Lesson 1: Milk of the Word

🍼 Milk of the Word: Establishing the Posture of a Learner

Establishing the posture of a learner begins with humility - a willingness to be taught, corrected, and shaped by truth rather than defending what we already think we know. It is an open, receptive stance that listens before speaking, seeks understanding over certainty, and approaches Scripture with curiosity instead of assumption. This posture creates space for growth, renewal, and genuine transformation. Searching the Scriptures (Act 17:11) becomes a natural expression of this posture, as we approach God’s word with eagerness, expecting to be taught, corrected, and transformed by its truth. Begin by searching the provided Scriptures for the following:

• Seek His face (1Ch 16:11; Psa 105:4; 2Ch 7:14; Hos 5:15)

• Walk in all His ways (Deu 10:12; 11:22; Jos 22:5; 1Ki 8:58)

• Stand firm against worldly pulls (stand firm: 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:10-13; Php 4:1) (resist worldly pulls: Rom 12:2; 1Jn 2:15-17; Jam 4:4; Gal 5:16,17; 1Pe 5:8,9; 2Th 2:15; Psa 1:1-3; Col3:1-3; Tit 2:11,12; 1Co 15:58)

• Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pe 2:9; Col 1:13,14; Eph 5:8-11; Joh 8:12; Act 26:17,18; Isa 9:2; Psa 18:28; 2Co 6:14-18; Rom 13:11-14)

• Return to the ancient paths where the good way is (Jer 6:16; Deu 32:7; Job 8:8-10; Psa 119:105,130; Pro 4:18,19; Isa 58:12; Mat 11:28,29; 2Ti 1:13)

Having stretched the spiritual muscles of curiosity and teachability, we now turn to the milk of the word, beginning with humility. This first nourishment invites us to release assumptions, quiet our defenses, and receive God’s truth with the openness of a learner, ready to grow and be shaped by His Holy Spirit.

1. Humility: The books of the Bible make up a sizable and complex revelation -sixty‑six Spirit‑breathed writings spanning centuries and cultures. A lot to take in, and no one comes to such a vast treasury as an expert. However, to master the Scriptures, we must come as learners, as children, as new wineskins able to stretch and contain the full expansion of the Bible's truths.

Jesus’ teaching about new wine in new wineskins offers a vivid picture of the humility required at the beginning of spiritual growth (Mat 9:17). New wine is alive, expanding, and transformative - just like the living word of God. But it can only be received by a heart made new, soft, and flexible. Old wineskins - rigid, set in their ways, confident in their own structure - burst when confronted with the fresh work of God. In the same way, a seeker cannot receive even the “milk of the word” unless they first lay aside pride, preconceptions, and the instinct to fit God’s truth into old familiar patterns.

Humility becomes the new wineskin: a willingness to be reshaped, to let God define truth, and to allow His word to stretch, cleanse, and renew. Without this posture, the wineskin bursts and the word is spilled; with this posture of humility, the journey of transformation truly begins.

When Jesus speaks of new wine in new wineskins, He is describing the spiritual posture required for anyone who wants to receive truth. God’s doctrine (the teachings that come from God -Joh 7:16) described as new wine is active, living, and expanding. A rigid wineskin cannot receive it. A stretched‑out, hardened, self‑assured vessel will burst. But a new wineskin -soft, humble, willing to be reshaped - can hold the living truth without losing a drop. God stretches us, challenges us, and reshapes us into vessels capable of receiving the “milk of the word” and eventually the deeper, spiritual things of God. Let us look at some biblical examples of the milk of the word:

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:

The apostle Peter urges believing followers of Christ to desire the pure milk of the word so they can grow.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

When Scripture speaks of the oracles of God, it means the very words God has entrusted to His people. When Jesus speaks of doctrine, He means the teaching that comes from those words. The oracles are God speaking through His prophets; doctrine is God teaching through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Heb 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The writer rebukes believers who should be mature but still need milk. Learners must begin with humility, but they must also grow.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Paul’s use of the word “spiritual” is never vague or mystical; it is intensely practical. For him, a spiritual person is simply someone whose life is governed by the Holy Spirit rather than by the old patterns of the flesh. When he says in Corinthians “ I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,” he is not insulting their intelligence but exposing their condition: they had the Holy Spirit, yet they were not yielding to it. In Paul’s writing, we see that spirituality is measured by responsiveness to the Spirit’s transforming work. This makes his warning weighty because to remain “carnal” when the Spirit has been given is to resist the very power God provides for growth.

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto [up to this point] you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.

Paul tells the Corinthians he fed them with milk, not solid food, because they were not ready. Rigid, fleshly hearts cannot receive more. Where did the apostles get this understanding? From the Holy Spirit guiding them through Scripture:

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he [God] teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah describes God teaching His people precept upon precept, line upon line. This is the Old Testament picture of milk leading to meat - small, simple steps for the new learner leading to greater understanding of doctrine. "Here a little and there a little' now requires searching a little in the Old Testament and a little in the New Testament. By doing so, complete pictures are formed and fulfilled prophecy is realized. Jesus understood “milk first, then meat of the word:

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.

Jesus tells His disciples there are truths they are not yet ready to receive. This is the heart of the milk principle: God gives truth in proportion to the vessel’s readiness.

Together, all these passages of Scripture show that “milk of the word” is not a lesser truth; it is foundational truth, given in mercy to those who are humble enough to receive it. And just like new wine requires new wineskins, milk requires a teachable, childlike posture. This sets the stage for the next step:

2. Growth: Growth is the natural next step after taking in the milk of the word. Once we start with humility and a willingness to learn, God does not leave us where we are. He begins to stretch us. Growth just means letting His truth shape us a little more each day. It is not about becoming experts or tackling complicated ideas right away. It is about learning to recognize God’s voice through His prophets and through His Son Jesus Christ (anointed One; Messiah), practicing what we already know, and slowly developing the strength and faith to handle deeper things. This study will follow that path: beginning with the basics, then gradually moving toward a fuller, stronger walk with God. Here are some Scriptures related to growth:

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:

It shows that growth is the expected result of receiving the word with humility.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Growth is not just learning more - it is expanding in grace and in knowing Christ personally.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Growth has a direction: toward Christ Himself and not merely toward information. "But speaking the truth in love" - not judgementally. It is up to the hearer whether or not it will be received - a matter of their own heart before God.

Col 1:10 That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Growth shows up in a life that becomes more fruitful and more aware of God’s ways and truths.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

A gentle warning that believing followers are not meant to stay on milk forever. Growth leads to discernment (between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error, etc…) and the ability to handle “strong meat.” Grasping righteousness increases growth:

Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Remaining planted in the study of the word increases growth:

Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Psa 92:15 To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Growth comes from being well rooted; a stability that leads to flourishing.

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Php 1:10 That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays that love would “abound more and more.” Growth is not only doctrinal; it is relational and practical - meaning it is not only about learning truth; it is about how we treat people and how we display it in our lives.

Growth is what happens when a willing heart keeps taking small steps with God. After we begin with the milk of the word - the basics, received with humility - God starts to shape us a little at a time. Growth is not about becoming scholars or diving into deep doctrines right away. It is about learning to recognize that God wants truth in the inward parts, letting it change how we treat people, and living it out in everyday choices.

Growth is also God continuing His good work in us, no matter how many years we have walked with Him, or sought after Him. In this study, we will follow the steady path of growth together: starting with simple foundations and moving toward a fuller, richer walk with God that still matters, still bears fruit, and still brings Him, and us, joy. Next step:

3. Discernment: Discernment simply means proving all things by learning to tell what is truly from God and what is not. It is the ability to sense, from His word, the difference between what leads us closer to Him and what pulls us away. In biblical terms, discernment is spiritual “good judgment” - seeing things with clearer eyes, understanding what is right, and recognizing when something does not line up with God’s truth; it is just becoming wiser in the choices we make and the voices we listen to as we walk with God.

Discernment is the natural next step after humility and growth because it speaks to something seniors understand deeply: the value of wisdom shaped by years, yet still open to God’s gentle correction. After humility opens the heart and growth strengthens it, discernment teaches us to recognize what is truly from God and what is merely noise. It’s not about judging others or mastering complicated ideas. It is about learning to sense the difference between what helps our walk with God and what hinders it, between what brings peace and what brings confusion. Discernment is simply the steady sharpening of our spiritual eyesight so that as we continue this study, we can walk with clearer understanding, steadier confidence, and a deeper awareness of God’s leading in everyday life. Let us go to the word of God regarding discernment:

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This is the clearest biblical picture of discernment: spiritual senses trained through growth and the steady use of the Scriptures in our daily lives.

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Judgment and discernment walk hand in hand. Discernment is simply good, godly judgment - the ability to look at something and recognize whether it lines up with God’s truth or not. In biblical terms, discernment is judgment guided by the Holy Spirit rather than by impulse or opinion.

Php 1:10 That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ [His return];

Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays that believers would “approve things that are excellent.” “Fruits of righteousness” simply means the good things that begin to show in a person’s life when they walk closely with God. It is the visible evidence of an inward work - actions, attitudes, and choices that reflect His character. In biblical terms, it is the kind of life that shows God has been at work in the heart.

1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

As we are doing now – from God’s word – things that He has shown me as a learner and a teacher; things I am now showing you.

1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

This is where discerning good and evil comes into practice. It means staying away from anything that even looks wrong or could give the wrong impression - choosing a path that keeps our witness clean and our conscience at peace before God and others.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

Which is essentially saying “trust in what His word, His Holy Bible says on a matter, repeatedly in many cases, rather than forming our own opinion on a single Scripture which may appear to point to something else. This can happen due to a misuse of a certain word during translation from the original Hebrew or Greek. However, there are modern translation tools which I myself use to ensure the harmony and accuracy of God’s word.

Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.

Trusting in God with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding is the foundation of discernment – comparing what we see around us to His word. In this way, God directs the path of the one who listens to His word.

Pro 14:15 The simple believe every word: but the prudent man look well to his going.

A gentle reminder that wisdom looks carefully before stepping – proving all things. To what end, spiritually?

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind [requires humility], that you may prove [discern] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Discernment grows into a transformed life of faith in God's commandments as the mind is renewed. Study and prayer exercise and strengthen that faith.

Psa 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed your commandments.

A humble prayer straight from the heart of Scripture. Discernment is the maturing of a believer’s judgment as God’s word is put into daily use. After humility opens the heart and growth strengthens it, discernment teaches us to recognize what is truly from God and what is not. It is the quiet, steady ability to sense the difference between what helps our walk with God and what hinders it, what brings peace and what brings confusion.

Discernment is just good, godly judgment shaped by Scripture, experience, and the Holy Spirit’s gentle leading. As we continue this study, discernment becomes the guiding light that helps us walk wisely and confidently in the path God sets before us. Final introductory step:

4. Renewal: Renewal is the gentle, ongoing work God does inside a believing follower who has already walked many miles with Him as a new wineskin. After humility opens the heart, growth strengthens it, and discernment sharpens it, renewal brings a fresh breath of God’s life into the mind and spirit. It is about allowing God to refresh what time, trials, and burdens (whether physical, mental or both) may have worn down. Renewal clears the fog, softens the hard places, and restores a sense of spiritual brightness. For seniors especially, it offers a hopeful reminder that God is still shaping, still strengthening, and still bringing new life to the inner person - quietly, steadily, and faithfully. Let us see from His word:

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We see that renewal begins in the mind - God reshaping our thoughts so we can recognize His will.

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

A beautiful promise for all but especially elders: even as the body ages, the inner spiritual life can grow fresher and stronger.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing [renewing power] of the Holy Ghost [Spirit];

The Holy Spirit is the very power and presence of God at work within those who receive it - the living essence of God moving, guiding, strengthening, and renewing the believer from the inside out. It is a power that helps our own spirit recognize that we are in His presence. Notice:

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

A humble prayer for inner renewal by the welcomed presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Trust is for any who think they do not have enough strength to endure in faith:

Isa 40:29 He gives power [renewing power] to the faint [weary]; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

This passage gives a beautiful three‑stage picture of spiritual endurance, and each verb carries a distinct layer of meaning when read in its spiritual context.

“Walk, and not faint” speaks to the daily, obedient walk of a believing follower - the steady, faithful steps of trust. To them life is walking by humble faith, and God promises sustaining strength for that quiet faithfulness.

“Run, and not be weary” points to the seasons of intensity - moments of testing through trials, moments of service through teaching His word, or even spiritual demands such as forgiving someone, speaking truth when silence would be easier, or persevering in faith during a long quiet trial. When God calls us to run, He supplies the energy, courage, and clarity needed for the task.

“Mount up with wings as eagles” describes those rare, Spirit‑lifted moments when God carries His people above their circumstances. It is not human effort but divine elevation brought about by divine intervention.

Taken together, the verses teach us that God meets His people with exactly the strength required for whatever season they are in. Whether walking through routine, running through trial, or rising above by His Holy Spirit, the promise is the same: those who wait on the Lord will not collapse under the weight of their journey.

God knows the weight we carry and the limits we feel, yet He never asks us to walk in our own strength. He gives power to the faint and increases strength to those who feel they have none left. Even the young will grow weary without spirit-lifting strength. Those who wait upon the Lord find that strength - one that rises from His presence, not from our own ability. In His care, we are lifted above the heaviness of life like eagles carried by the wind. We walk spiritually without stumbling, we continue without losing heart, and we discover that God is still renewing us, still sustaining us, and still giving us the spiritual strength we need for each new day. Yet, there must first come a putting off of the old and putting on of the new while being honest with ourselves and each other:

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image [likeness] of him [God] that created him [or her]:

And the following Scripture is very important to recognize as a foundational truth that God’s salvation is available to all mankind through faith in His Christ:

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Continued renewal shapes us more and more into Christ’s likeness which amounts to the likeness of God. Renewal is the quiet, steady work of God breathing fresh life into the inner person. It reassures us that even as the outward body grows older, the heart and mind can be made new day by day.

The process of renewal is God brightening what has grown dim, refreshing what has grown tired, and restoring what life has worn down. It is the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work - lifting our strength, brightening our understanding, always shaping us a little more into the likeness of the One who created us. In this way, renewal becomes a daily reminder that God is not finished with us, and that His life within us remains ever fresh, ever present, and ever strengthening.

So then the opening sequence of a walk with God becomes beautifully complete:

• Humility opens the heart

• Growth strengthens the heart

• Discernment trains the heart

• Renewal refreshes the heart

Let us recap and sum it all up:

Humility opens the heart:

Humility clears the ground. It softens the soil so God’s word can take root. It teaches us to come as learners, not as experts, ready for God to shape us.

Growth strengthens the heart:

Growth is the steady strengthening that comes from feeding on God’s truth. It is not fast or flashy; it is the quiet building up of spiritual muscle through daily study which strengthens faith and through willing obedience which maintains God’s Holy Spirit presence.

Discernment trains the heart

Discernment teaches the heart to recognize what is truly from God. It sharpens our spiritual eyesight so we can choose what is good, avoid what is harmful, and walk wisely.

Renewal refreshes the heart

Renewal brings fresh life to the inner person. Even as the body ages, God renews the mind and spirit day by day, restoring clarity, peace, and strength.

I will leave you with some Scriptures to study in preparation for Lesson Two: Servanthood - The Life God Shapes in Us.

Micah 6:8

Matthew 20:26-28

John 13:12-15

Romans 12:1

Galatians 5:13

Philippians 2:3-8

Colossians 3:23-24

1 Peter 4:10,11

As you read these passages, notice how God shapes a servant’s heart - not through pressure or performance, but through humility, love, and the quiet work of His Holy Spirit. Let these Scriptures prepare you for the beautiful truth that servanthood is not a burden, but the natural outflow of a heart that God has opened, strengthened, trained, and renewed.

Farewell,

Servanthood

FAQ: Lesson 1: Milk of the Word

What does “milk of the word” mean in Scripture? Milk of the word refers to the foundational truths God gives to new learners - simple, pure, essential teachings that nourish early spiritual growth. Peter urges believers to “desire the sincere milk of the word” so they may grow (1Pe 2:2). Milk is not lesser truth; it is the beginning of transformation, given in mercy to those humble enough to receive it.

Why must a believer begin with humility? Because humility is the posture that opens the heart to God’s teaching. Jesus’ teaching about new wine in new wineskins shows that truth requires a flexible, teachable heart (Mat 9:17). Old wineskins - rigid, self‑assured, set in their ways - burst when confronted with God’s living truth. Humility becomes the new wineskin, allowing God’s word to stretch, cleanse, and reshape the believer.

Why is humility essential for learning Scripture? Because Scripture is vast, Spirit‑breathed, and cannot be mastered by pride. A learner must come as a child, willing to be taught, corrected, and shaped. Searching the Scriptures with eagerness reflects this posture (Act 17:11). Humility clears the ground so God’s word can take root.

What does Hebrews teach about milk and maturity? Hebrews rebukes believers who should be teachers but still need milk (Heb 5:12). Milk is for beginners; strong meat is for those who have exercised their senses to discern good and evil (Heb 5:13,14). Milk begins the journey, but growth must follow.

Why did Paul call some believers “babes in Christ”? Because they had the Holy Spirit but were not yielding to it. Paul said he could not speak to them as spiritual but as carnal (1Co 3:1). Spiritual maturity is measured by responsiveness to the Spirit, not by age or knowledge. He fed them with milk because they were not ready for meat (1Co 3:2).

How does Isaiah describe the learning process? Isaiah shows that God teaches “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isa 28:9,10). This is the Old Testament picture of milk leading to meat - small steps building toward deeper understanding. “Here a little, and there a little” now requires searching both Testaments to see complete pictures and fulfilled prophecy.

Did Jesus teach the principle of milk before meat? Yes. Jesus told His disciples He had many things to say, but they could not bear them yet (Joh 16:12). God gives truth in proportion to readiness. Milk is foundational truth given to learners; meat is deeper truth given to the mature and obedient.

What is spiritual growth? Growth is the strengthening that follows humility. It is the steady expansion of grace and knowledge (2Pe 3:18), the maturing of love and judgment (Php 1:9-11), and the increasing fruitfulness of a life rooted in God’s ways (Col 1:10). Growth is not about becoming scholars; it is about becoming more like Christ (Eph 4:15).

How does Scripture describe flourishing growth? The righteous flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon (Psa 92:12). Those planted in the LORD’s house flourish in His courts (Psa 92:13-15). Growth is the fruit of being rooted in God’s word and presence.

What is discernment, and why is it necessary? Discernment is the ability to prove all things and hold fast to what is good (1Th 5:21). It is spiritual judgment shaped by Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Strong meat belongs to those who have trained their senses to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14). Discernment helps believing followers recognize truth, avoid error, and walk wisely.

How does discernment develop? Through love that abounds in knowledge and judgment (Php 1:9,10), through trusting God rather than leaning on one’s own understanding (Pro 3:5,6), and through refusing conformity to the world while being transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2). Discernment grows as Scripture is applied daily.

What is renewal in the believer’s life? Renewal is the ongoing work of God refreshing the inner person. Even as the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day (2Co 4:16). Renewal reshapes the mind (Rom 12:2), restores strength (Isa 40:29-31), and renews the spirit within (Psa 51:10,11). It is the Holy Spirit’s gentle, continual work.

How does Isaiah describe renewed strength? Those who wait on the LORD mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint (Isa 40:31). Walking represents daily obedience, running represents seasons of trial or service, and mounting up represents moments of divine lifting. God supplies strength for each season.

What does it mean to “put off the old man” and “put on the new”? It means laying aside old patterns of deceit (Rev 12:9) and embracing renewal in the image of God (Col 3:9,10). In Christ, distinctions of ethnicity, status, or background do not hinder renewal, for “Christ is all, and in all” (Col 3:11).

How do humility, growth, discernment, and renewal work together? Humility opens the heart. Growth strengthens the heart. Discernment trains the heart. Renewal refreshes the heart. Together they form the opening sequence of a walk with God, preparing the believer for servanthood - the life God shapes in His people.

Proceed to Lesson 2: Servanthood