A Teachable Spirit: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone

by A.J. Swoboda

Being a know-it-all isn't a fruit of the Spirit. But the ancient call of Jesus beckons us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength" (Matt. 22:37). How do we love God with our mind? In A Teachable Spirit, A.J. Swoboda helps followers of Jesus develop the discipline of teachability.

In a world marked by distraction, mind-numbing entertainment, endless content, polarization, and a decreasing desire to humbly learn from those we dislike, the way we engage sources of information like news media, science, and social media content could not be more important. Thankfully, the Christian faith provides sharp tools and rich traditions for learning how to be the best learners. By drawing on his experiences as a professor, theologian, and lay pastor, Swoboda explores the potency of seeing learning as a part of one's spiritual formation to Jesus.

With the right posture, Christians can learn from even the most unexpected places.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Faith, Discipleship, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) pastors Theophilus Church in urban Portland, Oregon. He is executive director of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, a consortium of Christian higher education institutions dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God's creation. Swoboda also teaches biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, among others. He is an award-winning author or editor of nine books and speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, churches, and seminars. Visit his website and blog at www.ajswoboda.com.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoboda has authored a fresh look at how each of us can enrich our learning journey. By proposing categories of learning such as: learning from experts, children, parents, enemies, lovers and history, the book roots our learning process in relational dynamics instead of traditional knowledge based models.

There is a warmth to this book as the author infuses the conversation with his own yearning to probe widely and reflect deeply. In the end, he has caused me to rethink my own source-based learning style to include additional voices that I may have been overlooking previously.

In this age of information overload and narrative distortions that polarize us, we need calm voices that are open about their theological believes yet genuine in their efforts to learn from others. Swoboda models this well.

[Danita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book fits the wise, pastoral, nuanced, and convicting writing I've come to appreciate from A.J. Swoboda. Each chapter focuses on a different group that we tend to disregard learning from (from experts, strangers, the dead, children, parents, secular culture, enemies). I read this book along with a Substack reading group, which helped me slow down and ponder each chapter. It's a convicting, thought-provoking, and applicable read.

[Amanda Pascoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If Jesus came to his followers in the form of a stranger, shouldn't we treat everyone as though they may be Jesus?" (p. 67) And if we are Christians, shouldn't we, though?

Every time I read a new book by Dr. Swoboda, I get a little more depressed that my resume doesn't qualify me for my alma mater's Soul Care program. Thankfully, I can convince myself that reading his published work and watching Rose Church's sermons have to be a VERY close second!

This is my favorite, until the next one is released... Dr. Swoboda's perspective on learning from unexpected people and in unexpected places is spot-on for how we build a better understanding of one another, welcome every opportunity to grow, and love others the way we should.

Chapters are broken down into categories for reflecting how and why it is Biblical and necessary to embrace learning from:

*Experts
*Strangers
*the Dead
*Children
*Parents
*Secular Culture
*Enemies

Dr. Swoboda's writing is anecdotal and conversational, which makes it engaging and inviting. And yet, it is injected with theological perspective and Biblical truth that are educational for anyone, no matter where you are in your personal faith journey.

[Derek Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be teachable, then, is to allow someone else to love you.



My generation was taught not to talk to strangers. But now youth are given a smartphone at (on average) twelve or thirteen years old. The stranger now lives in our pockets. We used to tell kids not to take candy from strangers. Now we invite our kids to take most of their ideas from them.



In his book Justice for All, Jurgen Moltman describes how dismissive ancient Canaanite religions were toward strangers. Old Testament literature, in contrast, developed an unheard-of ethic of care for the outsider, foreigner, and stranger. For what has been dubbed the "quartet of the vulnerable" (widows, orphans, strangers, and foreigners), there would have been no better place to live than among the people who worshiped Yahweh.3"



In his words, "Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living."32 Pelikan points out that the toxic use of traditionalism has given tradition a bad image. Being a Christian is one of the most communal, collaborative, and power-sharing enterprises the world has ever seen. When I think about God, I don't get to think alone. I think alongside what John Thompson calls the
"allies" of church history.



Psychologist Carl Rogers argued that healthy, well-adjusted people need two essential things to be learners in life—boundaries and acceptance. Children need parents who can establish boundaries that promote safety and clarity. But they also need a space where they can come as they are, loved and nurtured



Lewis could have written much more had these needs not been so great. But perhaps by slowing down, Lewis became the man we know and admire.



Should Christians read the writings of the heretics whose teachings went against those of the apostles? Surprisingly, the early church held that the teachings of the heretics should be rejected—but still listened to.



How do we honor an enemy? We can begin by representing them well and rightly. Often we find it strategic to represent our enemies in the worst light possible. We present them as weaker or less intelligent than they actually are, and we spar with straw men—putting words in our enemies' mouths or engaging only the worst of their arguments to try to make ourselves look smarter.
But a Christian should not do this. We shouldn't strawman our enemies; we should steelman them!

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. Swoboda is one of my favorite modern theologians. Every time I pick up one of his books, I’m both challenged and inspired. He hasn’t missed yet, and A Teachable Spirit was no exception. The sheer volume of passages I marked as favorites or ideas to return to, is proof of my appreciation for its content. This book is about learning from others—those we don’t know, those who’ve died long ago, those with whom we vehemently disagree. It’s about coming with humility to another—parents and children, experts and strangers, and yes, even enemies. I nodded my head over and over. I also scratched my head from time to time. And the gut-punch of conviction didn’t fail to hit a bit, too. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s articulate and funny, humble and self-effacing. And it’s clear to me that the author has done the work of being teachable and listening with true interest and curiosity to groups of people that might feel “other.” This book will make the modern Christian uncomfortable in the best and most necessary way—a resource I’ll definitely return to!

[Ryan George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I copied multiple lines from A.J. Swoboda’s book into my journal. I had purchased it during a season when I was debating my continued participation in faith environments where my theology and ideology are in the vast minority. He didn’t help me make that decision as each of his discussions of the seven types of teachers basically ended with, “You don’t want to listen all the time, but you also don’t want to avoid listening to them altogether.” In several non-critical passages, Swoboda made some extrapolations from the Bible that depended heavily on the space between the lines. I was impressed by the five kinds of authors he tries to read regularly. That intentionality bore fruit in this volume which quotes dozens of other authors—but not so much as to be pretentious.

[Kara Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an immense respect for Dr. Swoboda. He was one of my favorite professors in grad school, and I continue to learn from his wisdom. A Teachable Spirit offers an essential perspective for a culture that consumes more information daily than previous generations. Despite the abundance of content available to inform us, we are all prone to defaulting to our favorite sources, typically those that affirm our biases. Dr. Swoboda challenges his readers to develop a willingness to learn from those we tend to ignore or dismiss. I confess, I have drifted towards rather homogeneous influences in my quest for knowledge. I'm committed to expanding the variety of voices moving forward.

[Scott McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a refreshing and accessible book that challenges any pride and arrogance in the reader. I was reminded by the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.” Anyone and anything can become our teacher. We need to be constantly in a state of curiosity, but not simply in the pursuit of knowledge of God, but for the enjoyment of God and His world.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE to learn, and AJ, this book was right up my alley! I was humbled in places and encouraged in much of the rest. Thank you for showing me ways and places where I can become better at learning. This is a book I will be coming back to.

[Anita Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoboda invites us to his life and classroom to discuss issues we face in everyday life as we interact with people different from ourselves. He speaks to the common person and invites us to live with humility and openness toward unlikely people because they are have value to offer and can teach us things that will make us more like Jesus.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

May we all be open to hearing God's voice, even in our ideological enemies.

[Keith Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter had a lot of value

[Larry J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reserve five stars for books that are engaging and move me to become a better person.

[Vjera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "learn from your enemies" was the best chapter.