How do you learn new things? Some of us learn by reading about it in a book. Others learn new things by listening to a podcast or the radio. Yet, others learn by seeing it on TV. However, it becomes ingrained in our minds through practice. No wonder we have to put so many hours behind the wheel before taking that driving test or we first try making and tasting a new dish ourselves before serving it to our guests.
And there is research to back up this assertion. It is called the “70:20:10” principle. That is, 70% of our learning comes by doing, either through on-the-job training or trial and error. 20% of our learning comes by interaction through feedback, coaching, or mentoring. The final 10% of learning comes by listening whether through conferences, seminars, courses, or formal/classroom education.
Unfortunately, the Church often applies this principle backwards. We tend to devote 70% to teaching, 20% to talking about it, and only spending 10% to doing it. We reinforce this with our participation. We are comfortable with the arrangement of spending more time listening to a sermon or discussing a passage in Sunday school or in a Bible study than applying through action. Thankfully, we are beginning to reverse the trend. Instead of just talking about missions, some of us actually went out to serve the refugees in Sacramento. Instead of just talking about discipleship, a group went on campus to share the gospel and had amazing results.
When we look into the Scriptures, we will discover that effective learning took place at the 70% doing, 20% interaction, and 10% teaching ratio. Before Joshua took over for Moses in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, he had been Moses’ personal assistant since his youth (Exodus 33:11). Ruth the Moabite watched how her mother-in- law, Naomi, dealt with personal tragedy (a famine and the death of her husband and two sons). This observation led to her faith declaration of Naomi’s God becoming her God (Ruth 1:16). Jesus spent three years with his disciples not only teaching them but sending them out on missions (Mark 6:7). The Apostle Paul after discipling Titus, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila, sent them out to minister to various churches (Titus 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 4:9-13).
Summers are often filled with activities that lend towards learning by doing opportunities. During your family trips and vacations, model your faith by visiting a church on a Sunday, rotating praying for meals, or sharing faith-related stories during the long drives. Summers are also times for learn-by-doing activities like missions trips, camps, retreats, and Vacation Bible School (VBS). Oftentimes, life-changing decisions are made during those church-related activities. Some to salvation and others choosing to walk closer with the Lord.
The key to making such activities as learn-by-doing events is planning. Being intentional. Church-related activities usually have an intentional learning by doing component. So, parents partner with the activities coordinators and find out what your children are learning and see how you can reinforce that new information, skills, biblical principles, and application at home. Adults and youths should look for accountability partners to remind them of the commitments made. The best influencers are those who model what they “preach.”
