Biblical Formations
At HLA, we are committed to providing our students with a strong Biblical background. We understand that to fulfill our mission of building leaders who can impact the world for Christ, our students need a fortified working knowledge of the Word of God. There is power in His words!
On the lower elementary campus, our Keys to the Kingdom program is the vehicle we use for weaving Scripture memorization, Biblical application and Biblical literacy into all our subject areas.
Kindergarten uses the ABC Bible Verses Curriculum by Susan Hunt to begin our youngest learners down the path of memorization. By the end of kindergarten they will have learned 26 verses!
In Grades 1 - 6, students learn 8 verses that follow a grade level theme. For example, in first grade students will learn 8 verses to answer the question, “How did we get here?” God created the whole world and everything in it. In 2nd grade, they learn how to answer, “Who am I?” I’m a sinner in need of a Savior. As they learn their verses, they earn Keys to the Kingdom tags to showcase their desire to hide God’s word in their hearts.
Grades 1 - 6 also have a grade level memorization challenge. These challenges include memorizing : The 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes, Psalm 23, etc. The 6th grade challenge culminates with the students quoting the 5 Romans Road verses to their classroom teacher as a means of practicing how to share the gospel with someone. The final 6th grade challenge is a response to our mission to educate leaders to impact the world for Jesus.
Each grade level also has a Biblical literacy component as well. To see the entire scope of the program and its Biblical literacy components, click here.
Application is also an important part of the Keys to the Kingdom program. We use a daily devotional on campus and satellite days called Keys to Kids. These simple devotionals are great for classroom conversations during our morning devotional time. You can read about Keys for Kids on their website: keysforkids.org.
The Keys for Kids devotionals are written by children. To that end, the 5th grade students are participating in a yearly writing opportunity where they have the ability to author their own devotional and submit it to Keys for Kids! Partnering with a NC Christian author, our 5th graders receive writing guidance and support as they use their Biblical understanding to lead others to Jesus. In the spring of 2022, 5th grade students produced the first ever HLA summer devotional! We were also proud that one of our students last year was chosen to be published in an upcoming Keys for Kids production.
After students move onto the Upper campus, they will continue to build upon the foundation of Scripture memory and Biblical literacy as they begin to take ownership of their faith and their thinking.
In 7th and 8th Grade, first, students work through the logic curriculum that helps them think and reason well. Tools are developed that will enable students to navigate a challenging and often confusing world with increased confidence and better decision-making skills. Second semester, the leadership curriculum allows for students to reflect on how God has designed his children and what it might look like to use our gifts, passions and opportunities to help build His kingdom in the world. Ultimately, this class is about growing into the fullness of who God created us to be and uncovering the adventure that God is inviting us into in this life.
In 9th Grade students take part in the Biblical Foundations course, which is designed to introduce students to the storyline of Scripture and provide them with the tools they need for reading, understanding, and applying God’s word. This course covers the grand narrative of Scripture, as well as major Biblical themes, and relates them to students’ understanding of God, and how that impacts their lives. The content of this course provides a foundation that students can build on for the rest of their lives as students grow and mature in their relationship with God.
In 10th Grade Apologetics, the goal for the class is to personally think through the tough questions and evidence that help form the foundation of faith in Christ. Students’ doubts and questions are welcome here! There are opportunities to focus on questions like: Does God exist? Can all religions be true? Is the Bible trustworthy? Does the Bible conflict with modern science? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? The goal for the class is that as we look at these questions, students will discover that the evidence for the Christian faith is very good, and as this happens, students will be drawn a step or two closer to the brilliance of Jesus and will desire to point others to the hope they have in him (and the Gospel).
... but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
- 1 Peter 3:15
In 11th Grade, in HLA’s Faith and Missions class, the students are focusing on God’s mission and the vital role of His church in advancing His kingdom. First, students dive into what Scripture says about the mission of God and the opportunity to trace the global history of Christian missions from the first century to the twenty-first century. Then comes the examination of culture and how one can more effectively communicate the gospel cross-culturally in order to be able to participate in God’s mission across the street and around the world-for God’s glory.
In 12th Grade within the Life Discipleship class, students spend time seeking to answer the question, "How do I apply the truth of the Gospel to every area and every question in life." Life Discipleship is the culmination of the gospel-focused, integrated core classes all students are required to take in order to graduate from HLA. The intention of this class is to actively engage students in discussions of the Gospel and Culture with the aim of challenging and equipping students for their next stage of life. Life Discipleship is heavily conversational and dependent upon the engagement and contribution of each student. It is the hope of HLA that all graduates stand firm in the truth that they are fully known and fully loved by God, and they get to live from God's love for them, not for God's love, because of Jesus' death and resurrection. Life Discipleship provides the opportunity for students to take a genuine ownership of their faith, and apply their faith in all aspects of life. In short, Life Discipleship aims to move students from head knowledge to heart transformation, following Jesus for life. It is HLA’s prayer that when students walk across the stage on graduation day they will have better relationships with one another and a better understanding of how to apply their faith in Jesus to all of life because of their participation in this course.