Not What to Think, But How to Think
How a low-key and relational approach to training can foster deep discipleship
This is part one of three on the theology, strategy and practice of Berea, the local church training programming at Soul Revival Church.
View Part Two on the Strategy of Berea Training here.
View Part Three on the Practice of Berea Training here.
This week on The Shock Absorber podcast, Joel McMaster, Stu Crawshaw and I began a new mini-series, taking on the Theology-Strategy-Practice for Soul Revival Church’s internal ministry training program called Berea. Focusing this week on the theology of training church members, we explore why teaching our people how to think—rather than what to think—is essential for Christian discipleship.
Flowing out of our church’s values of being low-key, long-term, and relational, we discuss how these values have shaped the investment in physical spaces where people can wrestle with ideas rather than simply be told what to believe. For Soul Revival Church, this approach is rooted in the story of Berea, a ministry that began in Stu’s house over 20 years ago. Inspired by the Jesus Movement of the 1960s, social movements out of Berkeley, and the intellectual community of L'Abri in Switzerland, Berea was built on the idea of setting aside time to ask, What does it look like to be a Christian today? and How should that shape ministry?
Once we’ve chatted about the history of Berea, we then get into the meat of why it is valuable for local churches to be engaged in some form of training of their members—focusing on how to think biblically while remaining grounded in Christian convictions. What if discipleship was built around relationships with God and each other? What if, rather than relying on structured courses and programs, churches created spaces where Christians could sit, read, and think deeply about Scripture? By reclaiming the pre-industrial revolution model of learning through apprenticeship, Berea has helped many rethink their theological convictions—sometimes even leading them to leave Soul Revival in love.
Finally, we reflect on the ongoing nature of spiritual growth and the expectation on Christians that we will continually expand our thoughts, affections, and feelings toward God. Learning doesn’t stop—it’s a lifelong pursuit.
Also in this episode:
How local training complements formal and denominational training
Why Apple’s “Crush” advertisement failed to understand our current cultural moment
How progressive movements often attempt to reset culture by dismissing the past
Listen along on your favourite podcast platform, or watch the conversation on the YouTube link below.