OzThoughts – Wednesday 13th May, 2009

OzThoughts – Wednesday 13th May, 2009

Some years ago I did a post graduate degree in adult education. I found it most interesting to look at teaching adults and trying to understand how adults learn. One of the things that stood out for me was the difference in the way children and adults process new information that is given to them.

Children tend to accept what an authority figure tells them and accept it as truth. I think most parents have heard their child saying “Teacher said so”. Adults on the other hand will process the information against their current knowledge and their own experience.

When Jesus taught he demonstrated that he understood the community and the world around him. It was also the world of experiences which his listeners shared. He took what they understood and had experienced so often and drew images in their minds which allowed them to see the Kingdom truths.

When he teaches about his relationship with God the Father, and the relationship of the Disciples with him, and that it must be a productive relationship, he draws a mind picture of a vine and the farmer. He talks about the careful process of maximising the potential of the vine to produce fruit. The Disciples understand the mind picture, so they understand his teacing.

John 15:1-8 (The Message)

1-3 "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
4 "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5-8 "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

[Listen http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3064.mp3 ]

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled:

Chorus
No, never alone, no, never alone,
He promised he never would leave me,
Never, no never, alone.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid!
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow,
For I will be with thee thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to its foes;
That soul, though all Hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Author: Anon
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 653

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