Wk4 Christian Education Planning Paper
“Christian education is the disciple-making arm of the church. Christian education ministry is concerned about reaching people for Christ. But it does not end there. Effective Christian education ministries are committed to working with people to help them become deeply devoted and obedient followers of Jesus who are maturing as Christians and using their gifts to build and bless others. It involves Sunday school ministry, but it also involves all ministries with a disciple-making focus” (Bartel, 2001, p. 1).
The four key considerations in Christian education outlined in our textbook begins with (1) taking inventory of existing disciple-making ministry and determine what God is already doing and the direction He is leading and desiring the ministry to follow. According to John Aukerman (2014), “see where God is already at work and ride those waves rather than trying to create new waves” (p. 150).
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At the top of the list of needs should be the need to disciple believers. Added to the list are the needs of the community. The community may have a particular need that is to be addressed such as black on black crime. “Each of these needs represents an opportunity for the church to respond and make a difference in the lives of people and draw them toward a (deeper) relationship with Jesus” (Aukerman, 2014, p. 151).
(3) Discernment of God’s calling on individuals. The pastor as the leader in the church and the overseer of the disciple-making ministry affirms God’s calling on the lives of His people. As he follows the leading of the Holy Spirit, he can then determine what people are best suited to meet the needs of the