Theology
The purpose of Joy Christian High School's Theology Department is to help students live out their faith as champions for Christ. Six core values will serve as a guide for our community throughout the four years: Faith, Integrity, Service, Relationships, Leadership, and Excellence. As we study God's Word together, our students will understand its relevance in their lives today and learn how to live out their faith the way God intended.
Throughout their time at JCHS, the LifeShapes – eight Christ-centered truths that transform lives – will be utilized to help students understand their relationship to God, to each other, and the world. LifeShapes is designed to equip the believer for Kingdom life by linking the discipleship principles of Jesus to memorable images – eight shapes. Developed through the ministries of Community Church of Joy pastors, Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad, it forms the vocabulary that expresses the theology and daily life of a disciple of Jesus. For more information about LifeShapes, please visit www.lifeshapes.com.
| The Eight LifeShapes and Transforming Truths | |
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The
Circle: Choosing to Learn from Life. Identifying
the events in our lives that affect our emotions and actions
and that represent opportunity for learning and growth.
The
Semi Circle: Living in Rhythm with Life. A process
that helps us identify rhythms and patterns of work, rest,
fruitfulness and abiding in our lives.
The
Triangle: Balancing the Relationships of Life. Three
areas of life that Jesus modeled to maintain a balanced lifestyle:
Up—developing intimacy with him; In—building the church community;
Out—reaching the unchurched
The
Square: Defining the Priorities of Life. Four stages
of team development modeled by Jesus. These are the stages
that result in any team striving to reach maturity, fruitfulness
and multiplication.
The
Pentagon: Knowing Your Role in Life. Five key roles
(apostle, prophet, teacher, evangelist, pastor) that each
of us are designed to fill. Put together, they make up the
church identified in Ephesians.
The
Hexagon: Practicing the Principles of a Vital Life. Six
petitions of prayer modeled by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13. Learning
to apply this prayer to your daily requests will strengthen
and renew the prayer life of your church.
The
Heptagon: Choosing to Learn from Life. Seven principles
of growth that apply to all living things, including God's
people. The anagram "MRS GREN" can help you learn
how to grow a healthy church. (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition)
The
Octagon: Living a Mission-Minded Life. Eight evangelistic
strategies for a comprehensive outreach approach. This model
will help you discover the Person of Peace and how to process
works from God's perspective.Living God's Word (Grade 9)
During the freshman year, students will be introduced to an
overview of the Bible, understanding that the whole Bible is one spiritual
story with Jesus as the intended focus, from beginning to end. In addition,
students will study the following topics:
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Biblical Interpretation
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Living as a Young Adult Christian
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Adversity in Christian Life
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Dating and Relationships
Living Under God's Covenant (Grade 10)
Sophomores will study the Old Testament, with a special focus
on the Old Testament's role as the revelation of God's plan for salvation
through Jesus Christ. Students will also complete an in-depth study of
three LifeShapes: the Circle, Semi-Circle, and the Triangle. Finally,
the topic of ethics and morality will be addressed.
Living with God's Grace (Grade 11)
In their junior year, students will begin to study the New Testament
with a focus on the four Gospels and the book of Acts. The LifeShapes
focus will include three new shapes: the Square, Pentagon, and the Hexagon.
Additional topics include:
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History of the Early Christian Church
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The Reformation and the Lutheran Church
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World Religions
Living in God's Kingdom (Grade 12)
Senior theology will focus on the writings of the apostle
Paul, the writings of John and Peter, the book of Hebrews, and the doctrines
and life applications taken from each of the writings covered. The final
LifeShapes of the Heptagon and the Octagon will be studied. The following
topics will also be addressed:
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Apologetics
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Mission Work
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Family and Marriage
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Careers