Sharing the Gospel with Students
The trademark of any sound Christian school should be an intentional and consistent attempt to share the Gospel. But for unbelievers (and sometimes believers), the question arises about what sharing the Gospel actually means. Further, what is the purpose behind this effort for the staff here at HGCS? (If you are wondering if your child is a Christian, then the article "Is Your Child a Christian?" from The Gospel Coalition is helpful).
At HGCS, our school celebrates a vision of "To Know Christ and to Make Him Known" to others. Our teachers are encouraged to share the Gospel frequently and to help students know God deeply. Greg Gilbert in his short but informative work What Is the Gospel states that the Gospel is concisely defined in four words -
God, Man, Christ, and Response.
God is the righteous Creator who is holy in every way. Man is a sinner (see article "Parents, Tell Your Kids They Are Sinners") separated from the love of an all-caring God. God, in the form of Christ, came to earth to rescue man from his destiny of death. But, man must make a response to the invitation from God to be a part of His loving family.
The reality is that we are broken and without hope, but God desires to restore us in good fellowship with Him. Until that response, man will continually wander aimlessly looking for comfort in the midst of a painful world.
At HGCS, we will intentionally share the Gospel with our students because we desire that our students can walk away from the brokenness and toward the love of God's unmerited favor. We will seek to teach deep truths so that believers are transformed and unbelievers will recognize their own sinful nature and respond to God's call to repentance.
In addition, there will be times where a student may begin the process of responding to God's call. As we enter into these crossroads with children, we hope that three things will happen:
- We hope that teachers will continue conversations that prod for understanding of the Gospel. As a parent, you should always follow-up these conversations.
- We hope our teachers will point students to the pastoral staff to continue deeper conversations with students about what they are learning as they walk toward God's love.
- And, it is our desire that these encounters and brushes with the Holy Spirit willopen further conversations at home with you, their parents, about their faith.
We may never know if "decisions" are conversions. Only time will bear that out as we observe whether a supposed believer is bearing a life of fruit. Acts 26:20 states that all new believers will perform "deeds in keeping with their repentance."
So with each step along the path to God's Kingdom, we encourage you to be actively involved in the spiritual growth of your child and where you lack clarity, consider consulting with one of the pastors on the Hickory Grove staff.
In His Service,
Jimmie Quesinberry
Head of School
