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I’m sure this never happens in your house. Dinner is over. The dishes are done. And you’re finally relaxing with a good book and enjoying some needed down time, until….
“Mom! Dad! I need help with this math problem!” With a groan, you fold yourself off the couch and shuffle over to the kitchen table. Your eyes glaze over as you stare at the chicken-scratch work on your child’s math paper. Where to begin? You look around. Nobody else is in sight to save you. You settle down in a rigid chair for a long night of (re)learning. Even as a trained and experienced math teacher, I can relate to this experience. I have helped students solve thousands of math problems, and have spent hundreds of hours identifying where a good attempt went wrong. What’s the best strategy? Scan the problem and hope to find the error quickly? Perhaps work backward in hopes the error occurred near the end? Or start from scratch, even though that requires the most work? Solving math problems is a lot like discipleship. Sometimes the child’s mistake is clearly obvious and is best addressed directly. Other times the misbehavior gives insight into what they were feeling, and thus what they were thinking, and then by working backward, the heart of the matter can be addressed. Other times it requires a longer route, starting from the beginning, considering God’s original design for us or the situation, and then rebuilding what He expects of us. Discipling our children wisely and patiently draws us into God's presence. His divine answers are found in His glorious gospel and perfect original design. Answers to math problems are often varied and complicated. Answers for the fallen condition of mankind though can be simple and straightforward, once we are properly trained by the Master teacher. So the next time an impromptu math help session occurs at your kitchen table, remember to integrate God's amazing and creative truths into the conversation. If anything, it may allow you to stall long enough for reinforcements to arrive! A treasured tradition at our school is our annual Elementary Christmas Carol Sing. With students in pajamas sprawled across our sanctuary floor, we recite Scripture, listen to a Christmas story, and most importantly, sing the 12 Days of Christmas. Each of our classes is assigned one of the days, with students popping off the floor each time it is their turn.
In our packed all-school chapel this week we learned about the 7 C's of History. With students from different grades assisting me, we covered God's narrative of human existence. Or some might say, His Story. Creation - Corruption - Catastrophe - Confusion - Christ - Cross - Consummation It is important that students understand and perceive the history of our existence from the correction viewpoint. God's viewpoint. Scripture, science, and our spirit-led wisdom provide us with this accurate window, often called a Christian worldview. These truths help us know that we are made in God's image. They explain how sin and brokenness invaded God's original perfect design. They provide a glimpse into the origins of our present geography and people groups. They supply us the joy of full redemption and communion with our Holy Creator. And they promise us a future that cannot be shaken or taken from us. It may be quite a while until you hear the 12 Days of Christmas ringing in your ears. But when you do, think about the "7 C's of History" as well. Leaping Lords, Gold Rings, and Pear Trees are just a shadow of the cumulative story God is writing in front of our eyes! This past Wednesday 45 Sophomore students descended upon our Elementary classrooms. Replacing the weekly chapel time, small groups of high school students had prepared to “teach” individual elementary classes. Walking through the hallway was an encouraging experience, watching and listening to unique lessons and activities presented in each classroom.
Our campus mission of discipleship training exists not only in our handbook, and not just in content taught by a teacher, but also practiced by each student. These sophomores have been learning that Scriptural discipleship includes a mentor leading us, a peer partnered beside us, and a follower learning from us. What a gift to have a PK-12 campus where this discipleship vision can be accomplished. However, releasing students to this strategic responsibility is not always an easy decision. What if the students weren’t prepared? What if they failed? What if their ideas weren’t the best? Obeying God’s plan often requires a special amount of faith, trust, and prayer. As expected, giving room for God to work produced better results than any of our micromanagement could have ever accomplished. Students were bold and at times goofy as they testified about God’s faithfulness. Students who may have been timid in their high school classroom appeared confident, sharing clear explanations of what it means to be a Christ follower. Certain giftings perhaps not always visible in the traditional high school classroom were suddenly exposed and celebrated for the first time. This Wednesday was only a taste of what the sophomores will all experience this spring on their annual missions trip. Of even greater importance is developing a discipleship lifestyle. Yes, one that supports and often participates in both long-term and short-term missions. But also an intentional philosophy of boldly living out our faith with others, both within our Christian community and to the world. And just as Jesus’ disciples appeared mostly unprepared when he sent them out two-by-two, we often feel unprepared or that our children are not ready. But with a prayerful mix of wisdom, faith, and boldness, God is quick to show up in our midst! |
Adam Kronberger
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