The Lamad Method of Christian Education

The Hebrew language uses one root (lamad) for the two words "to teach" and "to learn." In the Hebrew culture, the teacher has not taught unless the student has learned. All learning and teaching is ultimately to be found in the fear of the Lord. The goal of teaching is not the impartation of facts but the changing of lives. For the Hebrew, knowledge (yadah) involves personal encounter and response to God's revelation.

In the lamad method of learning, we are returning to the Hebraic concept of education, including this personal encounter and revelation. The classroom becomes a place of impassioned discussion and the sharing of real life experience. It is a place where we meet God and share in the life experiences of others. It is a place where we practice truth. The classroom is not separated from life but is actually part of our lives.

Lamad Lifelong Learning

Learning is to be lifelong. It is impossible to cram education into the early years of our lives. Learning, transformation, assimilation, and creativity are lifelong matters, with extended periods of time being given to first one topic and then another, until one's giftedness has been multiplied many fold (Matt. 25:20).

Lamad Key Components

The Greeks emphasized "detached information," while the Hebrews stressed "personal encounter." It was important to the Hebrews that each learner personally encounter and be transformed by what was before him. Spiritual encounter and response to the revelation of God is the central dynamic of Scripture. Life is the classroom. If we offer classes, we must make sure they are life encounters in which we practice truth.

Goal of Instruction

Lamad learning recognizes the GOAL of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (I Tim. 1:5). You will notice that all of these are HEART realities. The mind is made to serve the heart. All training is to be heart-focused. Mankind has been FORBIDDEN to eat from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." Instead, he is to eat from the "Tree of Life," Jesus Christ!

Lamad Teaching Techniques

Personal encounter demands a teaching style of guided self-discovery, where the student is guided in his own uncovering of the truth. Lamad learning encourages the flow of revelation within the hearts of the students. Discovery often happens best in a lively interchange within the classroom. Therefore, effective group interaction must be promoted and guided by the lamad teacher.

The Abiding Realities

"Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (I Cor. 13:13). Certain things are central to life and eternity; others are not. Anger, fear, and doubt are temporary and will be swallowed by love. The lamad curriculum constantly emphasizes the abiding realities, instilling them in the lives of its students.

The Trinity

Man is to live caught in the flow of God. This is accomplished by lifting up our eyes in worship to the King, becoming consumed by His presence. While we are in the Lord's presence, we acknowledge that we no longer live, but that Christ is our life, and the life we now live is by faith (Gal. 2:20). We live out of daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit, recognizing that everything done outside of divine flow is a dead work.
For more in depth information about the Lamad method of Christian Education, please visit the Christian Leadership University website:

http://www.cluonline.com/section1.htm#lamad