Faithful Teaching

Why does the church teach? And what should it teach? In recent years, traditional Sunday school and education programs have declined in influence and effectiveness. Education in the church is often sidelined by other competing priorities, and our efforts become haphazard and random. As a result, many Christians have not learned the fundamental doctrinal content of the faith. As a response, a growing number of church ministries have moved toward an emphasis on Christian spiritual formation. But churches must hold together education and formation, the teaching of the faith and the forming of the faithful. In this comprehensive text, Gary Parrett and Steve Kang attend to both the content and process of educational and formational ministries. They set forth a thoroughly biblical vision for intentional teaching of the Christian faith, with a holistic concern for what and whom is taught as well as how and why. Fully apprised of developments in educational theory and pedagogy, Parrett and Kang propose a core curriculum for recovering the full scope of Christian proclamation and reinvigorating the teaching ministry of the church. Their vision has implications not merely for catechesis, but for preaching, worship, children's and youth ministry, and much more. The body of Christ can become all that God intends it to be, through intentional practices that foster personal and corporate formation. Here is guidance for individuals and congregations on that journey.

Faithful Teaching is the twelfth dialogue of the U.S. Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue. It seeks greater mutual understanding of the two communions' respective processes of faithful teaching. In challenging times, the call to continue to preach and teach the gospel together resounds with new urgency.

This book presents nine biblical themes in essays authored by veteran educators who surprise and affirm readers with personal accounts of how these themes shaped their practice in education. Culture, faith, and praxis often inform one another, and in an era of increased scrutiny and criticism of education, educators hold tremendous power in shaping the education of students by incorporating these values into daily practice. A cycle of improvement follows purposeful attention to biblical principles, and provides educators with the means to reclaim and reshape our profession. When teachers are willing to examine their practice in light of biblical themes and values, learning becomes meaningful and lasting. Often that learning goes beyond the formal educational process. Educators serve as role models, and the experiences we provide for our students shape who they become and how they view life. A faithful educator encourages positive dispositions of the heart, mind, and spirit. The charge and responsibility of developing the hearts, minds, and spirits of those who enter our classrooms, and the magnitude of the call to teach these students, requires faithful recognition of these biblical themes. Contributors: Patrick Allen, Terah R. Moore, Shary Wortman, Marc Shelton, Gary M. Kilburg, Ginny D. Birky, Ken Badley, and Rebecca A. Addleman

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011, discussions on ties between Islamic religious education institutions, namely madrassahs, and transnational terrorist groups have featured prominently in the Western media. In the frenzied coverage of events, however, vital questions have been overlooked: What do we know about the madrassahs? Should Western policymakers be alarmed by the recent increase in the number of these institutions in Muslim countries? Is there any connection between them and the "global jihad"? Ali Riaz responds to these questions through an in-depth examination of the madraassahs in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. In Faithful Education, he examines these institutions and their roles in relation to current international politics.

This book lays out an application-intensive approach to seeking out and developing qualified church leaders. Thoughtful analysis of key passages in Acts and 1 Timothy are balanced with practical action points in a contemporary context.

How can the things we do and say in Church impact our lives and shape the decisions we make on a daily basis? What kind of life is implied for people who believe the things that Christians believe? Faithful Living attempts to think through these questions and considers the formational impact worship can have on Christian ethics, and therefore on the lives of Christian disciples. It focuses on one of the Church’s regular practices, reciting the Nicene Creed, and offers an ethical commentary on the Creed’s key ideas and themes, challenging Christians from all traditions to think through their faith in order to live faith-fully before God. In so doing, it seeks to hold Christian belief and practice (what are often more formally called doctrine and practice) together. Each chapter addresses one clause from the Creed, attending to its theological meaning, before turning to the ethical implications associated with it. Topics include community, food, politics, disability, suffering, hope, discernment, and catechesis.

This book brings together selected lectures presented at the Education, Formation and the Church conference held in Kampen, August 2018. The key issue tackled by all contributors is how we can properly understand formation in the formative contexts of school and Church. The urgency of the topic is experienced by many people committed to the faith development of children and young people. Changes in society bring uncertainty and anxiety to churches, schools and families. Some Christian communities are inclined to protect their members from the perceived negative influences of the post-Christian age, while others equip them with tools to become virtuous disciples of Christ in modern society. These all are faithful efforts that seek the best for the future generation. Different responses to the challenges in society affect the various contexts in which formation is at stake, including schools, youth work, catechism and the training of pastors. The reflections in this book are intended to support people involved in these contexts in their future efforts. Scholars working in the domains of education and practical theology share their perspectives. Contributors are Bram de Muynck, Roel Kuiper, David I. Smith, Trevor Cooling, Bernd Wannenwetsch, Hans Schaeffer, Maarten Kater and Ferdi Kruger.

Provides prayers of the faithful for every Sunday and principal feast day of the three year liturgical cycle.