James Nichols, PhD, D. Min. NSS November 6,2014

Distinctives of the Christian Educator Good to Great in God’s Eyes

in the Classroom

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Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1Cor 12

Definition: What is a Spiritual Gift?

A spiritual gift is a skill or an ability that enables each Christian to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness. (Consequently, our greatest, most effective contribution to other Christians is to exercise our gift.)“Stir up the gift of God which is in you.” (2 Tim. 1:6 NKJV)

This presentation will answer the following questions:

How does the Holy Spirit make Christian educators distinctively different?

What five “loves” does the Christian teacher need?

What characteristics does the Christian classroom exhibit?

How does Nyack’s SOE distinctively prepare Christian educators?

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How do Christian educators differ from their non-believing

counterparts?

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What if all learning came directly from ourselves?

Questions for the Christian Teacher Relating to the Spiritual

Gift of Teaching

What if all learning came directly from God?

How is the Spiritual Gift of Teaching God’s resolution of this issue?

Way to Categorize the Gifts

 Support Gifts

 

 Service Gifts

 Sign Gifts

 Apostleship/Word 

of wisdomAdministration

(Leading)Distinguishing of 

spiritsProphecy/Word of 

knowledgeExhortation

(Encouragement)Miracles

Evangelism Faith Healings

Pastor-Teacher Giving Tongues

Teaching Helps/Serving Interpretation of tongues

  Showing mercy  

Definition of Christian TeachingSpeaking the very words of God (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Where does the Christian teacher use this gift?

Anywhere-not just Sunday School or the classroom

Can We Lose a Gift? “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29)

How Can I Discover Which Gift is Mine?

1.Be informed(Biblically)2.Be open(to the HS)3.Be available(when the HS calls

1 Timothy 4:11-16 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone

look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

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The Christian educator uses the spiritual gift of teaching, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, utilizing the proven research of secular theorists as long as it is consistent with the Word of God. This includes both the content knowledge and the pedagogical methods/strategies that is aligned with Biblical truth.(Nichols).

How does the Christian teacher use secular theory to Teach Christianly?(Van Dyk)

The next slide illustrates Teaching Christianly (i.e., as a Christian educator)

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SECULAR THEORY

TEACHING CHRISTIANLY

BIBLICAL TRUTH

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How does the SALT Model Reflect the Spiritual Gift of Teaching?

ServiceAcademicsLeadershipTeaching

Distinctive 1The Christian Teacher is a Servant

If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. (Mark 9:35)

Service expresses the belief that Christian teacher are focused on others rather than themselves.

The belief that teachers look to the needs of others first moves the candidate from a teacher-centered model to a student-centered approach to teaching and learning.

Focus on the student implies service to family and community.

Candidates are called to have servant hearts and to use their knowledge and dispositions to positively transform their school, community, and world, reflecting A. B. Simpson's founding principles for Nyack College in 1882.

Distinctive 2 The Christian Teacher is Academically Skilled

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 15:25)

Academics are the pursuit of truth. The pursuit of truth begins at Nyack College with a

knowledge and understanding of God. It leads to spiritual and moral understandings as well as

valuing traditional content and pedagogical knowledge. Teaching grads are role models as both academically

skilled teachers and Christians.

Distinctive 3The Christian Teacher is a Leader

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:16)

Leadership in a servant model is by example. Professional faculty and candidates model the behaviors and dispositions born of

the values and morals of the Christian life. These values give vision to leadership that operates on principles of equity and

diversity that transfigure school and community. Candidates follow a higher calling and become agents of transformation upon

graduation. Candidates are expected to be role models personally and professionally,

communicating by actions and word the values that drive them to serve others before themselves.

As teachers, they are expected to have a vision to serve a diverse student population and provide them with the opportunities to be successful individuals.

Distinctive 4The Christian Teacher Demonstrates the

Spiritual Gift of TeachingI will instruct you and teach you the way you should go (Psalm 32:8)

Teaching is developing the capabilities of the individual. All individuals are valued as God’s special creation and as a result are valued for who they

are and what they can become. Effective teaching is a thoughtful process that reflects on past performance and informs

future practice. The teacher balances the science of pedagogy with the art of addressing the individual need

of each student through differentiated instruction. Teachers establish a collaborative classroom environment where success of other students

is as important as a student’s personal success. The effective teacher creates a warm, nurturing environment with high expectations,

fairness, and compassion. Students are active and engaged in learning that fosters collaboration with other students in the classroom”.

What are the five loves required of a Christian

teacher?

Adapted from He Gave Gifts(Swindoll) and Distinctives of the Christian Teacher(Nichols)

Five Loves of the Christian TeacherSpiritual and (Secular) Applications

The teacher loves his/her brothers and sisters in Christ (students)

The teacher loves studying the/his/her Word of God (curriculum)

The teacher loves applying Biblical principles (methods of teaching).

Five Loves of the Christian TeacherSpiritual and (Secular) Applications Part 2

The teacher loves making the complex simple in the sharing of God’s word/subjects (according to the needs and level of understanding of the listener- including multiple intelligences and learning styles).

The teacher loves making learning joyful (Proverbs 15:2 NLT) The wise teacher makes learning a joy.

How are these loves and distinctives applied in the

Christian taught classroom?

Teaching Christianly(Van Dyk)

In the Christian taught classroom: The learning of one student is related to the

learning of all students (1Cor 12:26 NIV) The students are responsible for both their own

and each other’s learning(cooperative learning).

The Christian classroom provides a warm, secure, non-competitive environment (1Jn 4:18 NIV).

Gifts, talents, and differences are recognized, encouraged, and celebrated.

Opportunities are provided for development and practice of discipleship skills and the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5: 22-23 NIV).

Teaching Christianly(continued)

How does a Christian educator teach with Grace in his/her, Christian or secular

classroom?

(From Nichols: Distinctives of the Christian Educator)

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TEACHING WITH GRACE

G UIDE, DON’T TELLR ESPECT LEARNING STYLESA PPLY TO STUDENTS’ LIVESC OOPERATE, DON’T COMPETEE VALUATE AUTHENTICALLY

How did Jesus model Christian teaching for us?

(from Howard Hendricks’ Seven Laws of the Christian Teacher)

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Hendrick’s 7 Laws of the Christian Teacher Jesus was the Master Teacher in the NT (parables-

verisimilitude)

Teaching stimulates students to gain knowledge

Jesus involved His students through the four senses (learning styles)

Teaching and learning must be active, not passive

Laws of the Teacher (continued)

Students need to communicate with each other (Cooperative Learning).

Teachers and students need to care about each other

Teachers need to motivate their students Teachers and the Holy Spirit must provide

readiness for their students.

• NB: How seriously did Jesus regard the gift of teaching? See James 3:1.

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How did NCATE (now CAEP), a secular agency, respond to a

distinctively Christian institution, in its assessment of our teacher

education program?

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Comments by NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education)

Assessment Team

• We envy you. We have never assessed a School of Education whose teacher candidates and faculty displayed such genuine care and respect for each other

• Your SALT model-Service, Academics, Leadership, and Teaching is truly reflected in all you do in the Nyack School of Education.

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Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[for those who are called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Some of God’s Promises for our Success as a Christian School of Education and

Christian Teachers

The Five Loves of the Christian Teacher-a post-assessment of the Spiritual Gift of Teaching

I exhibit a love for the body of Christ/children and a desire that they know more about scripture and learning.

I love studying the word of God and methods of teaching. I love joyfully communicating the principles learned from

the Bible/ my studies. I love making the complicated truth simple and

understandable. I love making my lessons joyful. 

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Thank you for your kind attention.

I will make this presentation available to those who send me their email

address @

James.nichols@nyack.edu

Selected References

• Hendricks, H. (2003) Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive(Revised Edition) Colorado, Springs: Multnomah Books• Issler, K. and Habermaas, R. (1994). How We Learn. Grand Rapids: Baker.• Nyack College (2013). Nyack College Catalog 2013-2014 Nyack, NY: Nyack College.• Schepens, B.et al. (2003). The SALT Model. Nyack College School of Education.• Swindoll, C (1992). He Gave Gifts. Anaheim, CA: Insight for Living.• Van Dyk, J. (1990). The Craft of Christian Teaching. Sioux City, IA: Dart Press.