worst amongst the world most literate country, 60 out of 61, only higher than Bostwana. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) data shows only one out of 1,000 Indonesians is passionate about reading; Indonesian children averagely only read 27 pages of book every year!
The rankings suggested that literate behaviors are critical to the success of individuals and nations in the knowledge-based economics that define the global future. The government is working hard to promote reading and to develop reading habit. To build the nation, we need to build the people.


How about the church? What will make the church (God's people) grow?
Accts 2:41 as the Spirit worked on the day of Pentecost, 3000 new converts were added into the number of Jesus’ followers. These new spiritual babies immediately were enroll in the school taught by the Apostles: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (v.42). The early church was a learning church. They learnt directly from the Apostles, those who have the first-hand experience learning from Jesus. Their responsibilities were to pass down Jesus’ legacy—His life and teachings to the believers. That’s why we are named as the 'apostolic church', which we believe and have to ensure the continuity of the teachings from Jesus through the Apostles to the church and to us. This is made possible by the Holy Spirit, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26).
To take delight in God’s word. The Bible as the written teaching of God. For us, the word of God has been canonized by the church. The Thessalonians believed that word as it is, the word of God. They heard and accepted it. They believed God’s word comes through human words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:13). The Holy Spirit awakens our spiritual senses enabling us to perceive things of God and to take delight in His word (Psalm 119:103). Like babies crave for milk, we will crave (hunger) for God’s word. What’s your experience with your Bible? Pray that God will give us new taste-buds on the tongue of our hearts, enabling us to delight in God’s word.
To mediate day and night (Psalm 1:1-3). To let the word of God nourished and shape our minds and hearts, we need to meditate on it. The word "to meditate" in Psalms in its original language, Hebrew, means to murmur (in pleasure or anger); to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, speak, study, talk, pray and utter. So meditation is "a self-talk" or you can do it as a conversation with God in our consciousness as well as in our subconscious.
To examine (to study). The Berean took a further enquiry, they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 2 Tim 3:16-17, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
May God grant us the eagerness of the Berean to pursue His word so to discover His truth and His minds! May the Spirit help us to have a surrender and willing heart to let His word shape our hearts and minds into the heart and the mind of Christ! (PLT)

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