In our last post we looked at one of today’s misguided barometers in the church. We shared how both substance and sustenance are required in the teaching/learning process. Without sustenance evidence of learning will never take place. Sustenance expresses support or nourishment necessary for life. In other words, sustenance manifests through action providing evidence of learning.
“How does this work?”, you might ask. Thom and Joni Schultz of Group Publishing have an excellent example. Let me share it in my own words. Let’s say you are teaching a group of 4th graders, studying the story of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Four students respond when you ask who can share the story.
Student 1 quotes verbatim Luke 10:25-37 from your preferred translation.
Student 2 paraphrases the story in his or her own words.
Which of these two has best demonstrated they understand the story? Student 2.
Student 3 shares the story of a time she witnessed her uncle being a good Samaritan.
Which of these three would you say best understands the story of the Good Samaritan? Student 3 of course has demonstrated a better understanding. There is one more student.
Student 4 voluntarily sits with a new student who is rumored to have AIDS and shunned by the other students.
Which of the four students has best demonstrated evidence of learning? Without question, student 4 has manifested evidence of learning by living out the practice of the scripture’s truths.
Which of the four students do we most often reward at church? Student number 1, right? We praise and give gold stars to the child who can memorize scripture, yet how many classrooms have gold stars or accolades for students demonstrating true evidences of learning? Memorizing scripture is great and spiritually healthy, but if we are not helping our class members (of all ages) to manifest their learning through actions that demonstrate evidences of learning, are we producing disciples or trivia buffs?
Whether you are a teacher or class member, watch, observe, and listen for examples of people, especially your class members, demonstrating evidences of learning through action throughout the week. Share those experiences and other examples in class. Challenge class members to live each week manifesting the truths of substance studied in class. Living it out is the only evidence of learning and it provides the sustenance of the learning experience.
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.