I have this category in my brain which is labelled, "Science catches up to the Bible." Every now and then something really interesting appears and recommends itself to this file.

The latest is an article on the Wired website discussing how children learn. In "Every Child is a Scientist" Jonah Lehrer reports on research which shows that children learn best when they are given a little knowledge and then left to their own curiosity to pursue more understanding.

Children - indeed, all human beings - are naturally curious and enjoy learning. But the joy of learning can be shut down if natural curiosity is not encouraged. The more we search for what we need to learn, the better we learn, and the more we enjoy learning.

The last paragraph of this interesting article really got my attention. Here it is in full: "The moral is that parents and teachers must navigate the fine line between giving kids a taste of knowledge – the universe is not all mystery – while at the same time preserving a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. When we explain things to kids, we shouldn’t pretend that we have all the answers. We shouldn’t turn science class into a dry recitation of facts that must be memorized, or only conduct experiments in the classroom in which the results are known in advance. Because it’s the not knowing – that tang of doubt and possibility – that keeps us playing with the world, eager to figure out how it works."

Now I may be reading through the bifocals of a theologian/educator, but that sounds like the teaching style of Jesus. He gave people parables, answered their questions with questions, made what they considered to be outrageous statements without qualifying or explaining them, engaged their imaginations and actions, and only when they sought Him out in private did He explain what He meant or was doing.

Jesus gave people a taste of truth, probably because that's as much as any of us can bear. But He gives us rich tastes, to entice us to seek more. "You will find Me when you seek Me with all your heart," the Lord told His people through Jeremiah (29.13, 14). The more earnest and persistent we are in seeking the Lord and striving for understanding, the more we can expect to know Him and His truth and to revel in the process of learning.

But sitting and listening to lectures or watching DVDs will stifle our desire to learn. We learn best when we participate, our appetite for truth having been whetted by just the right flavor and amount of information. Once our curiosity has been piqued, we will engage the learning process with gusto.

If we really want to learn Jesus (Eph. 4.17-24) then we must engage Him - in His Word and in the creation and culture all around us. Dive in, ask questions, collect observations and insights, pray it all in, talk it through with others, then begin taking the daily steps of obedience which will confirm your learning.

Jesus understood the principles of teaching and learning, and He continues to use them to this day. How'd He know that?

He's Jesus. Get to know Him and you'll understand.

Related texts: Romans 12.1, 2; Ephesians 4.17-24; Colossians 3.16; 2 Timothy 2.15

A conversation starter: "You know, it's fascinating to contemplate just what an excellent teacher Jesus was."

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.