A quote, attributed to Martin Luther (but i don't have the details about that):

 "Without languages we could not have received the gospel. Languages are the scabbard that contains the sword of the Spirit; they are the casket which contains the priceless jewels of antique thought; they are the vessel that holds the wine; and as the gospel says, they are the baskets in which the loaves and fishes are kept to feed the multitude."

I find these metaphors of language as a container for Biblical truth especially helpful. What is it that they contain? The meaning behind the words. So anything we can do to unwrap the content and make it easier to receive what is inside must be a good thing.

Donna and i got talking about how on-line discussion groups might be used in church settings. So often we struggle with people's schedules: it's hard to take another weeknight to come out to a training meeting for small group leaders, for example. In-person discussions like the traditional class are a format that favors those who are more outspoken (even opinionated): on-line discussions tend to level the playing field and make it easier for less aggressive personalities to contribute their opinions. And of course, the standard benefits of taking discussions out of real time: composing your thoughts before sharing them, interacting on your own time schedule, and having a record of the discussion.

On-line education seems to work best when there's specific information to be transmitted, and the learners are independently motivated. Nothing substitutes for human interaction when you need to be motivated, or principles need to be applied to specific settings: that's one reason 500 years of written scriptures haven't yet put preachers out of business!