[The believers in Jesus] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. -Acts 2:42

Part of my job is to keep learning. In the contract outlining the call to congregational ministry in the ELCA, there is a place to indicate how much time is allotted by the congregation for continuing education (two weeks is typical), and on the annual report to the bishop, there is a place for a pastor to report how that continuing education was spent. I’ve attended workshops and conferences about preaching, leadership, Bible study, church history, administrative skills, staff management, adaptive change, youth ministry, pastoral care, and many other topics over the years.

Of course, it’s not just pastors who are required to be lifelong learners. Nurses, CPAs, teachers, therapists, and more are regularly expected to spend time learning in order to stay at the top of their game. None of us can expect that once we complete a program or degree that we’re done learning. A doctor might need to learn new strategies for surgery. A graphic designer might need to learn a new program. A construction worker might need to learn a new skill for a project.

Christians also need to learn. Sometimes, in church, we make the mistake of thinking that learning is for kids, and that once we’ve completed confirmation, or high school, or some other milestone, that we’re finished learning. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Christians are called to be lifelong learners. Jesus was even called Teacher by his disciples. Disciples, by the way, means students! Learning is central to being a follower of Jesus.

I was thinking about learning as an important part of our Christian discipleship as I worked today on a plan for adult education topics at Resurrection this year. I wanted to balance topics, speakers, and formats to make that hour between services on Sunday morning as worthwhile as possible. I’m pretty excited about what’s in store, to be honest. I take learning seriously, and I know many others at RLC do, too.

There are lots of ways to learn as disciples of Jesus, not just the Sunday morning variety. You might join a Bible study group, like the ones on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings at RLC. Or you might try a book group at this fall’s Faith Cafe. Maybe you’re a solo learner, and you like to read or watch videos on your own. All good options! The only bad option is choosing not to learn.

How will you make learning part of your discipleship this year? We all have a call from God to be students who continue to learn.