Christian Education: The Key to Spiritual Growth

What is the primary factor in spiritual growth? In 1990, the Search Institute conducted an extensive study funded by the Eli Lilly Endowment to answer this question. They surveyed 11,000 people in 561 congregations in six of the largest denominations. The study revealed twenty different influences on spiritual maturity, but one factor stood out as more important than all the others. The most important contributor to Christian growth is Christian education.

Christian education was defined by the researchers as "programs and events intentionally offered by a congregation to teach faith to children, teenagers, and adults." Such programs include Sunday School, Bible studies, retreats, workshops, men's and women's fellowships, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School, new member classes, and a variety of other programs.

This research identified six traits of congregations that effectively disciple people. The most important of these traits was an effective program of Christian education. The researchers concluded that churches that are serious about promoting Christian growth will offer a variety of educational opportunities.

The Academy of Christian Growth is one idea for providing a systematic discipleship program that is intentionally designed to promote the spiritual growth of adults. The ideas offered here may not be adapted in every detail by a congregation, but they may serve as starting-points for developing an intentional strategy for equipping new and mature believers who want to grow in faith, understanding, and obedience.

Purpose of the Academy of Christian Growth

Many educational programs in churches lack an overall strategy for promoting Christian growth. Often, classes are offered on random topics of current interest without considering a comprehensive, long-term plan for providing Christians what they need in order to grow.

By contrast, the Academy of Christian Growth provides a three-year program that will offer participants a solid foundation of understanding in the Bible, Christian doctrine, the Christian life, and the history of the church. Participation in the program can result in deeper understanding of God's will, a more mature faith, and greater obedience to God's Word. Participants can also build closer relationships with other participants in the program.

The courses offered in the Academy require more outside work than a typical Sunday School class, but participants may also learn much more from the effort they invest. Courses can be offered in various formats:  (1) 1 hour per week for 13 weeks; (2) 6 biweekly sessions that meet 2 hours at a time; or (3) 4 sessions of 3 hours each that meet in a 3-month period. Participants purchase and read an assigned book for each class.

Structure of the Academy of Christian Growth

Participants who meet the requirements to receive a diploma are recognized in a ceremony during the worship service. To receive a diploma, participants must complete four required courses and five elective courses for a total of nine classes out of the twelve that are offered. Participants who complete all twelve classes graduate with honors. They can take as long as they want to complete these requirements.

To receive credit for a course, participants must attend four of the six sessions. In addition, they must score at least 75% on a take-home exam. The courses are designed to require more personal study than the typical Bible study, but they are not as demanding as a college course.

Courses of the Academy of Christian Growth

The list below is an example of courses that can be included in such a program. Church leaders who design such a program for their congregation should use a brainstorming process to identify and select four topics that are essential to equip believers for spiritual growth. Then the same process can be used to identify eight more courses that can be offered as electives.

In this example, the first four courses are the required courses for the program. They provide a comprehensive foundation of knowledge on which the elective classes can build. The following eight courses are the elective courses. Depending on the number of instructors and the number of potential students, a church may want to offer the four required courses every year but rotate the elective courses in a two-year cycle. The textbooks listed provide some examples of resources, but congregations and teachers will want to select texts that are suitable for their participants.

Table 1: Required & Elective Courses

All of these ideas should be viewed as starting-points rather than the only or best way to provide such a program. Church leaders can adapt these ideas to their own setting and needs. The crucial goal is to provide an intentional strategy for discipling and equipping believers in a deeper way than is done in a typical Sunday School or Bible study program.

Sources:
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1993). The teaching church: Moving Christian education to center stage. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Benson, P. L., & Eklin, C. H. (1990). Effective Christian education: A national study of Protestant congregations—A summary report of faith, loyalty, and congregational life. Minneapolis: Search Institute.