As a student in the Bible Teaching Principles class reflecting on what it means to be a Bible teacher, my focus since Saturday’s activity has changed. Coming into this class, my focus was definitely on the teaching aspect. However, while learning to become an effective teacher is certainly a valuable and worthwhile study, my focus since Saturday has shifted from the teaching aspect, to now the Word of God in my life as a teacher. Since Saturday’s activity, I have realized just how important my relationship with Christ is if I am to be an effective teacher. I can know and implement all the best teaching techniques, but if my personal walk with Christ is not where it needs to be, then my teaching will not be all that it can and should be. By doing various activities on …show more content…
However, after doing all of the sessions and spending time in God’s Word, I was amazed and humbled by all that God convicted me of and challenged me with concerning my personal walk with Him! All of the principles God showed me throughout each session, such as bringing all that I am into my relationship with Him, examining my level of intimacy and spiritual disciplines, and asking whether or not Jesus is the Lord of my life, were all things I really needed to be thinking about, regardless of if I were teaching or not. My relationship with Christ not only affects me personally, but also those I have interactions with, whether they are my students or not. God showed me that there is room for growth in my walk with Him, but that I do not have to do it by my own strength. God desires for me to know Him and if I am seeking to do that, He will reveal himself and give me the wisdom and strength I need to grow in these specific areas! Then, I will be able to use where I was, where God has brought me, and where I desire to be, to encourage, challenge and teach others about their personal walk with the
Christian education is for this project. Christian education is the training of special agents of the kingdom of God and the consummation of creation.” (pg.139) I found it fascinating that Plantinga describes ‘us’ within the Christian education system are called or elected to help God regain and restore His earth here with Christ. We have to remember, “no matter what our primary occupation we cannot let it become a preoccupation.” Plantinga helped me to reflect on my current life, my current job, and my current Christian education. I found that when we let these other aspects of our lives, whether it be bills, work or exams, we often allow reality to fade into the background. Or perhaps we could look at it this way: Our lives get so busy and hectic that we tend to put God on the back burner. Christian education whether in a university or biblical studies at home will give us guidance through our hectic lives, renewing our minds and keep us in close connection with our Creator and the rest of His Creation. Plantinga sums up Christian education as “for the kingdom of God. It equips us to be agents of the kingdom, models of the kingdom in our own lives and communities, witnesses to the kingdom wherever we go in the world.” (pg.143) When we ‘put on the full armor of God’ we not only protect ourselves from this fallen world but we are also able to project God’s glory to all those who we encounter.
In the end, God guided me to APU because He wanted me to learn about Christianity and its purpose. I was fearful at first because I did not know much about God or faith. Several times, I was asked by several APU staff and students which church I attended, but in reality I had never been to church except the one time I had a piano recital. I became curious when I went to my very first chapel. I did not understand why Christians were so strong-willed and crazed about God. When I looked around me, people had their hands in the air with their arms reaching out. I did not understand how they could praise God, someone who cannot be seen with the naked eye, with so much love. Two weeks passed, and I still did not quite understand the Christian religion and its purpose. I remember clearly that one of the apex meetings that I had with my mentor, Phoebe, completely altered my understanding of the Christian religion. She told me the story of Jesus Christ, which I wish someone had taught me earlier. She said that God created all of us humans, but
After reading through this book, I feel that my thoughts on what Christian discipleship should be have been reinforced and somehow cleared up. Discipleship is central to Christian faith and practice because it is how the Christian message is shared with the world. Christian discipleship is not just about spreading the Word of God; it is also showing the world what being a Christian really is. Discipleship-focused faith should demonstrate how God’s Word is for everyone and knows no boundaries whether they are race, language, country, size, gender, etc. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, therefore, His sacrifice it to be shared with the world through our actions, as always, actions speak louder than words.
According to MacCullough (2012), knowing key worldview questions and biblical answers, a teacher is more prepared to integrate biblical worldview activities into their lessons. Moreover, this can be accomplished with ease in Christian schools by integrating the Bible and lessons from the Bible into the lessons being taught. For example, MacCullough (2012) talks about student processing activities and how one story opened up a whole discussion on God and how as humans we can talk to God and that He talks to us through the Bible. Additionally, Dr. Sam Smith talks about those in public schools and how they can integrate biblical principles. He affirms, “We believe you can integrate biblical principles in the public school best by living your life as a model of Jesus Christ and by doing what you do well” (Smith, 2012). This is encouraging for those who choose to work in a public school because, although they are restricted in what they can say, they are still able to integrate a worldview. This can be done by letting Christ shine through them to their students. Similarly, this approach can and should be done in both public, private, and Christian schools. Letting Christ shine through should not just be for those times teachers are in a Christian environment, but in every situation that teachers encounter in their daily lives.
Philosophy of Ministry: God's desires come first, I must always live my ministry God's way. I must live as a Christian (1 Corinthians 9:27) I must have a proper relationship of surrender to the Leader. In my personal life or in the Church I must understand that Christ is Head and Chief Shepherd (Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 13:20). The “management” of Church is about relationships with God and Man, not just maintaining a social organization.
...le writing this paper, I was very distracted with trials that the Lord was throwing my way. Family problems, relationship stress, and the overwhelming reality that this paper dictated my grade and academic progress. I spent more than 8 hours researching reading different commentaries. I put forth more effort than I have for any paper in my educational history. It was surprised to realize that this paper wasn’t hard, but very time consuming. I enjoyed this assignment mainly because is presented me with thoughts that I never would have come across on my own. Reading through the entire book of Matthew helped me comfort some life obstacles that I have recently been praying about. I feel as if I have conquered the fear of feeling inadequate when I read the gospel, and now read the bible with an open heart and the knowledge that I am always going to learn something new.
Now that I have completed this course, I can see the course applying to my ministry in the following ways so that I may understand the text and the different ways of preaching each subject. As a preacher, it is necessary to understand how to explain God’s promise in which he will pour His Spirit upon people in every special way so that every man receives a different gift that he who has ears and hearts will listen to God’s words and come to Him. The most significant things to my ministry are that each theme has four main different parts of teaching such as introduction, Law, Gospel, and application. It is important to understand that our fears, sadness, and suffering are lifted off our shoulders if we put them in the hands of our Father. Our daily lives are affected by these situations, and that is why there are so many who live such hard lives all around the world. That is why it is my job as a minister to explain to them so that they will understand the repentance of their sin and so they can strength their faith in Christ.
In ministry it is important to note that the different people involved in your ministry will be at different stages of their spiritual growth. Having an awareness of your own personal theology will be important for how you go about teaching the students who are involved in your youth ministry. One part of personal theology is spiritual formation. Duffy Robbins states that spiritual formation is, “the growing into the likeness of Jesus” (448). Another main part of personal theology is community. Understanding and having an idea of both spiritual formation and community helps with the formation of personal theology of ministry. This paper will share five areas of theology and how they relate to practical theology in youth ministry. The five areas of theology include view of God, view of people, view of sin, view of redemption, and view of scripture.
This semester has proved to be a real awakening to what direction I need to be pursuing in my spiritual walk. I have learned so much through this course. Some of the things that I have learned that have become more important than they were in the past are; the need for silence, the need for community, the need for direction, and above all how utterly helpless we are when we try to “do” everything, including ministry without seeking God first.
Teachers must create lessons to inspire their students to think and make decisions based on God 's principles. The school should foster an environment where the students realize what Christ has done for them and give them the desire to see others come to know Christ as their Savior. A good way to make this happen is to create diverse learning opportunities where students can learn about other cultures and environments where missionaries are working to reach people for the Lord. Basically, the purpose of Christian education is directing the process of human development toward godliness of character and action.
Over the past year and a half I have felt a tremendous calling placed upon my life to spend my time on Earth pouring everything I am into a Christ centered ministry. When I first arrived in Southern California, from Indiana, I thought I had my whole life figured out. It was my belief that God had already made it completely obvious how I would spend the rest of my life serving his kingdom. I could not have been further away from the truth. God has revealed so much truth and knowledge to me that I am still having trouble wrapping my head around. Through my classes here at Vanguard and the community that surrounds me I have seen and felt God move in amazing ways. However, through the book Jesus is____. written by my favorite pastor, Judah Smith, I have been opened up to new concepts and ideas that have been nothing short of mind blowing and full of Jesus’s truths. While writing this book, Pastor Judah asked himself the question time and time again, “Who is Jesus to me?” He also asks the reader at the beginning of the book, “Who is Jesus to you?” This book challenged me, made me smile, and convicted me. Judah’s love for Jesus is evident. His passion to make Him known is confirmed. The book traces different aspects of what the Bible says about Jesus and who
Christianity is pretty simple its all about one life, the life of Jesus the Son of God. The christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus, all you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and give your life to him. Becoming a christian offers eternal life after earth, it gives you greater ethics, support through out life, and a life after death. Becoming a christian relies on constant progression, its not enough to be a christian in name you have to live the Christian lifestyle. As a christian you will learn to strive for better morals. Your goals as christian need to be how do I become a better Christian and be more like God.
In the context of Christian education, the teacher performs his role by using lessons culled from the Bible and communicating them through lectures, seminars, or discussions. However, in order to be an effective teacher, I should expand on these lessons by providing real-life examples and hypothetical illustrations in order for the student to find relevance in the lessons taught. I should provide good models for the student to imitate, and in fact, I should also make sure that I am a good model myself by knowing and taking to heart all the lessons I teach. In other words, the instruction must be thorough. To ensure that I am fulfilling my role as teacher, I must provide an opportunity for the students to respond to the lesson. According to the Richards and Bredfeldt, when a student discovers a relationship between himself and the lesson, the “pathway to personal response stands open.” By making the lessons individually applied, decentralized and student-centered, but teacher-oriente...
It is important for me to remember when preparing a sermon, that it is not about the preacher, but through preaching, God the Holy Spirit does the work of giving God’s
Shortt. (1997, June). Christian Education Does Mean Something. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Transforming Teachers: www.transformingteachers.org