Statement on Education in the Church

Adopted 12/3/06

• Philosophy

The mind is an important battlefield in spiritual warfare. If the church does not do her part in educating children and adults, other influences will teach them. These outside influences will attempt to substitute the glory of God with lesser idols such as sex, pride, church attendance, self-righteousness, and anything else that is not of God. Because these idols are deadly, it is vital that the church educate members effectively.

In an effort to take this responsibility seriously, Wyatt Baptist Church has established reasonable requirements for teachers in the church. In accordance with James 3:11, teachers are encouraged to take their responsibility seriously and participate in the activities and requirements that Wyatt's church staff has set forth for those who want to teach. While these requirements are not meant to be exclusionary, their intent is to ensure that steps are being taken to improve the ability of Wyatt's teachers to effectively communicate the Word of God to church members, and take responsibility over the souls of their class members.

The Bible is the infallible Word of God. Therefore it should be known and studied by His people. Sadly, many Christians are biblically illiterate. For this reason the staff at Wyatt strives to equip members to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them (I Peter 3:15). God has given His Word, and the message in it is clear. May God have mercy on anyone who is derelict in the duty of teaching their fellow church members the truths revealed in God's Word.

• Adult Curriculum

Wyatt's curriculum is a generic expositional outline of the verses for the upcoming sermon. The goal is to facilitate discussion and meditation around one central theme for all programs on a given Sunday. The main points are covered, including deeper thoughts and application questions/issues. The main job of the teacher is to tailor the lesson to the comprehension and ability of their class. Help is provided on this matter during the Wednesday night training session.

• Children's Curriculum

This curriculum is specifically designed to communicate to children the supremacy of Christ in the Bible. It is a Bible-centered and God-centered curriculum. Instead of communicating mere facts about biblical texts and stories, this curriculum goes deeper into the application and intention of the biblical authors in order to show what the Bible is trying to tell us about God in Christ.