Bible Classes

In the Lower School at TMA, the teachers and staff are dedicated to cultivating a lasting foundation of faith within every student’s heart and mind. This process is done daily by creating a learning environment in the classroom that has a strong Christian worldview. Lessons in each subject area are integrated with Biblical truths and concepts and strengthened through the use of a solid Bible curriculum. Teachers encourage and work with students weekly to learn to “hide God’s word in their hearts so that they might not sin against Him.” The goal for each of our students' spiritual growth is for them to become fully developed and fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Exploring the Old Testament lays the groundwork for our middle school students' understanding of how our Triune God reveals himself through Scripture. This course also serves as an overview of the Old Testament storyline. Exploring the Old Testament is designed to help students see and understand the revelation of Christ throughout God’s story of redemption. Students begin by studying the Creation of the Universe, progress to the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel, then to the time of exile and finally the return of the Israelites to the promised land. Exploring the Old Testament will grow a student’s ability to read Scripture in a worshipful and Christ-centered way as they directly engage with the Biblical text daily.

This course will take students on a journey through the Gospel of John, helping them develop not only a deeper knowledge of Christ, but provide an opportunity for them to deepen their relationship with Him. The Word Made Flesh examines the ministry and work of God’s Son within Israel’s historical and geographical context, and how he revealed God’s love, forgiveness, and power to change. As students see the person of Christ more clearly they are called to lean wholly on Jesus and have their lives changed from the inside out. This course has the same goal in mind as John’s account of the Gospel - that students may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

This course addresses student’s deepest need - God’s grace in their lives through faith in Christ. Through a study of major doctrines and three major New Testament books; Acts, Romans, and Revelation, students will learn the history, theology, and hope of the 1^st century Church and that it is also their own. To start the year, students will continue to spiritually ground themselves in sound doctrinal truths of who God is, how the Bible came to be and who Jesus is in the context of the Trinity. Students will also discover the context for the New Testament writings and the early challenges to the gospel through the book of Acts. They are motivated to clarify their belief by the clear doctrinal explanations and applications of the gospel in Romans. Finally, the students are encouraged to hold firm to the faith through the persistent call to persevere in Revelation.

This class invites students to build a solid foundation of belief on the person and work of Christ. In the first semester, students will examine the foundational elements of faith systems and understand the essential distinctions of a Christ centered worldview. Students are challenged to examine the truth of Scripture in light of present-day philosophies and worldviews. In the second semester students will examine the Old Testament portion of the history of redemption against the backdrop of creation and sin. Throughout this course students will be challenged to answer questions that are essential to their personal faith and relationship with God. They will be encouraged to solidify what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it and how to share it.

Survey of the New Testament invites students to explore the New Testament and how it continues the revelation of the Triune God. A large focus of this class will be equipping students to interpret New Testament passages within context enabling them to make personal applications. With an eye towards major New Testament themes, students will understand the role and significance of the New Testament and how it pertains to Christians today and always. Students will grow in their informational knowledge of scripture in areas such as authorship, important places, persons, and events. While this information is extremely valuable, transformation is actually what is needed and can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit. What this course gives students is the opportunity to know the Lord as He reveals Himself and to grow in their walk with Him.

Throughout this course, students will apply their understanding of the Christian worldview to different aspects of their lives. This class aims to help students develop a Biblical understanding of the world around them and to explore how Scripture influences their lives within specific cultures and historical contexts. Students will consistently evaluate competing worldviews through the lens of Scripture to reveal the supremacy and consistency of the Christian worldview. Likewise, students will learn to recognize cultural influences through the framework of the Gospel and understand how God can use them as agents of restoration and change in the lives of others.

This course provides a comprehensive examination of the Biblical gospel, its methods of communication, and its implications for every aspect of life. Students will explore the four-chapter framework of Scripture - Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration - to develop a Biblical understanding of the gospel as continuously revealed throughout the Scriptures. Students will cultivate gospel fluency by examining the ways in which the gospel was communicated in the first century across diverse contexts. Additionally, this course allows students to understand the Gospel’s relevance to their own life and ministry as they participate in God’s ongoing Restorative Mission. Students will engage in an in-depth examination of the gospel, focusing on its transformative impact on individuals, relationships, communities, and the world at large. Finally, students will consider how God redeems and restores all that was broken in the Fall by establishing His Kingdom on Earth for eternity.

Dual Enrollment Course Requirement: A 3.0 cumulative unweighted GPA (3 College Credits).
Enrollment Qualification: Paired with the Spiritual Formation Dual Enrollment Course.
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the biblical metanarrative and to enhance the student’s appreciation of this narrative as both formative and normative for life. Exploration of the biblical metanarrative will include the stories and characters within the biblical text, with attention given to the interdependent relationships between the stories which connect to form the larger narrative. Focus will dwell on God’s interaction with humanity and God’s desire for a relationship with God’s creation, especially as demonstrated within the covenantal narrative. Attention will be given to the genre and form of the biblical text, to the theological content and intent drawn from the narrative, and to the meta-narrative’s present-day significance. These courses may be taken in place of the 11^th or 12^th grade Bible course.

Dual Enrollment Course Requirement: A 3.0 cumulative unweighted GPA (3 College Credits).
Enrollment Qualification: Paired with the Exploring the Bible Dual Enrollment Course.
As a foundational and practical approach to the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life, this course uses biblical and historical materials to help students grow in their spiritual formation. Topics include: Bible study, prayer, journaling, worship, and others. These courses may be taken in place of the 11^th or 12^th grade Bible course.