What is Classical Lutheran Education?
“A classical Lutheran education is a formative education designed to incline the student from his earliest days toward that which is true, good, and beautiful through the liberal arts and sciences, guided by the great literature, art, music, mathematics, and ideas of Western civilization, while insisting upon the centrality of Holy Scriptures and the teaching of the [Lutheran] Confessions, as the child is granted faith through Holy Baptism, forgiveness through absolution, and remission of sins through the Lord’s Supper, so that he receives and nourishes his new life in Christ” (ccle.org).
What is “Classical” at Zion Lutheran School?
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The formation of a well-educated, virtuous human being who lives his life in noble service to others.
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The classic seven liberal arts (grammar, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, music, geometry, astronomy).
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Recitation and repetition during early stages and during introductory study of any content area.
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Diligent study and analytical thought as a child matures according to his or her natural development.
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The reading and analysis of good literature, particularly the Great Books of Western civilization.
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Cultivation of eloquence, beauty, and persuasion in the student’s writing and speaking.
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The pursuit and exploration of objective truth.
What is “Lutheran” at Zion Lutheran School?
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Christological – An emphasis on the Gospel – Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins and raised for our justification, that is, one is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
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Sacramental - The Word of God and the Sacraments (Holy Baptism and Holy Communion) are central to our doctrine and life.
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Creedal – What we believe, teach, and confess is formulated in the historic Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian) and the Lutheran Confessions collected within the Book of Concord, bookofconcord.org.
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Catechetical - Vigorous catechesis in the Christian faith, formation, and guidance for the soul.
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Liturgical - Rich liturgical life with a foundation of hearing God’s Word. Each morning begins with a short devotional service culminating with Chapel on the last day of week.
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Historical – Connection to the historic Christian faith throughout the ages. Our school is a ministry of Zion Lutheran Church, a congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which operates the largest Protestant parochial school system in the US. Lutheranism has been educating students with a Classical education for 500 years.
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Vocational – Equips children with a well-educated mind and rightly ordered heart to faithfully live as Christians in the home and society.
Why a Classical Christian Education at Zion Lutheran School?
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Jesus Christ is present and the pure Gospel is believed and confessed daily.
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Quality education focusing on the classical liberal arts combined with Lutheran catechesis.
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Promotes wisdom, eloquence, and virtue for earthly citizenship; Lutheran catechesis teaches that in Christ alone we obtain righteousness for heavenly citizenship.
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Enables mastery of subjects addressing students’ mind, heart, and soul.
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Teachers and staff are joyful servants of the Lord.
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We invite families to partner with us in educating children in conservative, Biblical values and morality.
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Jesus says, “Let the little children come to Me, for to such belong the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:14).
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The uniqueness of our school lies in the fact that Christian education embraces all aspects of a child's development. This Christian School provides the setting in which the Good News of God's love for all men in Christ Jesus can be taught and lived. As vehicles of the Holy Spirit, children grow in every respect: physically, mentally, spiritually and socially.
