RenewCast

Seek the welfare of the city! While the notion of place-based education isn't an entirely new concept, it's not the sort of focus we typically find in Christian Schools. However, there's strong theological and philosophical reasons why Christian schools should focus their curriculum and programs to helping students flourish in the place where God has put them. In order to do this well, the Christian School ought equip students with a deeper understanding of their communities: the history, geography, environment, stories, culture, and art. Not only does this build upon the notion of flourishing where God has planted us, it also grounds students and gives them a greater sense of belonging as we build programs to help student connect ideas to what they see and can experience around them.

All Parents feel overwhelmed, but the two books we discuss in this episode are intended to help parents feel a bit more "on top" of what it means to be parents, and both books provide practical advice to be more intentional in this great calling. Justin Whitmel Early's book (Habits of the Household) and Jon Tyson's book (The Intentional Father) are both designed to get parents thinking more proactively about discipleship and formation as the the primary focus of Christian parents. Both books are convicting but encouraging, because they remind of us of things we all know we should be doing, but they provide great hope, rooted in the gospel of Jesus. You can find the books hereHabits of the Household: https://a.co/d/3rjtVlrThe Intentional Father: https://a.co/d/9sPisPh

Every Christian School emphasizes the importance of God's Word, but we're likely inconsistent and confused about the place that God's Word has in our schools - not just philosophically, but in the day-in, day-out practices and programs. Tragically, many of our Christian schools reduce the Bible to a tool inserted into our lessons, displayed on posters, and quoted on the tops of quizzes and tests but not foundational to the very fabric of our schools. In fact, by inserting Scripture all over the place, we may actually be minimizing the place Scripture should have, rather than exalting it. Host Noah Brink discusses the necessity of Christian school leaders to know and love God's Word who long to see a God-centered approach to Scripture as the very goal of the school and all its parts.

A Conversation with Paya Sample of Peak Leaders Collective. The health of a school culture is directly linked to the health of the faculty culture. Building that culture requires rhythms of growth and trust that are nurtured by intentional leadership presence. Our conversation with Paya Sample primarily focuses on being present in classrooms (faculty evaluations and observations), but it's so much bigger than that. Commitment to being in the classroom has to be at the top of any academic leader's priority list, because a healthy faculty culture requires that teachers feel seen and known; it requires that they feel trusted; it requires that they are nurtured toward growth by a leader who is first-and-foremost there to support them. In this episode, Paya offers wonderful reflections on school leadership, some "principal hacks," and fabulous resources. Super important information, because a culture of learning and growing teachers will necessarily result in a culture of learning and growing students. Even more than this, it also models a tangible belief in the gospel of Jesus. For, we are people of need - need for Jesus, and need for each other. This is where we find hope and vibrancy. To learn more about Paya and her work at Peak Leaders Collective, visit https://www.peakleaderscollective.com and to learn more about Renew Education, visit https://www.renew-education.org

Joy may be the most important aspect of the healthy, Christian school. Because we're not merely trying to impart information but see lives transformed and shaped, we must be communities of joy. If we're not, our schools will merely be schools: biblical, spiritual formation won't happen; our students will see Christianity as an add-on to an otherwise secular endeavor; learning will become utilitarian - to further the personal interests of our students and their families. But, if we want to see lasting change, we have to run headlong toward joy. Host Noah Brink offers a brief reflection on why Joy needs to be front-and-center in the lives of our schools. To ever make it possible, it has to start with our teachers and administrators.

We need breaks - not just in school life, but in all of life. Not only do these breaks provide bookends and rhythms for the academic calendar, they also say something about who we are and what we need as people. Host Noah Brink talks about the theology of rest and recreation to both provide greater context for understanding the need for these breaks, but also to encourage reflection in the normal day-to-day of our school weeks, days, and individual class periods or lessons. We were made for rest; spiritual formation requires pause, reflection, and solitude. So, how can we do a better job of weaving a theology of recreation and rest into the fabrics of our schools? that's the question and goal of this Episode. #christianeducation #christianschool #christianpodcast http://www.renew-education.org

What do we really want to see in our schools? What's the goal? Why do our schools exist? What do we want our students to learn? Far too often, we go through the motions of "doing school," yet we rarely consider how our philosophy and theology affect our approach to learning - both in the overall curricular program and in the day-to-day. Host Noah Brink concludes our six part series on learning by returning to essential questions about the purpose of our Christian schools. Christian schools ought rethink what it means to be an educated person and what's most important for our students to learn. Do our "Portraits of a Graduate" reveal a truly Christian commitment, or are they essentially the same as what we'd find in secular school? What do we mean by success? These struggles aren't aren't limited to the Christian Education sphere alone, but they reveal our general approach to "the Christian life." However, our task is to cling to what the Bible calls us toward, believing the gospel and accepting the unique realities of a gospel-immersed worldview. #christianeducation #portraitofagraduate #faithformation #spiritualformation #christianliving #christianschool #christianworldview #biblicalworldview #christianphilosophy #podcast #christianlearning #christianpodcast #educationpodcast #learning

A Conversation with Craig Harris When Craig Harris set out to plant new church in Yakima, Washington, he already had the intention of planting a Christian school as a ministry of his new church (St. Andrew's, Yakima). Three years later, Immanuel Classical School has a building, over 100 students, has begun the process of hiring its first Headmaster, and just graduated its first high school student. Host Noah Brink and Craig talk about the courageous story of starting a school right on the heals of starting a church - in the midst of a pandemic, none the less. This conversation not only should provide inspiration and encouragement for those considering starting a school, but also helps to recast the notion of the critical relationship between the local church and school and engage and shape the local community through this partnership. #schoolplanting #churchplanting #christianeducation #christianschool #christinculture #yakima #podcast #christianworldview #formation #faithformation #spiritualformation #discipleship #pca https://www.saintandrewsyakima.org https://www.immanuelclassical.org/visionmission http://www.renew-education.org

Continuing our series on Learning, it's important to build structures (lessons, experiences, and assessments) with understanding as the goal. That starts by having a clear goal in mind - what we want our students to know/understand. These goals ought be consistent with our school mission, theological foundation, and philosophy of learning. From there, we must be willing to design our classrooms and curricula around a framework that is most likely to help students meet these goals. Host Noah Brink introduces the popular method Understanding by Design as a useful tool to help teachers and academic leaders build maps and frameworks to enable our students to meet these learning objectives. This model sets teachers along the right path to put student learning as a primary goal. #understandingbydesign #curriculum #studentlearning #christianworldview#biblicalworldview #christianeducator #christianeducation #christianteacher #christianschool #christianschools #reneweducation #noahbrink #christianpodcast #podcast #educationpodcas

Though not books about Christian education (or even education, specifically), both *The Anxious Generation* by   Jonathan Haidt  and *Hidden Potential* by  Adam Grant  are fabulous resources to help teachers and Christian educators in their roles. Host Noah Brink provides brief recommendations of each book, in hopes that teachers can find these books as useful tools for their jobs and ministries. Hidden Potential: https://a.co/d/5afdZT5 The Anxious Generation; https://a.co/d/7qjtwaX

Whether we realize it not, Christian schools are affected by a secular approach to education more deeply than we'd like to admit. This most shows up in our approach to learning which speaks volumes to what we believe about the purpose of education (and thus our schools) and what we fundamentally believe about our students. As the first in a multi-part series on learning, Host Noah Brink begins the conversation on learning by addressing the differences (and implications) between a secular approach to learning (instituted on the heals of the Industrial Revolution) and a spiritual approach, which focuses not on what a student knows, but on who a student becomes. That's the goal #christianeducation #christianschool #christianteacher #christianworldview #biblicalworldview #integrationoffaithandlearning #biblicalintegration #noahbrink #reneweducation

How do we think about behavior, rules, boundaries, and consequences in a gospel-centered way? Does it matter? Episode 5 briefly speaks to the reality that our students need boundaries that will help them see how life works best within a healthy learning community. But, they also need to consistent gospel-reminders that their obedience (or lack thereof) doesn't change their standing; it doesn't make them good or bad. Our task is to help them to gospel-prompted obedience and rescue them from their "default setting" which bends them toward moralism. To learn more about Renew Education, visit our website, or buy Noah's book, Jesus Above School.

It's not uncommon to hear people of faith say, "it's not about you." It's even the first sentence in Rich Warren's popular book, *The Purpose Driven Life.* But, this statement is more than a healthy reminder; in fact, it's a foundational aspect of the Christian worldview. http://www.renew-education.org #rickwarren #purposedrivenlife #christianworldview #christianphilosophy #biblicalworldview #christianity #faithformation #spiritualformation #lifeoffaith #christianliving

What should we do when a students ask their teachers whether or not Santa is real? It's especially complicated at the Elementary school grades, where parents have different perspectives, and teachers want to both respect those differences and capitalize on the opportunity for transformative learning. Actually, the conversation surrounding Santa Claus goes far beyond whether or not Santa Claus really exists. Host Noah Brink builds a case for why Christian teachers shouldn't shy away from Santa Claus conversations; they help us to embrace the power of stories and our need for hope, imagination, mystery and wonder. In the conversation, Noah provides some of the background legends and historical contexts that gave us our current Santa Claus, leaning heavily on G.K. Chesterton and Jesus Christ's insistence that we have faith like a child. http://www.renew-education.org Jesus Above School – https://a.co/d/1txGwA2 #santaclaus #christianeducation #christmas #christianteacher #christianschool

At Christmastime, Christians talk about the importance and necessity of the Incarnation, and we celebrate Jesus as Immanuel. The words of Christmas bring wonder and thanksgiving, but they're also critical parts to seeing Christianity as a worldview. The realities of both "incarnation" and Immanuel" are worldview-shaping beliefs that should affect Christians' view of all things – not merely at Christmas, but every day. #christmas #incarnation #immanuel #godwithus #christianworldview #biblicalworldview #gospel #gospellife #goodnews #jesus #jesuschrist #oldtestament #newtestament #bethlehem

Thankfulness (both as a virtue and as an individual instance) reveal something about a worldview. Gratitude suggests that we know what we do and don't deserve ... that there's an "ought," and even a "something" to which this thanksgiving is owed. Deep down we know we ought to be thankful, and this reveals that we're hard-wired for recognizing who we are, in relation to the One who deserves our gratitude. As a result, people of faith ought to be the most thankful among all people and should model it for the onlooking world. #thanksgiving #thankfulness #gratitude #christianworldview #christianphilosophy #biblicalworldview #christianity #gospel #grace #christianvirtues

Yes, the world is not as it ought be. We see myriad instances of suffering, pain, loneliness, and sorrow. And yet, God continues to sustain the world through His goodness. It's God's common grace that we see at work - his blessings upon the entirety of his creation - whether His people or not. God's common grace is a vital aspect of the Christian worldview, giving us reason to find great value in all people and enabling us to celebrate the truth, beauty, and goodness we see at the hands and in the minds and words of others. #coommongrace #grace #graceofgod #godsgoodness #christianworldview #biblicalworldview #godscreation #christianity #lovinggod #godatwork #worldview #podcast #christianpodcast

We're continuing our series on learning and the Christian school by considering how the image of God affects our approach to learning. One of the clearest statements the Bible gives about the nature of humanity is that people are created in the image of God. Consequently, the notion that all people are created in God's image must be a core belief of the Christian school, and this belief has to be foundational to the school's philosophy and practice. Host Noah Brink discusses how seeing students as Rational, Relational, Moral, Spiritual, and Creative beings (a simple starting point for what it means to be image bearers) should radically affect our approach to learning, affecting not only our philosophy and mission, but the day-to-day learning activities of the school. Learn more about RenewEd at http://www.renew-education.org #podcast #christianpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #christianeducator #christianeduaction #christianschool #christianteacher #learning #imageofgod #imagodei

A Conversation with John Roberts John Roberts, Head of School at Covenant Christian School in St. Louis joins the show to talk about the distinctiveness of the CCS curriculum. It's rare to find a Christian school (or any school for that matter) that can build its curriculum to fit its own mission and objectives. But, that's why John and his team at Covenant have been able to do. Rather than merely buying curriculum from various publishers, Covenant Christian School began a multi-year process of building a curriculum that fits its core distinctives. Host Noah Brink and John discuss the uniquenesses of Covenant's philosophy, program, and the process Covenant undertook to build a curriculum that fits the identity of the school. It's hard work, but listening to John should inspire and encourage any Christian school to set upon this journey. Learn more about Covenant Christian School http://www.renew-education.org #christianeducation #curriclumdesign #christianschool

When we begin to formulate a plan for building school wide frameworks for learning, there may be no better place to go than to the "Greatest Commandment." By calling people of faith to love God with all of our hearts, mind, and strength, Jesus is showing us what it looks like to love God with the totality of our natures, and it also gives us a foundation for what we should think about learning. Host Noah Brink uses this foundation to introduce several "Threefold" frameworks to guide a more biblical dependent approach to learning: Head, Hand, and Heart Inward, Upward, and Outward Prophet, Priest, and King Any of these three frameworks could be used as starting points for aligning our approach to learning with a more biblical model.