The History of Religion...

As we start to learn about different religions and cultures, I thought this video might be helpful in gaining some perspective...

Friday's Current Event

On Fridays, I like to give my 8th graders a break by discussing a current event that might be relevent to our class in some way.  Here is a sneak peek of our current event for tomorrow. 

Amish Men Refuse to Use Orange Safety Triangles

*Whew* What a Week!

It has been a fast and furious week, but tomorrow is Friday, and my 5th period 7th grade class can't wait! We have spent the last two weeks discussing the different ways that Jesus is prepared for his ministry in the early parts of the Gospel of Luke.  Now we're getting ready to move into the parables he used to teach.  Will all this going on, it's a wonder they still have time to ham it up in front of the camera!

The Gospel According to Luke

Our 7th grade classes have been busy looking at the Gospel of Luke lately.  Today they compared a popular video version with what they had read so far in their Bibles.  If you are interested in this activity, take some time to watch the video below after reading the first few chapters of Luke.

Welcoming Fall!

With amazing weather like this, we had no choice but to take our class discussions outside today.  Here is an example of a "Just for Discussion" question from McGrath's book I Believe. 

Do you agree with McGrath's statement that our culture has a decidedly anti-Christian sentiment?  Why or why not?  Make sure to give examples to support your opinion. 

If you feel up to it, ask your student what they think.  Their answers might surprise you!

Context and Perspective

On September 2nd (Friday), 7th grade Religion classes discussed how their experiences shape their perception.  We are going to use this knowledge when we read the Gospel of Luke to understand the different ways Luke tried to relate Jesus' story to his specific audience.  Take a look at the image below.  What do you think it symbolizes?  Why do you think you arrived at this idea first?  Your context and perspective are hard at work making sense out of information given to you!

Learning About the Apostles' Creed

This week in 8th grade, we began our charge against apathy. Students have been encouraged to discuss why they believe what they believe and how it stacks up against the Apostles' Creed. We've had some interesting discussions, and it's only the second week of school! If you're curious about the book we're using I encourage you to order a copy online and follow along with your student.

Two students are hard at work discussing McGrath's ideas of Christian faith.

Collaborating on an assignment helps students test out theories and ideas.