“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
The Few
Paul names four distinct verbs here, learned, received, heard, seen, worth noticing this comprehensive range, not merely verbal instruction alone, learned and heard, but also received and seen, this fuller, more embodied range of ways Paul’s own life had actually, genuinely taught the Philippians beyond words alone.
This is worth examining against however much your own teaching of others has relied narrowly on only one of these four verbs, perhaps heard alone, verbal instruction, while received and seen, the more embodied, observed dimensions of genuine example, have remained comparatively thin or underdeveloped.
Notice do, the specific instruction following this fourfold list, not merely admire or remember, but do, active imitation of this whole comprehensive range, worth holding as the actual, intended outcome, not passive reception of teaching but active doing, following this fuller pattern Paul had actually modeled.
Consider today whether whoever you are discipling has genuinely learned, received, heard, and seen from you, this comprehensive range, or whether your own investment has remained narrower, and consider what it would mean to actually broaden your own example across this fuller, more embodied pattern Paul names directly.
Pour Into the Few
- Examine which of these four verbs, learned, received, heard, seen, has been thinnest in your own teaching.
- Strengthen that specific dimension today, broadening your example beyond merely verbal instruction.
- Encourage whoever you disciple to actually do, not merely admire, what they have learned from you.
Prayer
Lord, let whoever I disciple genuinely learn, receive, hear, and see from me, this fuller, comprehensive range, and let them actually do it, not merely admire or remember it. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine example is comprehensive, learned, received, heard, and seen, not merely one dimension.