God-Centered Education

--by Heather Ross

God is the great Original, the One from Whom all math, science, music, language, history, and every other subject emanates. To praise God as Christian educators, it is vital that we glorify Him and learn to see Him reflected in each subject we teach. As we plan our lessons, let us be motivated to show God to our students. As we review, let us ask our students what they have learned about God as a result of that day's class. As we read the Word of God, let us pay special attention to investigating our matchless Creator. These gleanings will assist us in our comprehension of His attributes and bring us into a closer relationship with the One in Whom we live and move and have our being.

Too often education fails to bring individuals closer to God and, conversely, feeds a sort of intellectual pride that does anything but humble us before the Almighty. Yet we read in the pages of Scripture, "A humble and contrite heart, Thou wilt not despise." And again, "Knowledge puffeth up, but love [builds up]."

I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade. I loved the academic environment, the competitive atmosphere, the excitement that came from learning knew things, and the people who were my teachers. From Kindergarten through graduate school, I have greatly benefited from Christian education. The last decade I have been an educator in a Christian school, and at long last, my veiled heart has been illuminated to perceive the frequency with which I have failed to invite Wisdom into every classroom setting and honor Him for every bit of understanding He gives.

Whether the discussion be from Macbeth or World War II, eyes of faith can perceive His truths at work. Possessing such an eternal vision can propel me to share with my students the glorious truths of our wondrous Creator. As I anticipate a school year ahead, my heart reverberates to the chords of the following Charles Wesley hymn:

O for a heart to praise my God,

A heart from sin set free,

A heart that always feels Thy blood

So freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,

My great Redeemer’s throne,

Where only Christ is heard to speak,

Where Jesus reigns alone.

A humble, lowly, contrite, heart,

Believing, true and clean,

Which neither life nor death can part

From Christ who dwells within.

A heart in every thought renewed

And full of love divine,

Perfect and right and pure and good,

A copy, Lord, of Thine.

Thy tender heart is still the same,

And melts at human woe:

Jesus, for thee distressed I am,

I want Thy love to know.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;

Come quickly from above;

Write Thy new name upon my heart,

Thy new, best name of Love.

Comments

What Children Learn When We Stop Explaining Everything: Story, Scripture, and the Formation of Character

by Heather A. Ross, Christian educator & curriculum writer About the Author The hardest thing to do when we care deeply about growth is to wait. From the beginning, God has been a Teacher who gives space. He does not rush growth or force understanding all at once. Instead, He teaches through pattern, repetition, example, and time—inviting His children to watch, to remember, to return, and to grow. Scripture gives us clear instruction and direct teaching, and it also gives us stories—lives unfolded across pages, choices made in real time, faith tested and revealed. As we read, we are invited to weigh those lives in the light of God’s truth, to discern what is good, and to learn how faith takes shape over time. In this gracious pattern, we see that some of the deepest learning happens not through explanation alone, but through watching truth lived out and quietly taking root . God is the Master Teacher, and His ways are worth our careful attention. Throughout Scripture, He gives His...

Recovering an Older Way of Learning: Narration, Conscience, and the Formation of Christian Conviction

Reflections on narration, historical narrative, and the formation of conviction through Mary E. Bamford’s The Bible Makes Us Baptists. by Heather A. Ross, Christian educator & curriculum writer About the Author Before modern education became dominated by tests, worksheets, and information delivery, many Christian schools followed a very different pattern of learning. Students read stories, narrated what they had read in their own words, and were gradually guided to see the ideas shaping the events before them. This older approach did more than convey knowledge—it often also quietly formed conviction. Sometimes, modern Christian education can be reduced to the accumulation of information. In some settings, students read in order to answer questions. They memorize in order to pass tests. Knowledge is gathered, but it does not always settle deeply enough to shape belief or character. Earlier generations of Christian educators understood learning very differently. They saw educati...

Teaching Diligence to Children Through Story

Teaching Diligence to Children Through Story By Heather A. Ross · Christian educator & curriculum writer About the Author Why story shapes faithful effort more deeply than instruction alone Have you ever noticed how deeply you want children to learn diligence—not simply how to finish a task, but how to stay with it? Often, that desire surfaces in quiet moments—not when work is completed quickly, but when effort must be sustained. It is the longing to see children work faithfully when the reward feels distant, the effort unseen, and the work itself ordinary. We can explain diligence. We can define it, model it, and remind children of its importance. And yet, instruction alone rarely reaches the heart. Children may hear our words, but understanding takes root more slowly—through imagination , example, and time . This is where story becomes such a powerful teacher. Why Teaching Diligence to Children Resists Simple Instruction Diligence is not a flashy virtue. It rarely p...

Thoughts on Christian Education

Search This Blog