Lifelong Learners

Technology was not my friend yesterday, Sunday, May 17, 2026. Because the Facebook Live kept glitching, I thought I would turn my sermon into a blog post for those who missed it! On Sunday, May 16, we celebrated two high school graduates. Trey and Zegan are two amazing young men who we are very proud of. As they begin a new chapter in the coming months, all of us need to encourage and support them.  To do so, we must realize that each one of us is called to be a lifelong learner in this world.  We are called to proactively pursue knowledge and skills, embracing the mindset of curiosity.  As followers of Christ, we are to continue our studies and grow in our understanding of the Word of God. We can’t walk around this world thinking we know it all, or thinking that we are right all the time.  By doing so, and by demonstrating that mindset tells everyone around you that you don’t need to learn, and you are unteachable. God calls us to a life of learning, growing, teaching, and nurturing! We are to plant seeds, while still learning how to do the planting.

Being a lifelong learner in this world, but not of this world, means being curious.  Curiosity is a natural desire to learn and explore new things. Curiosity can be both good and bad, so how do we make sure that when we are engaging in curiosity, we are doing it for the right reason? In an article from Psychology Today, published back in 2016, there was an interesting note about the bad side of curiosity.  The writer said, “On the dark side of the curiosity gap lies the power of your inquiring mind to lead you to make decisions that ultimately result in painful and unpleasant outcomes, with no apparent benefits. A study found that people are often driven by an uncontrollable urge to act on their curious tendencies, even when it's not in their best interest.” Now, curiosity can be good. It is good when it drives learning, empathy, and personal growth. Curiosity should come with a willingness to improve relationships with God, friends, family, coworkers, and more. Think of Nicodemus when he has a meeting with Jesus in the cover of night.  Nicodemus was the teacher of teachers, and he wanted to meet with Jesus to figure him out.  This wasn’t about dismissing Jesus’s teachings; it was about having an open mindset to listen to someone else and hearing them with the intent to learn and discern. Nicodemus didn’t just drop his role as a Pharisee that night and become one of the 12; however, he did leave the meeting with a desire to keep studying, piecing together what he thought the Messiah would look like, and thinking about where he could reimagine.  

To be a lifelong learner, one needs to be self-motivated.  Just like curiosity, it can have a bad side.  Being self-motivated can be harmful when it leads you to strive for constant perfection, which can lead you to neglect your mental health and your faith in God, and can cause insecurity.  Being self-motivated can be beneficial when it provides the drive to set and achieve realistic goals, overcome obstacles, and build confidence in one's ability to move forward in difficult situations. In the book of Nehemiah, the wall around Jerusalem had been destroyed by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, leaving the returned exiles in fear for their safety. Nehemiah weeps, fasts, and prays, saying:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees, and laws you gave your servant Moses. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

Nehemiah becomes motivated to rebuild the wall, despite the threats and roadblocks along the journey. He was willing to strive to overcome through the strength God would provide. 

Being a lifelong learner means being goal-oriented. How is this different from self-motivation, and how can this be both bad and good? Self-motivation comes from internal desires, the ‘why’ effect.  Goal-oriented comes from measurable outcomes, or the ‘what’ effect.  When we think about the negative side of goal-orientation, Dr. Jill Weber presents the reality by saying, “What starts as earnest ambition and a healthy desire to succeed can quickly become a constant effort to problem-solve and plan for every foreseeable outcome. Working to fix and overengineer to such an extent leaves people unable to relax. Missing from this pinball bouncing between over-fixing and numbing out is having true meaning, connection, and feeling present in one’s life.”  Being goal-oriented is good when it comes to personal growth and providing growth opportunities to others.  The bible is full of examples from Noah building the ark, to Joseph saving Egypt from famine by storing grain, to Ruth caring for Naomi and becoming a member of the line of David. The best example we have is Jesus and his focus to fulfill the mission set by God for Him on earth. Jesus said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  Jesus demonstrated a fixed focus on the mission before Him, and did not let the ways of the world or worldly materials distract Him from what his mission was.  This is something we should all strive for. 

Adaptability is another attribute of being a lifelong learner, probably one of the harder ares to deal with for some. The idea of being open to change is hard for a majority of people. Change is scary.  There is a fine line when it comes to being adaptable.  Adaptability comes with discerning your environment, the people around you, and in your inner circle, and understanding healthy versus unhealthy traits.  It can be easy to get stuck in a toxic mindset and environment if you are too easily swayed by forces around you.  God provides wisdom and discernment when we put Him first.  After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, the Jesus movement in Judaism took on a new life.  It was up to the apostles to carry on the mission.  They had to adapt to Christ no longer being on earth and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  When Stephen was martyred, the churches fled Jerusalem and began to spread the word and plant in other areas, adapting to new surroundings and cultures to keep the movement going.  They didn’t let the toxic words and actions of others keep them from continuing the mission of Jesus Christ. They adapted in a way that allowed them to grow. 

The final aspect I want to talk about for lifelong learning is being actively engaged along your earthly journey.  It can be easy to hit a point in life where you say, “Okay, I am old enough and have done enough; it is time for someone younger to do it now, I have done my part.”  Being actively engaged can be bad when you are doing it for show, with superficial desires, not adding anything of substance.  You get nothing out of it, no growth opportunities, and you prevent others around you from growing as well. When you are actively engaged for the right reasons, it can help increase meaningful connections and relationships and improve cognitive health.  Active engagement can be mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical, adaptable to where you are in your life journey.  Again, there are many examples of active engagement in the bible from Abraham’s obedience, to David’s leadership, to the rebuilding of the temple, to Jesus feeding the 5000.  One of my favorites is the active engagement of Mary, the sister of Lazarus.  She was so eager to listen and take in all of Jesus’ words and teachings, even leaving Martha to serve the group without her help.  Jesus praised her dedication to listening to His Words, while also lovingly rebuking Martha for not looking at the bigger picture.  Mary became angry with Jesus when Lazarus died, wondering why he didn’t save Him, only to realize there was a purpose when he was resurrected.  She then anointed Jesus’ feet before he went into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, an act of devotion and symbolic preparation for what was to come.

I am proud of our graduates for all they have already achieved on this earth.  As you go forward, never take a day for granted, because tomorrow is not promised.  Ask yourself what you can do to add substance to the world around you without being corrupted by the world. The old classic, “What would Jesus do?” can be a thought that becomes adapted to your everyday life.  Remember to be diligent in all you do and ask yourself if you are doing something for your will or for the Glory of God.  Is it your way, or Yahweh! 

"God didn't create you to settle; He made you for greatness!"