Learning Jesus: Forming Christlike Character Through the Gospels

The fourth missional habit, “learn Jesus,” calls believers past collecting information about Christ into a life shaped by his character. The difference is like using an iPhone, driving a car, or baking cookies without really understanding how any of it works. Jesus can become familiar without becoming central. The question is not simply whether people know the stories, the songs, the theology, Christmas, and Easter. The question is whether they really know Jesus well enough to let him change them.

Jesus called Peter, Andrew, and the other disciples to apprentice under him. The disciples watched how Jesus handled rejection, touched the untouchable, treated women and children, rested, prayed, forgave, confronted power, and used power. The Gospels give later disciples this same gift. Jesus did not imagine that the Twelve would be his only disciples, because “disciple” or “apprentice” fills the New Testament far more than the word “Christian.”

Jesus says that fully trained students become like their teacher. Jesus invites his followers to take his yoke and learn from him, walking beside him in the burdens of life. Jesus washes feet and says, “Do as I have done for you.” The name Christian points toward little ambassadors of Christ, people whose lives help others see what Jesus is like.

The disciples in the Samaritan village show how slowly this learning can happen. James and John wanted to call down fire on people who rejected Jesus, even after years beside the patient and merciful Christ. Jesus rebuked them, chose another village, and made clear that the Son of Man came not to destroy lives but to save them. Jesus does not seek revenge, curse opponents, or use power to punish those who disagree.

The character of Christ grows through thousands of small choices. Sully’s landing on the Hudson was not sudden courage appearing out of nowhere. Training and practiced decisions formed the instincts needed when everything went wrong. Sanctification works in much the same way: the Gospels, the Holy Spirit, effort, and time form patience, kindness, humility, and slowness to anger until Christlike responses become second nature.

Jesus calls believers to read and reread the Gospels with better questions. The Gospels invite attention to how Jesus responds, what Jesus values, how Jesus treats different people, and what Jesus does with rejection and power. Christ’s character must become visible in everyday moments, because people are learning Jesus by watching those who bear his name.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Know Jesus, not just facts Information about Jesus can leave a life mostly unchanged. Familiar stories and correct theology matter, but they are meant to bring a person near enough to Jesus that his way becomes their way. The deeper question is whether Christ is becoming known in the actual responses, habits, and character of daily life. [39:41]
• 2. Apprentice under Christ’s whole life Jesus formed the disciples through close attention to his ordinary and difficult moments. His followers watched his compassion, his courage, his rest, his prayers, and his use of power. The Gospels still place Christ’s life in front of his people so that they can learn not only what he did, but what he is like. [41:16]
• 3. Jesus saves instead of retaliating Jesus refused to destroy the Samaritan village that rejected him. His rebuke of James and John exposes how easily wounded pride can disguise itself as zeal for God. Christ’s ambassadors must remember that rejection does not authorize revenge, contempt, or cruelty. [49:59]
• 4. Small choices form Christlike instincts Character is formed before the crisis comes. Thousands of deliberate choices toward patience, humility, and mercy prepare a person to respond well when pressure is high. The Holy Spirit forms these virtues over time until the character of Jesus begins to feel like second nature.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:43] - The BELLS Missional Habits
• [35:05] - Knowing About Something Versus Knowing It
• [38:41] - Do Believers Really Know Jesus?
• [39:54] - Disciples as Apprentices of Jesus
• [41:16] - Learning Jesus by Watching His Life
• [43:46] - Fully Trained to Be Like Christ
• [46:37] - The Disciples Still Got It Wrong
• [47:37] - James and John Want Fire
• [49:59] - Jesus Came to Save Lives
• [51:56] - Christlike Responses Become Second Nature
• [53:33] - Sanctification Through Small Choices
• [55:06] - Sully and the Hudson River Landing
• [58:26] - Formed by the Gospels and the Spirit
• [60:31] - Questions for Learning Jesus
• [61:16] - Let Others See the Real Jesus

Bible Reading

Luke 9:51–56
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. [47:37]

Matthew 11:28–30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [44:41]

John 13:12–15
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” [45:24]

Luke 6:40
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. [44:15]

Observation questions

1. In Luke 9:51–56, why did the Samaritan village refuse to receive Jesus, and what did James and John want to do in response? [47:37]
2. What does Jesus actually do after rebuking James and John, and what does this show about how he handles rejection?
3. According to Matthew 11:28–30, what does Jesus invite weary people to do, and what words does he use to describe his own heart? [45:11]
4. In John 13:12–15, what specific action does Jesus give as an example for his disciples to follow? [45:24]

Interpretation questions

1. Luke 6:40 says that fully trained disciples become like their teacher. What would it mean for a believer to be trained by Jesus rather than simply informed about Jesus? [44:25]
2. James and John had spent years with Jesus, yet they still responded to rejection with anger and a desire for punishment. Why can wounded pride or loyalty to Jesus sometimes look like spiritual zeal? [48:39]
3. Jesus responds to rejection by moving on to another village instead of seeking revenge. How does this shape the way Christ’s followers should use influence, words, or power when others oppose them? [50:13]
4. Jesus calls people to take his yoke and learn from him because he is gentle and lowly in heart. How do gentleness and humility change the way believers carry difficult relationships and heavy burdens? [44:51]

Application questions

1. Is there a place where it is easier to collect information about Jesus than to let his character change daily reactions—perhaps at home, at work, online, or in traffic? What would “learning Jesus” look like there this week? [39:41]
2. Think of a recent moment when someone rejected, criticized, ignored, or hurt you. What was your first response? How might Jesus’ response to the Samaritan village lead you toward a different response? [50:13]
3. Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart. Where do you most need his gentleness to shape your tone, your words, or your assumptions about another person? [44:41]
4. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and told them to do as he had done. Is there a practical, humble act of service you could offer someone this week, especially someone from whom you receive little in return? [45:31]
5. Christlike character is formed through many small choices before a crisis comes. What small situation regularly tests your patience, humility, kindness, or self-control? What is one Christlike response you could practice in that situation? [53:43]
6. What pattern of reading the Gospels would realistically help you spend more time with Jesus in the coming week? As you read, which question would be most helpful for you: “What does this show me about Jesus?” “How does he respond to people?” or “How does he use power?” [01:00:31]
7. People learn something about Jesus by watching those who bear his name. If someone watched your responses during disagreement, stress, or conflict this week, what picture of Jesus might they see? What do you hope they would see grow in you? [01:01:16]