About
What makes Reformed School different than ordinary Sunday School?
Over the years I’ve had trouble finding good curriculum for this age group. Some of the material I looked at was too dry and heavy, while the majority of programs were too syrupy and completely lacked substance. Most people, especially junior high kids, don’t like being told what to do, so I don’t spend much time in our classes talking to your kids about the dangers of sex, drugs or peer pressure. It is my hope and prayer that the discussions we do have will give your child a solid Biblical foundation that enables them to make the right choices when temptations do come. More importantly, I pray that they will embrace the grace and salvation that God has called them to.
I teach my classes in what is known as a ‘catechetical’ method. In other words, I don’t really lecture the kids, I keep peppering them with questions in an effort to get them to come to the correct conclusions on their own. I’ve found that this is far more effective than telling them what they should think.
I teach this class with the following priorities (in this order):
- Explain that our salvation is an unconditional gift of God – we’ve done nothing to earn it.
- Teach the kids to recognize God’s calling in their life and to live accordingly.
- Give the kids a solid foundation of Reformed doctrine from which they can build on as they grow in Christ.
- Teach the kids a vocabulary of words used in scripture and worship (i.e. sanctify, atonement, justification, etc.).
I hope this list helps you understand why I make teaching this class such a high priority. You can help by making sure your kids are in class every week.
This year we will be studying the book of Romans. Junior high students are at a point in their development where they not only have the ability to quickly learn hard facts, but they also have a new found ability to draw their own conclusions from those facts (rather than just what someone else has told them to think about something). In Romans, Paul presents some of the most important and fundamental Christian doctrines, and then he immediately sets about how we need to apply those doctrines in our lives. The word “therefore” is used 20 times in the book of Romans (because God did this, THEREFORE, we need to live like this). Perfect for junior highers.
Some of the topics we will cover will be very complex and deep and will require more than just the 45 minutes I get to adequately be covered. THEREFORE, I have prepared a home study guide that you can use as devotionals with your entire family. Each week, you will read a different chapter from Romans from the paraphrase The Message.
I really encourage you to take 15 or 20 minutes after dinner one night a week to read the chapter and discuss it with your family. Over the years I’ve been amazed at the interest this age group of kids has in discussing these topics and the insights they’ve had. The best part of teaching this class is watching their face when all of the sudden the light comes on in their heads. I hope you’ll be able to see God’s Spirit working in your child’s life as well during these devotionals. Please take the time and make it a priority.
1.
Dante Spencer | November 10, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Hello Chad,
I just saw your response on the Ref’d Reader blog and was somewhat amazed that you are in RTS’ distance program; that is what I graduated from. I had a great time; let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.
Forgive me if I came off hostile and disgruntled. While it is true that I find Christian schools deeply grievous – I suspect many administrators also give a “sure, sure” to Christianity for the sake of a paycheck – I was simply trying to write quickly.
I have to run; I’ll get back to you.
blessings,
ds
Burbank, Ca
2.
dante mably | November 11, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Chad,
I had only read the first paragraph of your post when I responded as I was in a hurry but so surprised that you are in the same program as I was. I see now that you must have googled me; perhaps you are the gentleman I remember from when I defended my thesis.
Over the course of two years I applied or at least contacted a total of 60 schools. I never got a position. What I *was* surprised by was the fact that schools actually seemed like they would rather I *not* have an MA. (They’d have to pay a little more.) Experience meant far more to them which is consistent w/ evangelicalism’s rush to activity before learning. What they were really wanted was someone who can also be a sports coach. To be honest, the other thing that offended me was that they thought that any professing Christian was competent to teach Bible and therefore, if they were not able to afford a Bible teacher, they wouldn’t even hire one.
In reality though, I approached it w/ such a radically pastoral perspective, they couldn’t even relate to my thinking. The truth is that I belong in the church.
Thanks for writing. Enjoy your studies.
Warmly,
dsm
3.
CW | November 12, 2009 at 7:55 am
Thanks for your comments Dante. I didn’t google you, but in your original post you wrote that you graduated from ‘a’ reformed seminary, and in my haste I read ‘the’ reformed seminary, so it was a lucky guess that you graduated from RTS.
I’m about 65% through the RTS distance program. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m satisfied with the education I’ve received so far. I wish I could go a bit faster, but I have many other demands at this point in life, not the least of which is supporting four girls enrolled in Christian education. Besides, I’ve found there’s value in taking one course at a time, as I can devote all of my academic attention on a single subject until I feel I fully understand each topic.
Blessings on your career, whether it be in the church or school.