Lamad Biblical Education Association Real life, biblically-grounded, revelation-based learning Authenticated by the power of God! Restoring the Holy Spirit to His rightful place as the primary Teacher in our midst Co-Authors Dr. Mark Virkler | Rev. Maurice Fuller | Dr. Gary Greig | Dr. Ed Kuhn Lamad Biblical Education Association Ø Beginning with real life issues Ø Receiving enlightenment from God Ø Experiencing transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit Lamad Curriculum requires the reader interact with: Ø Life Ø The Word Ø The Holy Spirit [email protected] 1-800-466-6961 or 716-681-4896 www.cwgministries.org/LamadDefinition © 2003 – May be freely reproduced Contents Introduction: Why Is the Lamad Educational Model Necessary?..........................................ix Section One: A Bible Meditation on Lamad Learning ..............................................................1 Ø Meditation on Scriptures about Lamad Teaching........................................5 Ø Personal Application: Two-way Journaling Response...............................10 Section Two: A Biblical Review of Lamad Educational Style..................................................11 Ø Lamad Learning in the Old Testament.........................................................11 Ø Lamad Learning in the New Testament.......................................................14 Section ree: A Practical Review of Lamad Educational Style.............................................19 Ø An Overview of Lamad Learning..................................................................19 Ø Key Emphases of Lamad Learning................................................................20 Ø e Lamad Method of Learning....................................................................25 Ø e Lamad Paradigm for Discovering Truth...............................................26 Ø Study vs. Meditation.........................................................................................28 Ø How to Receive Revelation Knowledge .......................................................30 Ø Narrative eology: e Place of Story in Spirit-Anointed Teaching....32 Ø How to Develop Lamad Discussion Questions...........................................34 Ø A Lamad Classroom Methodology...............................................................35 Ø How to Lead Lamad Discussion Groups......................................................36 Ø Lamad Instructor Evaluation Form...............................................................37 Ø A Summary of Epistemological Focuses......................................................38 Section Four: Certification for Lamad Instructors and Additional Lamad Resources......39 Ø Requirements for Initial Certification...........................................................39 Ø Requirements to Maintain Certification......................................................40 Ø An Example of the Lamad Teacher Certificate...........................................43 Ø Lamad Teacher Certification Application/Renewal Form........................44 Introduction Why Is the Lamad Educational Model Necessary? Lamad is a Hebrew word in the Old Testament den all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” which is translated “to teach” and “to learn.” It is (Col.2:3). It receives information from God not used 86 times, and it represents a style of teaching only through inspired thoughts but also through that is significantly different from Western teach- dreams, visions, prophecy and other gifts of the ing. Spirit. “While Greek uses two different words for ‘to Western education, on the other hand, relies upon learn’…and ‘to teach’…, each having its own con- mere human reasoning (rationalism). Because tent, goal, and methods, Hebrew uses the same they reason without God and exalt self-effort, they root for both words because all learning and end up with a mixture of distortion and darkness. teaching are ultimately to be found in the fear of (See Rom.1:18-25) But, it is not only unbelievers the Lord (Deut. 4:10; 14:23; 17:19; 31:12-13). To who attempt to find knowledge through mere hu- learn this is to come to terms with the will and law man reasoning. Too much of our Bible and theo- of God…anyone who knows anything has learned logical education in the West utilizes the same it from [the Lord], the source of all truth.” (eo- principles and methods as those who do not know logical Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copy- God. right (c) 1980 by e Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.) Let us explore what is at the heart of “Lamad Learning,” biblically speaking, and how it has Lamad learning involves the heart as well as the different goals, different processes and different head, both being informed by the Holy Spirit, results from Western “Christian” education. e resulting not in mere intellectual knowledge but following testimonies describe the effects of these in revelation knowledge. It involves an intimate two educational processes on individuals whose relationship with Jesus Christ “in whom are hid- hearts were hungering after God. viii Lamad Biblical Education Association Introduction ix Testimony of Frank Gaydos, one who did portant. I was still of the mindset that I could find God through knowledge. My wife and I were both not experience lamad courses disappointed in the Bible school. Something was Frank describes the effect that his salvation expe- wrong there but we couldn’t put our finger on it so rience and his Bible school education had on his we decided to go to an accredited Bible College. life. How many times have you heard his story re- We thought that Bible College would surely have peated in others’ lives? the answers since they were accredited. So off we went to New York and attended an accredited “I felt different, as if everything was new, and I Bible College. had a strange perception of light in my inner be- ing that I could not explain. It was as if Jesus was “After a year of that, my wife and I returned home a real part of me now, as if in one moment’s time to Pennsylvania and I went into business. e I somehow came to know the Lord intimately. Bible College was a disappointment; it was exactly Within the next few days I noticed many changes. the same as the earlier Bible school. I didn’t want All compelling desires for women had somehow more theology about God. I didn’t want more vanished, I stopped cursing immediately as if my doctrine about God. I didn’t want more philoso- mouth had somehow been cleansed, and I felt phy about God or psychology. I wanted to know peace, a lot of peace. I had a new love for people God. I wanted to experience His presence and and the church, and a great desire to read the power as I had in the beginning when I first re- Bible. ceived the Holy Spirit. “In those days Jesus was not a theology, a psychol- “I became successful as a businessman and con- ogy, a philosophy of life, or a doctrine. He was tinued my search for the truth. I asked the Holy a real Person Whose life I felt inside of my own Spirit to be my Teacher because I couldn’t find body. I also had a new desire to tell people about what I was looking for in the educational system.” Jesus and I was especially attracted to the healing message in the Bible. I wanted to learn all I could about divine healing so I could lay hands on peo- Testimonies of those who did experience ple and see them healed like Jesus. After all, that is lamad courses what Jesus said we should be doing. Leslie Bresee: “ese courses are great and just the kind of thing I want to spend my time and “I chose to go to Bible school and study to be a money on! A big difference is the surprising minister. After a year of Bible school things had amount of time that I need to get the work done. changed. I didn’t have the same feeling of Jesus e work is of such a different nature than the inside of me that I did at first. I didn’t have any typical college course. ose assignments largely peace or love. Reading the Bible had become a consist of reading, highlighting, and memorizing chore to get good grades instead of a pleasure. All for tests. Your courses slow me down, for they of my sins had returned but even worse this time. require deeper knowing, some repentance, and After two years of Bible school I was utterly mis- some time to absorb what I am learning. It is more erable, but I was full of the theological, psycho- of a devotional learning.” logical, philosophical, and doctrinal knowledge of God. e very education that I thought would Ken Day: “I wanted to send you a note of thanks increase my experience with God totally took it for your God-given vision and university. I started away and left me a miserable human being. is I my seminary education through distance educa- could not figure out. I left Bible school and mar- tion at a traditional University. Even though it ried my fiancée. was regionally accredited and had good courses, it never seemed to excite me or change anything “Even though I was receiving dreams and visions, about me. However, one day I stumbled upon I had no desire at all to enter into the world of your university through the Internet. As I read dreams and visions. To me this world was unim- your materials I knew it was for me. viii Lamad Biblical Education Association Introduction ix “I am now enrolled and near completion of my is so incredible -- I have developed a hunger for M.Min. degree. e Lamad method of delight- God and for learning that I have lacked the first 32 centered education has changed the way I feel years of my life. I am so excited to finally start to about learning. I always knew that God wanted to receive a clearer picture of what my purpose is in communicate with me and I certainly wanted to this life and it is so incredible!!!” communicate with Him. As I am becoming closer to God and hearing His voice more clearly, I seem Jim Willis: “We ran the course for the whole year to enjoy life more and have greater faith. Yet, I last year and were blessed out of our socks. ere have learned that those from traditional churches was hardly a night that the Holy Spirit Himself reject the Spirit-filled life of a believer. When I didn’t come and minister to us. Many of the group, learned this I was hurt, however, as I read about we included, have put into our lives many of the Jesus’ life I realized I was in good company. e biblical principles that you taught. ank you for traditional church rejected Him for some of the being obedient in putting the series down; it con- same reasons. tinues to bless us so much.” Australia “ank God for your University and the vision He Conchita: “I am so blessed with every course I has given you. I intend to complete my PhD with take. I shared Gifted to Succeed and Achieving your university and follow my heart as the Spirit Your Potential while in Bolivia. e Lord’s laborers leads. I know God has exciting plans for me and were really blessed with the teachings. I left infor- it is an honor to be part of this God-given vision. mation for them to contact you directly for further I recommend your University highly. I pray daily information.” that God will increase your student enrollment and your university becomes world renowned in Cindy: “Greetings from Taiwan. I have just com- Christian education.” pleted the course Counseled by God and I have to say that it has been one of the most life-chang- Vanessa Tinsley: “I am truly inspired by your uni- ing things I have ever done. e principles in the versity. God has done such an accelerated work in course touched me and ministered to me very my life since I began with you. I am currently tak- deeply. On one of the tapes, one of the gentlemen ing Counseled by God and I just can’t get enough from Australia was giving a testimony and he said, of it. It is so beautifully and practically written. I ‘We don’t ask Jesus to help us do something, we am also taking the course on Dream Interpreta- ask Him to do it.’ en you repeated that state- tion. I never realized how filled the Bible is with ment just after him. at revelation has changed dream and vision. All the years of reading and my life. It is amazing the things the Lord is doing studying and I just missed it. I am only on lesson now as I realize it’s Him doing it through me. I’m three and I have already learned so much about just the vessel. ank you so much for the teach- myself and become open in a whole new way to ing and I am looking forward to the next course.” the voice of God. I never thought I could ask for Taiwan Him to speak to me that way. Hallelujah! ank you for what you have done in putting this all to- Julius Laggah: “I enrolled in your university with gether. I am amazed at how much you and your the desire to quickly run through the courses and wife have accomplished in putting all this curricu- have my master’s degree. But as I began to read lum together. God bless you with new inspiration the courses, all of a sudden my approach to the and revelation.” whole curriculum changed. I began to take my time to study and prayerfully allow God to change Amy Ivey: “I wanted to take a moment and my life through them. I never knew how shallow THANK YOU for allowing God to use you in I was spiritually and how insensitive I was to the such an important and meaningful way. I have Holy Spirit until I began studying these courses. I recently enrolled with your university through a give God all the glory for this opportunity.” Sierra local church and am three weeks into Commu- Leone nion With God as a self-study. WOW!!! Your class