Posted in The Principle Approach: Self-Directed Study

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Preparing for the Self-Directed Study

Week 2—Assignment

• Lesson 1
  • Preparing for the Seminar
• Teaching & Learning—pages xiii-xxii; 89-89
• Supplemental Resources:  Daniel 1-6; 1 & 2 Timothy
• Assignments:
  • Review/Study 4^th row of Chart—already done for us
  • Writing Assignment in SDS Booklet—(#1)—“Write a short summary of the education and character of Daniel and Timothy.  Apply to Christian education for the 21^st century.  Identify your role.” 

When I was reviewing this lesson, I went ahead and placed in an outline for quick review what SDS was all about—the purpose for SDS, our challenge, and the required commitment—to Study God’s Word; as outlined in Lesson 1.  I have gone ahead and placed it here in case it would be of benefit to you.

Lesson 1—Preparing for the Seminar

      Purpose of SDS—establish a Christian Philosophy of Education

o       Putting into practice the tools of Biblical thinking and reasoning

o       Gaining the mind of Christ in education—searching God’s Word for His standards and principles of education.

o       Practicing Christian scholarship and character

      Our Challenge

o       Lead in advance of our children spiritually and intellectually with an educational program—

§         That begins with truth;

§         Instructs in Biblical reasoning;

§         Builds a “living curriculum” upon Christian character and conscience—

      The Required Commitment—Study God’s Word

o       God’s Word is the foundation of all knowledge

o       It should be our 1^st book of learning, our primer, & our 1^st book of instruction in every subject; in addition to spiritual instruction

o       PA has been called “reflective teaching and learning”—requiring one to consider and ponder the purpose of everything in God’s universe.

o       Reflection does take “time”--{However, I know when we are committed, God will make that “time” for us.}

o       Matthew 6:40—“A pupil is not above his teacher, for everyone, after his is fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

§         Well, that’s a little scary!  God’s Word confirms it—wherever we want our kids to go, we ought to go there first.

o       Matthew 5:19—“…whosoever shall do and teach them [commandments], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

§         Although we doubt our importance at times, God makes it clear in His Word how important He deems it.  We can rejoice in this! 

T&L (xiii-xv)—An American Christian Education 

            An American Christian Education was at the heart of the founding of this nation.  This changed in the mid-1800’s when we yielded to secularism as the Church relinquished leadership in education to government-sponsored schools; where individual character and conscience, as exemplified by our Pilgrim, Puritan, & Patriotic heroes & heroines, was replaced by group character conformable to society and a God-centered republic was replaced by a man-centered democracy.  We began to flounder as the recorded history of America as a Christian Nation {residing in the documented history of our founding}, was deliberately obscured. 

            The Principle Approach is about the rediscovery of the Christian founding of this nation, the Biblical principles and Biblical reasoning that drove that era, and the application of those principles producing in our children Christian leadership.  With God’s guidance, we can build a “living curriculum” from the Christian treasury of the founding of our nation. 

T&L (xvi-xviii)—“The Blessings of America” 

            This segment was kind of difficult.  But I believe its saying that—as the blessings of America in civil liberty are understood, as well as the reasons for those blessings, so our liberties will then be preserved.  Therefore, we need first to understand our liberties and, of course, the reasons for our liberties as derived from God, and then to pass that along to our children.  Any other thoughts?

            Secondly, to fully understand our liberties provided by God; T&L’s  study of America’s Christian History is 3-fold:

1. To consider how the character of America was formed;
2. To establish the Property of conscience as the “end and purpose of government”;
3. To consider how the “study and embodiment of basic Christian Constitutional Principles” may apply to every aspect of an individual through self-government. 

T&L (xxi-xxiii)—Just One Christian Education Guide

            T&L provides 3 different study guides leading us through CHOC, I.

Ø      Christian History of the Constitution based upon the Holy Bible—“the great political textbook of the patriots”. {page 61}

Ø      Christian History of the Constitution Expanding the Principles through the Grades {page 139}

Ø      Christian History—which proceeds sequentially through CHOC, I. {page 303}

Our study will touch on both the 1^st and the 2^nd study guides.  

T&L (pages 88-89)—Teacher’s Guide for Christian History

            An easy read—definitely worth it!  Don’t skip it.

 Daniel 1-6 & 1 and 2 Timothy

            We’re asked to take note of (1) character qualities and (2) any references to young Daniel and Timothy’s education.  As I was reading, it appeared evident from the scriptures that both Daniel and Timothy had been taught in the ways of the Lord from a very young.  Although very young, Daniel was discerning in the ways of the Lord evidenced by his refusal to defile himself.  Timothy's mother and grandmother were specifically mentioned as being of sincere faith.  Timothy had learned the Holy Scriptures from infancy from them.  The value of Daniel and Timothy's early godly training by those near and dear to them, of course, cannot be overemphasized.

Karen