Abide Master Plan

Everything we do in a school can be about building each other up in Christ. From the Bible classes to the sports field, our attitudes, words, and actions impact the spiritual lives of students, teachers, and families. From the student who shows friendship to a lonely newcomer, to the families who see a Christ-like attitude modelled by the teachers, an intentional, wholistic approach to following Christ and making disciples shouldn’t be left up to chance. Before Jesus was taken to the cross, His final advice to His disciples, and to us, was to abide in Him. Abiding means choosing to become attached to Jesus and allowing Him to flow into our lives. When this happens, we trust His Word (John 15:7), accept His love for us (John 15:9), and allow Him to ‘prune’ us when we need it (John 15:2), to bring about fruit (John 15:4), which confirms who we are — His disciples (John 15:8). This brings great joy (John 15:11) and is the most clear and complete advice for an abundant life. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” Jesus said (John 10:10, ESV). We cannot accidently abide; it requires a choice on our behalf. The fruit that results leads to the transformation of our campus and community. We are told that the all-important thing in education “should be the conversion of… students, that they may have a new heart and life. The object of the Great Teacher is the restoration of the image of God in the soul, and every teacher in our schools should work in harmony with this purpose.” (Ellen White, Fundamentals of Christian Education , p. 436) Everything that occurs on an Adventist school campus should be bathed in love to grow disciples through sharing a Seventh-day Adventist worldview in all that happens. Our Teacher, Leadership, and Professional Standards (AITSL and ASA) reflect this goal. Thus, this Spiritual Master Plan Guide is not just about events or a Bible curriculum, but rather seeks to show how a wholistic approach to everything we do can make all the difference to the spiritual lives of those in our school community. With this in mind, there are five areas that can be explored. Because of the wholistic nature of this approach, each of these areas will overlap in some ways. This ABIDE sequence is the natural result of abiding in Christ: • When I abide, I become a disciple of Christ • When I abide, my character grows towards Christ • When I abide, I relate to others with love and compassion • When I abide, I see the world (and learning) through a biblical lens • When I abide, I naturally and passionately share Jesus with others When a school community abides in Christ, the culture will be guided by God, directed by His Word, and fruit will grow in abundance. “True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.” (Ellen White, Education , p. 30) Introduction SECTION 1: PREFACE ABUNDANT DISCIPLING: Becoming like Jesus BOLD GODLINESS: Growing character and identity INTENTIONAL CONNECTING: Building community DELIBERATE LEARNING: Seeking wisdom through a biblical lens EXTRAVAGANT OUTREACH: Sharing Jesus with others 2