Building Hope In The Next Generation - Kingdom Character

Prof. Donella Pitzl

Prof. Donella Pitzl has an International Professorship through Kayiwa International University and is an International Certified Master Life Coach. Prof. Donella’s doctorate work is in Biblical Counseling with an emphasis on Kingdom Character Building through United Graduate College and Seminary International. She has over 40 years of Christian education and ministry experience and has written several training materials and curriculum for children, youth, seminary students and ministry volunteers. She is also the Director of IMEA.

______________________

Our future is held in the lives of our youth and our children. It is embodied in their training, mindsets, hopes and desires. Every generation faces challenges and needs encouragement to become all that God has created them to be. Good biblical principles built into the understanding of our young will allow them the ability to tap into the life God has to give them.

From Psalm 119, I have captured and paraphrased “22 Principles for Life”. When God’s Truth is applied to daily living with a practical application, it will bring hope by creating a lasting foundation. The way one looks at life will shape that life. What is understood about God - His love and care - will help one live in wholeness fulfilling God’s intentions for each generation on the Earth giving them a future and a hope.

The 22 Principles of Life – From Psalm 119

1. I am blessed when I live according to God’s principles; I will not suffer shame – Ps. 119:1, 6
2. The Lord keeps my heart pure when I live according to His Word and seek Him with all my heart – Ps. 119:9-11
3. My eyes are kept open that I can continue to see the path; God’s principles are my counselor – Ps. 119:18,24
4. Even when my heart is tired and sad,  I am strengthened by His principles; on this path I find freedom – Ps. 119:28, 32
5. I know I can ask the Lord to direct my thoughts and to keep my eyes on Him; His ways preserve my life in righteousness – Ps. 199:33, 35, 40
6. My hope in God brings freedom and puts strength in my words – Ps. 119:45, 46
7. I find comfort in hard times because I know God promises to keep me because I keep His principles – Ps. 119:50,56
8. I know if I turn my face towards God and stay diligent, I will find strength – Ps. 119:59, 61
9. I am thankful for hard times because they help me learn about God – Ps. 119:71
10. God made me and I can trust Him to teach me; I can trust His love to comfort me – Ps. 119:73,76
11. I know I can trust God’s commands  even in the face of hardship – Ps. 119:86
12. I realize although there is nothing perfect in life, I am unlimited as God’s principles are without limits – Ps. 119:96
13. I believe God’s principles rather than my enemies make me wiser – Ps. 119:98
14. I know God directs my path and even if others would try and trap me, I will happily stay on God’s path for my future – Ps. 119:105,110,111
15. I will stay singularly focused on God’s principles because they keep me and bring me life – Ps. 119:113,116
16. Loving and knowing God’s principles helps me hate every wrong path – Ps. 119:127,128
17. I realize God always shows mercy to those that love His name and He will not let any sin rule over me – Ps. 119:132,133
18. I can live because I trust in God’s principles which are true  – Ps. 119:138,144
19. I understand God has established His words to last forever and if I stay focused on them, I do not have to be afraid – Ps. 119:148,149,152
20. I believe God defends me and saves my life because of His compassion – Ps. 119:154,156
21. I see it is good to praise God and be thankful because He keeps me, knows all about me and gives me peace – Ps. 119:165,168
22. If I stray off the right path and yet not forget His principles, God will find me. Lord let me live that I might praise You – Ps. 119:175,176

Note: All Scripture verses are paraphrased from the New International Version of the Bible.

Active engagement is important. If the young people of today were to engage in the following activities, God would bring hope to the areas in life that are troubling and create a strong foundation in God for success in life.

• Write a statement about how you see yourself.
• Identify your area(s) of distress or hopelessness. Apply at least one of the 22 Principles of Life and on a daily basis declare it loudly over yourself.
• Identify an area where you can act upon daily to put your thinking on a right path.
• If you do not believe in God, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  (NIV, Luke 11.9) You must ask for help from God.

Applying the Truth from God’s Word to the belief system of a young life will form that life to walk in God’s Kingdom with stability and bring change to their world and reality. Scripture confirms we can experience life – as in Heaven, so on Earth when we see through God’s eyes and believe His Word.

BIBLICAL EDUCATION

Ivan Chihale

Ivan Chihale is the Chairman of UGCSI Chancellor's Advisory Council. Ivan lives is Mozambique, Africa and is a graduate of United Graduate College and Seminary International.
_________________________
Introduction

Education is undoubtedly a priority in any society. One of the main roles assigned to education is to give humanity the ability to promote their own development. When one hears the word ‘education’ today, probably most common thoughts that come to mind have to do with school buildings, hired teachers, text books and tests.  While these are certainly key components of modern education, such was not always the case. In colonial days for example, education was more commonly understood to mean: having possession of truth; mental and moral development to prepare one for their station in life; mastery of ability to speak, read, and write, and well grounded in religious belief. Webster argues education as:

•  The bringing up as a child; instruction, formation, manners;
•  Comprehension of all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations;
• To give to children a good education in manners, arts, and science is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable.

Education is generally seen as the foundation of society which brings economic wealth, social prosperity, political stability, ripeness and growth and both spiritual and physical embodiment. One of the education essential tasks is to enable people to understand themselves. Education has a vital role to play in assisting students to understand their identity.

1.     What is Biblical Education?

Agreeing with Timmy Tezeno, it is a constant diligent search of what God has to say on every subject. It is the heart beat of God. Biblical education is a heavenly education that changes lives forever. It converts prostitutes to women of virtue; pimps to men of honor. It sobers up drunkards; delivers drug addicts from addictions; heals broken hearts and mends marriages. It is the only education that produces victorious living. The Bible says, “But be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (KJV, Romans 12.2). According to this verse I understand biblical education as a mind transformation process, character building, spirit embodiment and growth, Holy Spirit guidance and dependence, and a production of knowledge and followers.

2.     Purposes Of Biblical Education

• To know who God is. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (KJV, Psalm 18.2);
• To know man’s need of being restored to a right relationship with God. “...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (KJV, John 3.3);
• To know the blessings of God achieved through living in agreement with His Word (KJV, Deuteronomy 28);
• To know the history of God in His providential dealings with mankind (individuals and nations). “...And hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (KJV, Acts 17.26);
• To master academic disciplines necessary for serving God and their fellow man.  Included in these disciplines are: language, arts, natural sciences, social sciences, geography, government, economics, astronomy, biology, medicine, etc. “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (KJV, 1 Chronicles 12.32);
• To develop a Biblical worldview such that all learning is framed and understood in a manner consistent with a Scriptural view of life.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (KJV, 2 Timothy 3.16);
•  To restore the truth of mankind’s identity and goal. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Then God blessed them, and God said to them ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (KJV, Genesis 1.26, 28).

3.     Importance of Biblical Education

While secular education is certainly important being educated biblically is far more important because biblical principles teach us how to properly relate to God as well as to our fellowman (KJV, Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 30:6).  I believe that Biblical education begins in the home (KJV, Ephesians 6:4; Genesis 18:18-19; Deuteronomy 6; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15). The teaching of spiritual and moral values to children is the backbone of any nation and provides nations with moral stability. King Solomon stated “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (KJV, Proverbs 22.6), thus biblical education is important because it is the right information which produces righteous thoughts, that produces right actions, which brings about the right kind of harvest. One of the goals of biblical education is to restore the truth of mankind’s identity, because man was created in the image and likeness of God - In order that he could objectively see the glory of God in all things of creation - That man might subjectively glorify God in whatever he does in thought, word, and deed.  (KJV, Revelation 4:11). Furthermore it is also important because it is the only kind of education which is designed with relevance and practicality, enabling and stimulating a practical learning process, for producing thinkers which aim to produce knowledge and followers.

Obtaining a Biblical education is obtaining the mind of God. Our mind is limited, but God's mind is unlimited. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite” (KJV, Psalms 147.5). God wants us to use His wisdom and His knowledge because it is so vast.  We must know how He thinks so that we can align our thinking accordingly. We must learn His ways so that we can walk in agreement with Him and therefore walk in His favor, having the blessing on our lives. Biblical education is the all around successful life which is embodied in the fear of the Lord, for the Bible says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (ESV, Proverbs 9.10). Without it, life is unfruitful, empty, and void. We must endlessly continue to receive biblical training, because the more training we receive and apply, the more we become like Him. Biblical education is an awesome thing, it has no ending. The knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God are infinite.

Conclusion
Education begins with the reality of God’s existence and the fact that He has communicated to us through creation, His Word, and His Son. As we learn more of God’s creation, our understanding of God’s wisdom and power deepens. As we study God’s Word, we become more equipped for God’s work (KJV, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). As we grow in our knowledge of God’s Son (KJV, 2 Peter 3:18), our love for Him increases and our service for Him intensifies. “Education is useless without the Bible" (Noah Webster).

Works Cited

Webster, Noah. American Dictionary of the English Language (ADEL). 1828.

Tezeno, T. (2012). The Importance of Biblical Education. Oval Bible College. 2012: 34. Print.

How Do I Become a Transformative Teacher? – Part 3 By Prof. Michal Pitzl

Prof. Michal Pitzl

Below are three keys to becoming a Transformative Teacher. I have listed a few practical things you can implement in your teaching practices. Start with one and commit to the process. You will not do it perfect in the beginning, but that is part of learning new skills. Always reflect on your teachings. Ask yourself: What went well and what can I do to improve the next time? In this way you become a positive role model for others, showing them how to engage in the learning process.

Use these techniques and see the results for yourself. Only then will they become a part of your teaching philosophy and methodology. Use them enough and they will become second nature.

Ø Clear Targets: Before you teach clearly state the learning targets/objectives. Make them visible for people to see (i.e. on paper, on the chalkboard, or have them write them down.) Clear targets will be guides for your instruction and for your people as they learn new things. Refer to the targets often during instruction, to keep your teaching purposeful. *If you find that something you are teaching or doing does not refer to one of the targets, do not do it. It is okay to change your teaching plans. This shows professionalism, and that you know your teaching targets and you know how to teach them. It is also a great model for your people to see that learning means we must be willing to change and grow.

Ø Frequent Feedback: This type of feedback helps to form your teaching as well as what your people are learning. Ask the questions: How do I know if the people understand what I am teaching? How do I give the people a chance to respond to what they are learning? The following ideas can be used after teaching a new concept, during group discussion or independent activity.

Ø Questioning:

§       Exit Cards: People write down one thing they learned and one question they have and turn it in before they leave. You can choose to address them or not, but it gives you new perspectives and an idea of what your people learned.

§       Quick Checks: Questions during teaching to engage people in dialogue. These provide you with immediate information about people’s learning. It also gives them a way to process what they are learning.

Ø Observations: Gather evidence of learning during dialogue, group work, presentations, etc.

Ø Discussion: Discussion allows you to hear the people’s understanding of a learning target. You are also able to ask guiding questions to check for understanding.

Ø Think-Pair-Share: This is a three step process: Give people time to think about a concept, then have them pair up with another person and share their thinking with the other. You can walk around and observe and listen to check for understanding. Finally, pairs get up and share their thinking with the whole group (this is optional). This technique gives people the time and opportunity to process their own thinking as well as gain new insights from a peer.

Ø Informed Teaching: As a teacher, you must review the information from frequent feedback in order to inform your teaching. It is your responsibility to design your teaching to meet the needs of your people and get them to understand and use the learning targets. Based on feedback you can prepare to answer questions, re-teach a missed concept in a way that people can better understand, or even skip a learning target and move forward if your students prove mastery of the subject.

During this process, think: How will I create a learning atmosphere that will make my people feel safe and free to ask for help if they need it or share their unique opinions?