St. Mark’s Lutheran School
Purpose and Philosophy
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The purpose of St. Mark’s Lutheran Elementary School is to teach students the fear of the Lord. |
St. Mark’s Lutheran Elementary School is founded on the following eternal truths of the Holy Scriptures:
God and His Word
The Holy Scriptures are God’s inspired and inerrant Word (II Peter 1:21; John 17:17) and are supreme in all matters of faith and life (II Timothy 3:16-17). All truth is from God (James 1:17). Knowledge which contradicts the Scriptures is false (I Timothy 6:3-5). There is only one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). He reveals Himself in the Holy Scriptures (Galatians 1:11-12).
Responsibility for Training Children
The Lord gave parents the primary responsibility for the Christian training of their children. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)
The Church’s Role in Education
The Lord gave His Church, and hence each Christian congregation, a responsibility to train its children according to the Scriptures. This training is done to assist the parents to whom the Lord has given the primary responsibility of the Christian training of their children (Matthew 28:20). God directs His Church to make disciples by nurturing the Christians within its membership and by reaching out to the unchurched (Matthew 28:19-20).
The Learner
God created human beings holy and righteous (Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 4:24). The fall into sin has corrupted the nature of every human being (Isaiah 2:22) and therefore every human being is deserving of damnation (Romans 5:12). God, through His grace, love, and mercy, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die to save human beings from damnation (Ephesians 2:4-5; Romans 4:25).
The two main doctrines of Scripture are Law and Gospel. The Law curbs sin (I Timothy 1:9-10), makes the sinner conscious of his sin (Romans 3:20), and is a guide for Christian living (Psalm 119:9). The Gospel “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16), and motivates Christians to strive for holy living (II Corinthians 5:14-15). All who, through the work of the Holy Spirit, believe that Jesus is their Savior, receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation (Romans 8:1-2).
Christians have varying levels of sanctification (Romans 14:1-4), and the Lord expects them to use His Word to grow in their sanctified life (II Timothy 3:15-17). The Lord who has given varying gifts and talents to humans expects Christians to use those talents faithfully (Romans 12:6-8).
The Teacher
The Lord, through the congregation, extends divine calls to teaching ministers to assist parents with the Christian training of their children (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Subject Matter
The Lord directs that children are to be trained in His Word and are to receive that training daily, morning through evening (Deuteronomy 6:4). Children are to be taught the truths that they are able to understand (Hebrews 5:12).