My heart as a teacher

3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. "

I would say the same about my students. 

I remember the time that one class went above and beyond in grasping the truth in our study about salvation and the doctrine of God, calling the answer back to me in amazing fashion.  From all over the room I was getting rapid-fire answers about what we had researched, and there was excitement in their voices. They had not only locked it in their hearts, they were ready to use it.  They were enthusiastic and energetic about the Bible.

I actually started crying in class. 

It was a great, great moment.

The desire for God's Word

Several students have approached me and insisted that I take their application to the Theology Camp seriously.  This is what puts joy in my Bible mission work here at the school.  When I query them as to why this wish to attend, each one of them said they wanted the Q & A time that will allow them to get answers to the Bible that they've wanted to ask for so long.  One young lady even said, "When you mentioned that we'd sit in front of a fireplace and have a question time about the Bible each evening - no matter how long the question time would be, we'd get answers - well, that's when I looked at a friend next to me and said 'this is what we've been waiting for.'  I sense a real hunger for learning God's Word.

We're studying a number of different subjects this week, including the doctrine of God (specifically the proof of His existence) and the reality of Hell.  There are also some lessons on cults as well as looking at some more Koine Greek words from John chapter 1.

A former student of mine stopped by the house last night, in much need of encouragement and help in his impending career and ministry.  We spent some hours together, talking about the necessary steps he needs to take in order to make available the doors God is opening to him. 

Weekend thoughts

I am planning a Theology Camp for this January during the school's two week Winterim break.  I will only take a dozen students to an intensive four days of Koine Greek, Bible Q & A and Leadership training.  The Lord has made it possible for a generous family to allow us access to a cabin near Ft. Loudon Lake, thus saving a monstrous expense in cabin fees.  The Lord is clearly showing that He is guiding in this camp.  I had originally planned for a trip to England but it totally fell flat.  Shows God's leading.

The classroom personalities are coming out now, and it is encouraging to see what is developing.  Oh, of course you'll want to me to express an opinion on the problems - yes, L still panics if he doesn't get the room attention (which he doesn't, especially with the team cooperation) and he still sniffles like a child at times, but he's learning that maturing is the only way to make life tolerable in this class.  And there is J, a girl who touches on the idea of grabbing attention by trying to blurt out trivial questions, but - even above my correction - the class soon let her know that they wouldn't stand for it.

Here's what I am seeing:  T, a girl who was purported to be a self-centered girl last year, is opening up and sharing our daily Bible instruction at her dinner table.  She has expressed an almost-manic desire to go to the Theology Camp.  Another student, J, has settled in and is quickly becoming a spot-on leader in his class.  He is picking up the nuances of apologetics, greek and the doctrines.

I have been debating the classes in Bible, playing the part of the agnostic.  The prophecies - Psalm 22, Micah 5:2 and Psalm 4:20 have come into play quite strong as of late.  I have been also training them with excerpts from CS Lewis Mere Christianity.  The progress has been steady.  It is encouraging.

I also played a bit part in science professor Jason Cobb's comedy series concerning Science truths. I haven't seen the final cut, but I am told I held up well.  I really don't hear the siren call of Hollywood, however. 

Chapel today

The theme of the very first chapel today is "Transformed." Romans 5 was where the key Scripture, especially 5:12' "therefore just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned..." among many other Scriptures. In fact, the opening singing was prefaced by the reading of the scripture in this passage.   As I listened to Matt Mercer, the school chaplain,  I was heartened by the fact that our school chapels are intricately intertwined with the Word of God.  John 14:6, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:21, Ephesians 2:8... Passages pertinent to the message that sin closes us off but faith in Christ is the pathway to Heaven.   Lord, spare us from onstage entertainers and anecdote-only chats.  Give us all - teachers and students alike - the true, slam-into-the-soul Word directly from You through Your speakers.

The personalities come out

Today's work was more challenging.  Q is a student with very little interest in the things of the Bible; she's not rebellious, just overly casual to the Scriptural part of the lesson.  It's a shame.  I can see a dullness flicker over her face when it comes time to open our Bibles.  I pray she gets an energy from on high - perhaps she needs salvation.  I'll keep an eye on her as we get deeper into the year's study.

There were a few groans in being quizzed on the Koine Greek alphabet (the second set of letters).  It helps me see the Maginot Line set as far as education: one group attacks every challenge with vigor, another  mulls over the benefits of doing so and responds  if it feels like it is in their favor, and still a third resists.

I let the class know that this is the way it must be.  "I'm not here to be your friend, " I told one class.  " but I'm here to prepare you on the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle.  I am teaching you to be teachers to others, and you then continue the line of Scriptural teaching as you lead them in the ways to instruct others in the Word.  None of this is going to be easy, but it is amazingly important. " Their reception is good, especially one young man, K, who took it as an exciting challenge.  "Let's do it, then," he said.

Well said.

 Let's grow up and do it, students.

Prophecies in the classroom

We're now into Tuesday of the school week and I have a few minutes before we take a lunch break.  I have just finished loading the quiz grades and so far it looks like the class has adjusted to the pace of college-prep note-taking in its early forms.  We are moving at a brisk pace on the Powerpoint and the reception seems to be determined - I have heard virtually no complaints as I go into the next gear in the study.  We talked today about the prophecies of the Bible , from Psalm 22's Messianic truths played out in the Gospels (specifially verses 1, 16 and 18) to the stunning realization that Christ fulfilled Psalm 34:20 even in His physical death:  "...none of His bones will be broken." 

I actually heard some gasps as we revealed the prophecies.  That is what makes this teaching so exciting - the honest and open excitement about Scriptural discoveries. 

Starting the second week: August 20

I'm sitting at my desk at the end of school, relaxing and mulling over the day's ministry.  The inital shock of our very first quiz is now officially over, and the students get the idea of the pattern of testing I'll use.

Of special interest is the video we watched of the Stanley Milgram experiment.  This 1961 event was created at Yale to answer the lingering question of why seemingly very calm german people of the previous generation were so cruwl and sadistic when under nazi rule.  Is it plausible to accept the fact that they were "just under orders?"  The ensuing experiment tested whether people would administer pain when simply (under no duress) told to do so.  The results are stunning.  You can view the link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpGJjNUbmpo

Week one reflections

The first week of school is under our belt.  This group of students are, for the most part, ready and able to take on the studies at hand.  Each class is designated as a literary society, from Beta Gamma to Omega Rho, and the questions on the study of Heaven have been increasing.  I am happily exhausted and encouraged by the seriousness and yet energetic attitude of the sophomores.

There are exceptions, of course.  Of special note is one particular student whom I was told is a "self appointed class clown.". How frustrating was his first day whenever he realized the class was intent on serious Bible study and building teamwork within the classroom.  His "look at me" efforts went for naught.  I pray the Lord continues to take away his pride and shows him how to aim his energies in a more positive light.

Our initial study was in Christology but I am moving toward Ouranology (the study of Heaven) for the first full week.  We will then blend the doctrine of Christ into this as we move on.  We have also started the initial stages of Koine Greek including transliteration and the alphabet, along with learning a few words such as kai ("and"), kainos ("new"), ouranos ("heaven"), and theos ("God").  

Lots of questions about our subject material.  Lots of questions about Heaven.  Good note-taking.  Leadership within the rooms is already taking shape.  One football player is showing a genuine, almost manic intrigue with the study of the New Earth.

Right now it is the weekend and I am immobile from a severe boil that has run rampant on my thigh.  It is so massive that I can hardly walk.  I am applying medication and hopefully will see it reduce enough for me to make it to school on Monday.

μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω χαρὰν, ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα. 

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth." - 3 John 1:4

Today was the first day of school for the 2012-201 year at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee.  We had the students in short introductory sessions of thirty minutes apiece.  Already I am enthusiastic for the next day of school to come.  There are so many truths in the Bible to glean, and so little time!

I hold this portion of Scripture up as my personal teacher's verse for the school year:

1 Thess. 2:4  - "...we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." 


This verse gives the spirit of my passion to teach.  I am not here to be the students' "buddy," nor am I desiring to win a Teacher of the Year award (the very idea of it is repugnant to all of my values as a   Christian teacher). I am here to teach the pure and powerful Gospel so that these young people may find Christ as never before - for some, salvation - and then be teachers of the very same explosive and powerful Word.  My only desire is to please God as I serve Him in the classroom each day.