The following blog post is adapted from Faithful and Flourishing: Strategies for Leading Your Christian School with Excellence by Dr. Bernard Bull, a thought leader in the landscape of Christian education and author of multiple must-read books for Christian educators.
Distinct, Intentional, Faithful, and Flourishing
By design, schools exist to educate, nurture, train, equip, and shape people, but toward what end? There is no such thing as a neutral school. Every school reflects one or more sets of beliefs and values through explicit teaching, as well as through the culture and climate of the school and through decisions about curriculum, policies, procedures, personnel, extracurricular activities, interactions with people, and even financial priorities. All these and other factors communicate a message to the students and families they serve. It
may be a clear and compelling message. Or it could be a cloudy and conflicting one. Regardless, there is a formative message that impacts the lives of the students and families involved in every school.
Yet many schools do not embrace this reality. They operate, sometimes for decades, without recognizing that the school communicates a persistent message about ideas, beliefs, and values that matter in the world and the students’ lives. The central message of the school is often shaped by what the leaders, teachers, and board members remember about their childhood school experiences. They give what they once received. As a result, the beliefs and values conveyed in a school are often a collection of sometimes aligned and sometimes conflicting ideas about God, humanity, the world, the meaning of
life, morality, and so much more.
I wrote this book because I believe that school missions matter and influence young people in significant and lasting ways. More specifically, Christian schools matter. At their best, they offer a message of truth and hope, pointing each student to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and equipping them with a biblical lens through which to look at life and learning. They recognize that there is an undeniable spiritual and moral dimension to education and the lives of young people.
In our current culture, Christian education is even more critical. We no longer live in a time when most local public schools reflect, at least broadly, the same beliefs and values that we teach in the Christian home or our congregations. At the same time, we are witnessing young adults leaving the church at a startling rate. The beliefs and values outside the church resound from every social media outlet, from every source of entertainment, and now, through most schools
and textbooks.
In such a world, what a joy and honor it is to offer Christian school options, learning communities that strive for Christ-centered academic excellence and equip students for lives of Christian conviction, character, and courage as they embrace and discover their present and future callings—each one an opportunity to glorify God and love their neighbors. What a tremendous blessing to offer parents educational options that honor and build on the legacy of faith formation that started in their churches and homes.
I also wrote this book because many Christian schools know and can clearly articulate their broad mission, central message, and reason for existence. However, my research indicates that these missions, messages, and reasons often do not have free rein to shape and transform the school. Consequently, countless Christian schools struggle to reach their potential and have their desired impact. In addition, in striving to achieve enrollment goals and remain financially viable, the mission and message of the school can far too easily get lost or sidelined. While it is sometimes hard to see amid the worries of
balancing the budget, schools with clear and compelling messages that permeate everything they do are often in a better position to establish themselves as valued and sought-after educational options in a community.
When a school takes the time to carefully and prayerfully plan and consider who God calls them to be as a school, something inspiring starts to take place. They begin to discover the power, promise, and possibility of having a climate and culture where the message is clear, compelling, consistent, and contagious. The result of such efforts in a Christian school is not unlike a crew of Olympic rowers operating in near-perfect synchronicity and focused on the same destination. It is a path to excellence and a sight of beauty.
Of course, all schools consist of fallen and sinful people in need of a Savior, and our sin-stained actions will always create challenges that we would rather avoid. Yet this is even more reason for us to devote ourselves to the design of schools where God’s Word is prevalent, where the gift of beauty is celebrated, and where goodness is revered. May this text aid you and your school in such a pursuit.
A Biblical Blueprint?
If only God’s Word offered a detailed blueprint for Christian schools. It does not. Schools, as we understand them today, are a relatively modern phenomenon. You will find little to nothing about bell schedules, letter grades, formal curriculums, diplomas, extracurricular activities, classroom management, which texts to include or not, educational technology, the best teaching methods, and many other such matters in the Bible. This absence does not mean God’s Word is silent. There are, without question, biblical doctrines that can bless and inform our work in schools.
As an example, consider another modern phenomenon: the automobile. The Bible does not offer detailed guidance on how to drive a car. However, we still know that God’s plan is for us to use a car to honor God and demonstrate love for our neighbor. I may use my car to assist an elderly member of the church with grocery shopping and trips to appointments. When driving, I strive to do so in ways that do not hurt or harm my neighbor. I do not steal cars from others, nor should I covet the Mercedes-Benz my neighbor down the road owns. We could go on with a long list of biblical teachings that can and do inform our approach to something like an automobile.
The same is true for our approach to schools. This requires time, thought, prayer, and study. School can be a beautiful and inspiring expression of what we believe, teach, and confess as Christians, but as human-created institutions, they are subject to the same sin that stains the rest of our lives and our world. As we are reminded in 1 John 1:8–9, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Our schools will not be perfect, and they will not always reflect the goodness and truth of God’s Word. As such, we approach this work with humility, returning daily to our heavenly Father, seeking forgiveness and asking for the wisdom to create and lead a school that honors God and blesses the students and families whom He allows us to teach, equip, and serve.
Scripture: ESV®.
Blog post adapted from Faithful and Flourishing: Strategies for Leading Your Christian School with Excellence © 2025 Bernard Bull, published by Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Learn more strategies from Dr. Bernard Bull from his new book Faithful and Flourishing: Strategies for Leading Your Christian School with Excellence.
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