2 Timothy

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NASB	2 Timothy 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
AMPLIFIED 2015	2 Timothy 2:23 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.

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Bible Question (short): How do we learn?

Question (full): How do we learn to ask good questions? How do I learn to do the other things a Christian has to do?

This is an attempt to provoke discussion of, and hopefully some action on, an important question. I did not think or expect that the previous question would bring an end to the discussion, and I hope it did not offend anyone. In fact, if I may, I would like to ask it again in a different form.

But now I am at a loss to find the appropriate phrasing. I hope that the lead, above, will serve.

To preface the question is also difficult. But have you noticed that teaching in the church is somewhat different from teaching in a secular school? The school seems to teach us to do things. It gives us skills. The church, on the other hand, seems to teach us mainly how to talk.

In this case, it does not even teach us how to ask questions. What if the people need to learn how to do that?

The epistles are written to the church and they give us things to do. We preach to people that these things need to be done. Should there not be people to give them the skills.

I am suggesting here that teaching consists of several steps and that announcing what is to be done is only the first step. A second step is to demonstrate or model the skill after ensuring that the students are observing, paying attention. A third step is to give the student a chance to copy the skill, to ask them to follow the example. A fourth step is to give the student feedback, hopefully positive, but corrective if necessary, on his performance. A fifth step is to encourage continued practice and application of the skill.

I suggest that it is impossible to teach without having recognized and respected teachers who are willing to do all of the above. Likewise it is impossible to learn much without being a part of the above, on the receiving end. Lastly, I suggest that teaching and learning go together.

Have you noticed that that is how people learn to pray? That is how they acquire other skills as well. That is how they learn to ask proper questions. If they are willing to learn that, then perhaps they will also be willing to learn to do the things related to their question.

In all of this I assume that people ask questions in order to learn. But that, I suppose, is a big assumption. Some may ask a question when they already know the answer, so that others can learn. Others may ask for other reasons. It is to be hoped that people want to know something in order to do something.

I have suggested that it is up the leaders of this forum to "avoid foolish and unlearned question". One way to do it is to teach us how to ask proper questions. How do they do that? I'd like to suggest that the method is given in the verses following.

"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will".