Letter to My 8th Grade New Testament Parents

As school starts in two days and as I'm teaching New Testament to eighth graders this year, I thought it might be a good idea to send a personal note to my students' parents before we get started. I'm grateful for the relationship I already have with many of them to feel comfortable enough to send this.

Dear 8th Grade New Testament Class Parents,

As we all finish up preparations before school starts on Thursday, a brief word about New Testament class.

In my experience with students - particularly those who have been raised in the Church and in Christian families - Bible class often gets thought of as a "been there, done that" endeavor. This leads to students not taking seriously the text because of its familiarity, thereby writing it off as a book they've already "read." What we must help our students understand is that we don't just read the Bible, the Bible reads us - often speaking to, for, and even against us as God's Spirit uses His chosen means to speak into our lives. I want our kids to get that.

In my experience with parents - regardless of whether they have been Christians for a short or long amount of time - Bible class should line up with what we've always been taught or believed...or else. This leads to parents often being dogmatic about what the Bible just isn't dogmatic about (or conversely, being lackadaisical about what the Bible isn't lackadaisical about), and students get confused about what may be "true" as much as finding and inculcating what such "truth" might mean. (To be clear, I believe truth exists, that it all belongs to God, and that He has made enough of it known to us so that we may love, trust, and follow Him.)

Rest assured, as both a Christian and as Head of School teaching New Testament, my intention is not to resort to novelty or heresy in response to either of the aforementioned scenarios. I would ask all of us, however, as we set out on our studies, that we begin even now to cultivate a humble and teachable spirit toward God, His Word, His Spirit, and each other, that all may lead us to love and be more like His Son, Jesus. It will be interesting to see how God works in our 8th grade micro-community, as working in community is always how God works.

I'm looking forward to having your student in New Testament and am trusting that God's desire for us to be His people and Him to be our God would be realized in our class. Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you. By God's grace, it's going to be a good year.

Soli deo gloria.