Christian Education: Some Assumptions and Principles

• Our teaching continually points students to a proper appreciation of the sovereignty of God over all that exists.
• The knowledge and skills we impart as teachers find their rightful focus in the character and work of God.
• We recognise and value the Bible as God’s written word to humankind.
• We witness to the Lordship of Christ over all creation.
• The redemption of Christ over all areas of life is central to our teaching.
• All human beings respond to God, either in obedience or rebellion.
• All areas of human experience are the proper concern of Christian study.
• We teach students to critique the world as it exists, in order to understand its need for redemption through Jesus Christ.
• We point students to their responsibility and privilege before God to assist in the redemptive process, until His return.

Our aim is that the students will grow…

• In their relationship to God
• In their relationship to learning
• In their relationship to others
• In their relationship to the environment

The Bible in the Classroom

The Bible is God’s word revealed to people in written form. A proper understanding of the Bible, therefore, is essential to live in relationship with Him.

When reading the Bible at Tyndale we should:

• Remember that God is the true teacher of His Word. Parents/Teachers are instruments of God’s Spirit in their task of explaining the Bible to the students, and persuading and encouraging them to mould their lives by it.
• Use the Bible as it applies in the context of all lesson areas, e.g. to shed light on perspectives, motivations and God’s sovereign rule over the world.
• Understand that a basic Bible knowledge is essential as a child grows in maturity at Tyndale and therefore teachers are encouraged to teach such Bible knowledge.

Use the following basic rules in communicating Biblical truth:

• Determine what the author meant. Such things as context, style of literature, social setting, history, geography and the audience should be considered.
• Determine whether there are any other Bible passages which might help to shed light on, or explain more fully, the meaning of the passage being studied.
• Make sure the author’s intention is understood by the students. Avoid such things as proof-texting and moralistic applications of God’s Word.
• Allow for freedom of response so that students discover the meaning and truth of God’s word for themselves. Always be sensitive to the student’s level of maturity and stages of faith.