Warriors of the Word

When was the last time you did some truly deep learning—not just memorizing some facts and figures to pass an exam, or discovering more about a hobby or personal interest, but the kind of profound learning that transforms the mind, penetrates the heart, and produces a renewed life?

Being a disciple of Christ—a deep learner of Christ—has always been at the heart of the Christian life. But in a culture that pushes us to choose the path of least resistance, the idea of learning Christ is becoming a lost art. For those who fight against this trend and dedicate themselves to learning Christ, the rewards are abundant—and eternal.

In Warriors of the Word, experienced pastor and author Colin Marshall provides a much-needed field manual to guide you in your lifelong pursuit of learning Christ. With his trademark inspiring yet accessible approach, Marshall reveals what the Lord Jesus calls us to learn as his disciples, why it’s worth the effort, and how this kind of deep learning can become part of your daily life.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part A: Disciples are learners

1. Valuing learning

2. What kind of learning do we need?

Part B: The problem of stalled learning

3. Good teachers, but what about us learners?

4. We are losing the learning wars

5. Learning Christ is a fight

Part C: The privileges of learning Christ

6. Chosen

7. Saved

8. Transformed

Part D: Power for learning Christ

9. Learning the Christ of Scripture

10. Learning the doctrines of Christ

11. Learning Christ in prayer and suffering

12. Learning in the body of Christ

Part E: Progress in learning Christ

13. Learning Christ in church and household

14. Personal learning

15. Learning to fight for Christ in a hostile world

Conclusion

Appendix A: An example of reading the Bible theologically

Appendix B: Some theological resources

Colin (Col) Marshall has spent the past 50 years training men and women in Christian discipleship and ministry, both in university and local church contexts. He served as CEO of the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) and was the founder of the Vinegrowers ministry, which helps pastors to build churches with a disciple-making culture. His previous books reflect his experience and passion to equip church leaders and members as learners of Christ: Growth Groups, Passing the Baton, and with Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine and The Vine Project. He is married to Jacquie, who has shared with him in this lifetime of ministry, and they have been blessed with three now adult children and six grandchildren.

The word we translate ‘disciple’ means ‘learner’, and so being a Christ-disciple simply means ‘learning Christ’—learning his word, his love, his way of living. From a lifetime of this kind of learning, Col Marshall has a profound understanding not only of how this learning proceeds, but why we find it difficult, given the obstacles and opposing forces we face. I warmly recommend his rich and stirring challenge for us to keep learning Christ, and to build churches that are learning communities.

—Tony Payne, Lecturer in Christian Thought, Moore Theological College, Australia

Here is a Col Marshall book—not simply a book written by Col Marshall, but a book of Col Marshall as he shares his struggle and passion for learning Christ in a hostile world. Working with Col for several decades was always an encouraging challenge as I watched his persistent fight to learn more of putting God’s word into practice.

—Phillip Jensen, Bible teacher and evangelist, Two Ways Ministries, Australia

Warriors of the Word is rooted in Col Marshall’s experience of decades of personal Christian discipleship, and his practice training multiple Christian disciples. In an age when techniques and methods for Christian growth abound, the biblical emphasis on ‘learning Christ’ as the means to maturity is both liberating and refreshing. It has done me good to read it, and I already have in mind a number of people to whom I would like to give it. I highly recommend this book. 

—William Taylor, Rector, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, London, UK

This book is a humble, gentle, vulnerable and yet urgent call to take living for the Lord Jesus seriously while we have breath. Col puts his arm around our shoulders and patiently walks us through the challenges of keeping going and keeping growing in a way that makes me long to keep learning Christ. Warriors of the Word is a deeply heartfelt word from one who has invested his life in proclaiming Christ, and now is determined to keep pressing on. I was deeply encouraged by reading it and pray that you will be too.

—Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College, Australia

How do we live out our new identity in Christ? Col Marshall’s answer is warm, practical, and personal as he argues that we do so as lifelong learners of Christ, individually and in community. He is concerned that in a world that is battling for our hearts and minds, it is possible for our learning to stall, plateau, or get stuck. Marshall’s book, which includes reflection questions at the end of each chapter, is for anyone to read on their own with a Bible and journal on hand, or in discipling contexts with others. It helpfully teaches that being Christ’s disciple is daily and lifelong devotion to the theologically deep and rich truths about Christ that motivate us prayerfully to live like him.

—Veronica Hoyt, Director, Priscilla and Aquila Centre, Moore Theological College, Australia

This book was good for my own heart. As a pastor of a local church, I am keenly aware that the occupational hazard for church leaders is to become professional Christians. I am so grateful for Col’s personal conviction of the importance of continuing to learn Christ—present continuous tense. It revealed my own heart’s propensity to slip into apathy and presumption. I found myself praying that I would delight in the journey to keep learning Christ. 

But this book is also a great tool for discipling others. Col’s warm, real and convicting challenge is that learning Christ is a community project. I know that many of us are grateful to God for Col’s lifelong emphasis on, and commitment to, discipleship. 

The book is wonderfully accessible, written for every Christian. It is honest and hard-hitting—with a lovely feature of Col’s personal confessions, which are raw and real, and will resonate with anyone who has been on the road for a while. There is a tone of fatherly, patient instruction, which I found refreshing. This book is a great resource, both to refresh Christian leaders and to use in discipling others. I warmly welcome it.

—Grant Retief, Senior Minister, Christ Church Stellenbosch, South Africa

Don’t read this book if you want a stale, spoonfed Christian life! 

With the strength and kindness of a spiritual father, Col names my foolishness and reignites my heart to the joy and privilege of learning Christ.

—Di Warren, Co-founder, EQUIP Women, Australia

Both Colin Marshall’s life and ministry have sought to deepen the knowledge of Christ in the lives of Christian disciples. The disciple never removes the ‘learner plates’—not until we see Christ face to face. Col’s writings have helped countless people come to know Christ, who have then shared that knowledge with others. This book continues in that vein. Col’s honest identification of the possible pitfalls of familiarity, world-weariness and jaded effort, and his incisive, relevant reasoning, make this book an essential read. It isn’t written by someone detached from the realities of daily discipleship, but by an enduring disciple. I have been challenged, taught, shaped and blessed by Col’s pastoral intelligence, warmth and loving heart to see Christ grow in me.

—Trevor Johnston, Rector, St Nicholas and All Saints Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland