Training Hearts & Teaching Minds for Life in Christ
Foundations of the Christian faith & Christ-centered character development
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 1:4)
Training Hearts is more than a “character lesson” taught once a day or once a week. Every subject area, every teaching method, every attitude, every action of student or teacher is a means of character training.
At CCA, character training is taking place throughout the day, no matter what else is being taught. The sobering question each parent and teacher must ask is, “Am I teaching right character or wrong character?”
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Prov. 4:7)
Parents and teachers who maintain an orderly, structured home and classroom expect students to work hard whether they feel like it or not, learning to be content, obedient, respectful of others, self-controlled, diligent, and faithful to follow the Savior in love and thankfulness.
“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Training hearts and teaching minds are complementary features of Christian education. The covenant community (a three-part union of home, school, and church) must address not only the intellect, but also the heart, to produce wisdom and disciplined behavior. In the midst of a society plagued by problems of immorality and self-centeredness, we look to God’s Word for ways to build strong Christian character in our children.
In addition to weekly a Chapel, biblical character trait lessons and related topics are covered throughout the school year. CCA parents and teachers are involved in TEAMwork, as Character Advocates at home and school: we teach, encourage, advocate, and mentor/model godly character, always looking for opportunities to fulfill the goals of Christian education–developing habits of the heart in training for life in Christ.
The character trait curriculum is reinforced throughout the school day through a reflective process called STAR – Stop, Think, Acknowledge, and Review.
MONTHLY CHARACTER TRAIT CURRICULUM
- OBEDIENCE – Obeying God and authorities – immediately, completely, without challenge, without complaint
- PROTESTANT REFORMATION – Recognizing that we’re justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone – not by our obedience
- THANKFULNESS – Giving thanks to God for all His gifts, including an education
- RESPECT – Learning reverence for God and authorities; showing proper respect for all people made in God’s image
- SELF-CONTROL – Rejecting wrong desires, and doing what is right
- LOVE – Taking our example for love and forgiveness from our Savior
- DILIGENCE – Beginning, continuing, and completing each task in a way that pleases the Lord
- THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – Relying on the Spirit to produce His fruit in us
- ENDURANCE – Trusting God to sustain and direct us even when things are difficult
