There was a point in my life when I believed that Christian growth was simply about knowledge. Honestly, knowledge was a huge idol of mine, and I believed the more I fed this idol, the more holy I would become. Maybe you've been there? If so, you know that the accumulation of Biblical and theological trivia does not magically render a Christian holy. I was a shining example of this fact. Much of the information was in place, but my life was stale and hard. Christianity was beginning to make more sense, while my life was simultaneously a mess.

This is why pastoring college students (or anybody!) can be a tricky process. As sinners, we're always tempted to worship the thing we've learned over and above what that thing is pointing us unto. Some worship evangelistic skills, or a particular discipleship method, or how to have the perfect "quiet time". During the process of learning we often desire to put our faith and confidence in the process instead of in Jesus.

In RUF, one of our presuppositions is simply that learning is a process, and for each person that process may look very different. As a student in RUF, I had campus ministers who demonstrated to me that Christianity is about more than just downloading information; rather, it is about putting that information into motion by faith. This has taught me much as a pastor, because I know that simply relating the information, or training an eager student to lead a Bible study, is not enough. Just because an individual has good answers or an abundance of enthusiasm does not necessarily mean they are learning what it means to follow Christ.

We use an acronym to help us remember how to implement this learning process: TDOEE. Teaching God's Word is the crucial first step. This might seem obvious, but it's really not. Often the temptation is to teach people a methodology first. This will only lead to moralism. The Holy Spirit works through the Bible to bring us to repentance and change us. More and more, the students I encounter know little to nothing about what the Bible actually says, although they might be steeped in Christian lingo and morality. This is why the second step must be to Demonstrate a life changed by the Gospel. Students must see their pastors living a life of repentance and faith upon Jesus alone. They must see that we too are in the midst of the learning process, and are continually being changed by God's Word.

The next three steps may be the most difficult because they involve a tremendous amount of patience and love. Students must be Observed to see if they are actually being positively changed by the gospel. Are true fruits of the Spirit appearing in the lives of these students? This is not an overnight process. And as they are being observed, they must also be Evaluated. Undoubtedly, this is can be a very difficult thing to do. We have to say things to students that they typically do not want to hear, but do it in a way that shows them the love of Christ. And so, the last step, and one which is employed throughout the learning process, is to Encourage. Students need to know that someone is rooting for them-true teaching involves patiently loving the student through the entire process.

And thus, what we desire students to learn in this process is utter dependence upon the grace of God. We long to see students repent from leaning upon their own understanding, and to embrace the true wisdom of God's Word.