Learning Can Still Be for You

There’s a group of people in every church maybe you're one of them who never really loved school, never got great grades, and would rather fix something with their hands than sit with a book. Maybe the idea of “lifelong learning” sounds academic, even pretentious. For many, learning feels like a duty they were glad to leave behind at graduation. But what if learning wasn’t about returning to the classroom? What if God has something better, more personal, and surprisingly joyful in store?

A Different Kind of Learner

Let’s be honest. Not everyone is wired the same. Some people find joy in reading, analyzing, and discovering. Others are practical doers who learn by watching a video or jumping into a project. Studies show that 65% of people are visual learners, preferring images, videos, or hands-on demonstrations over written instruction. That’s not a flaw — it’s just a different style. The world needs both thinkers and doers.

But even the most practical of us have room to grow in what Scripture calls “the knowledge of God.” It’s not about being academic or scholarly. It’s about knowing more of Christ, understanding His grace more deeply, and living a fuller life because of it. The Bible doesn’t command us to get a degree — it calls us to grow.

What the Bible Actually Says About Growth

When Peter exhorts us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), he’s not asking us to return to school. He’s calling us into a deeper relationship with Christ. Similarly, Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:10 is that we would be “increasing in the knowledge of God.” Hosea reminds us that “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), urging us to press on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3).

These are not academic pursuits they’re spiritual ones. And they’re not reserved for the intellectually inclined. They are invitations to every believer, regardless of background, reading level, or personality type.

It's Not the Outcome You Dislike It’s the Process

Let’s say you don’t enjoy the act of reading or studying. That doesn’t mean you dislike learning. Think about it: if someone offered you a new insight into God’s character, a truth that would increase your joy or comfort you in sorrow, would you turn it down? Of course not.

The issue, then, may not be the outcome of learning but the process. Reading, thinking deeply, or studying can feel burdensome if it’s not how you’re wired. But that doesn't disqualify you from growth. It just means the path might look different.

Learning Happens in Community

If you’re not a reader, find a Bible-teaching church. Listen intently to sermons. Join a small group and participate in discussion. Ask questions. Even Jesus’ disciples learned primarily through listening and doing, not by reading textbooks.

In fact, research by Lifeway found that over 90% of believers grow most significantly in their faith through regular preaching and small group involvement. You don’t have to read stacks of theology books to know God more deeply you just need to engage with His Word and His people.

Ask God to Show You Your Path

Not every growth path is obvious. Some of the most powerful learning comes from experiences we didn’t seek or expect. The Apostle Paul said, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). That includes how you grow and learn.

Maybe your path to learning is through podcasts, music, visual Bible studies, or one-on-one discipleship. Ask God to reveal how you can grow in knowledge and grace, and then trust Him to lead you in a way that fits your personality even if it stretches you a little.

Don’t Underestimate What God Can Do

People change. Interests change. Sometimes what once bored you can, suddenly and without explanation, become a passion. One man hated reading until the 11th grade, then fell in love with it and never looked back. Another man barely scraped through high school, joined the military, then enrolled in Bible college. A third man floundered through school, worked a minimum-wage job, then, thanks to a loving push from his wife, graduated from design school and now works with companies worldwide.

These aren't exceptions they’re stories of God working in unexpected ways.

In fact, according to Pew Research, over 70% of adults in the U.S. pursue learning after formal education, often discovering interests they never had during their school years. You're never too old, and it's never too late.

Today Might Be the Turning Point

It’s easy to believe that how you are today is how you’ll always be. But that’s not the gospel. Jesus makes all things new even your desire to grow, to learn, to know Him more. He transforms not just our destiny but our character, our minds, and our hearts.

So if you don’t love learning today, that’s okay. Start with a prayer: “Lord, help me grow in the way You’ve made me. Show me the path You’ve prepared.” Stay in church. Stay connected. Stay open. The adventure of lifelong learning may not begin with a textbook it may begin with a step of faith.

You just might be surprised.

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