1. Brainstorm your own list of synonyms for Christian Education.
Compare
and contrast with the list presented in this chapter. What is the same? What is
different? What do you think your list reflects about your understanding of
Christian education?
A.
List from the book My own List
Nature Mentoring
Spiritual formation Shaping in faith
Ministerial formation Sharpening
Character formation Growth groups
Indoctrination Passing on the faith
Teaching Training of the next generation
Schooling Equipping the saints
Instruction Committing of the faith to the
believers
Passing in of knowledge Calibrating the believers in the way
of the Lord
Development Tutorial of faith
Conversion Imparting the truth
Habit One on one discipleship
Formation Encountering Scriptural teachings
Indoctrination The road to spiritual growth
Catechesis Sharing the faith
Socialization, The road to spiritual growth
Moral development Food for believers
Transformation Sunday school
Belief formation Bible study
Faith development Youth Christian fellowship
Critical formation Women Christian fellowship
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Conserving the faith Men Christian fellowship
Transmitting the Teez
Faith teaching
Growth Evening service
# The words in bold are an addition to the list, which came from the
members, and the ones in italic bold are the one that are different from
what the author has had listed.
My list shows that I have had known the synonyms of Christian education,
and I have had knowledge in this regard, but I had no idea that it referred to
Christian education. On the other front, I had never paid attention to
Christian education in that sense not until a focus on brainstorming the
synonymous words was employed, the luminous dawned. In that sense, I
came to understand that I have been engaged in Christian education without
properly having an understanding what I have engaged in.
2. Interview several church members (include people of all ages), asking them
how they would define Christian education. Add the words to the above list.
What do you think this list reflects about the wider church’s understanding of
Christian education?
A. After interviewing some of the church members, these are the answers
they forwarded; Sunday school, Bible study, evening service, Youth
Christian fellowship, Women Christian Fellowship, Men Christian
fellowship, TEEZ, and teaching.
B. The list of how the general membership of all ages gave in regard to how
they would define Christian education shows two perceptions. The
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definition the church gave underlines their perception of Christian
education to be social activity. The second perception is viewing Christian
education in terms of teaching the saints.
3. Rank your list of terms. Which words or phrases come the closest to
representing the definition of Christian education at work in your church?
How would you describe this understanding of Christian education? Compare
your definition with the four approaches to Christian education presented on
pages 10-12. Is there a similarity with one of these approaches? Which one?
Do you find the presence of any of other approaches in your church? Which
ones?
A. The following list of terms are words that are perceived to have a closest
to representing the definition of Christian education in the local church I
come from; Mentoring, Shaping in faith, Sharpening, Growth groups,
Passing on of the faith, Training of the next generation, Equipping saints,
Committing of the faith to the believers, Calibrating the believers in the
way of the Lord, Tutorial of faith, Imparting the truth, One on one
discipleship, Sharing the faith. However, would seem to be the closest:
a. Passing on of the faith
b. Training of the next generation
c. Committing of the faith to the believers
d. Tutorial of faith
e. Imparting the truth
f. Equipping the saints
g. Growth groups.
i) Youth Christian Fellowship
ii) Men Christian Fellowship
iii) Women Christian Fellowship
iv) Boys Brigade
v) Girls brigade
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B. The definition of Christian education in accordance to the work of church
shows on how little or shallow the church knows especially in light with
the definition and description the author gives. It is imperative to note
that the church has focused on religious instruction and has therefore
done injustice to personal development. If only the church would pay
attention to personal development also, then we will have a church that
reads faith literatures and seeks to enhance the spiritual gifts for the
benefit of others. On the other hand, if the church would also strengthen
the process of liberation, the implication would be having the church that
solely sees the minister, and fellow Christians for mentors, and therefore
rely on them for shaping rather than them heaping up wrong people and
methods for growth.
C. The author gives four approaches that helps us understand Christian
education, namely religious instruction, socialization process, personal
development approach, and the process of liberation. Religious
instruction is very similar to the list that I think is a proper ranked list.
The list has in common with the religious instruction approach. This is
because the religious instruction approach highlights also nurturing a
believer through teaching, instruction, transmitting the faith, conserving
the faith, indoctrination, catechesis, belief formation, and schooling.
D. I have observed that in a local church I come from, the presence of other
approaches is there. However, I would submit that there is a minimal of
the other approaches in the church. Thus, we have as the author as
outlined the process of liberation, but it is very minimal. We also have,
personal development approach present, but as earlier submitted, only a
fingering would be seen practically involved in in this approach. The
socialization approach seems to have stamina, but not to a degree of
rampancy, therefore the women would be highly involved in ensuring
that there is life in this approach, where as the men and youth are
constantly striving to meet there designed parameters.
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4.Write your own definition of Christian education. What is emphasized in
your definition? What is not? Why?
A. Christian education is a faith imparting program or avenue that enacts
growth to maturity in a believer, through teaching of scriptures, sharing
of testimonies, reading Christian or faith literatures, and training in all
theological aspects.
B. My definition seems to emphasize on the aspect of Christian education
coming from religious instruction and personal development. Thus, the
definition seems to suggest that a Christian who undergoes Christian
education whether formal or informal should be able to be nurtured into
a mature Christian, who is able to love God and neighbor, and his or her
life is translated in being Christ like both in the community of faith and
C. To some degree the definition has not emphasized so much on
socialization, because the united church of Zambia, especially our local
church seems to have strength in socialization, and has put a lot of
activities that promotes the social aspect.
