What Does Biblical Integration Look Like?

When it comes to cultivating virtue in the classroom, teachers are often tempted to focus on behavior. We think well-crafted rules or the perfect procedures will motivate students to change. We may even believe our exemplary lessons and continued patience are the primary agents for students’ growth. Although these important elements of pedagogy do contribute to the process, I would argue that the most critical element to cultivating virtue among our students at CCA is the labor of Biblical integration.

This year will mark my 16th year in education and my 13th year teaching teenagers. One thing I have learned is that students (especially precocious teenagers) want to know the answer to ‘why.’ Why do we have to read this? Why do I need to know this history?  At times, and often out of frustration, I merely provided a superficial explanation. It will help you in life. You’ll need this skill to get into a good college. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that shortsighted answers are insufficient to remedy life’s ‘whys.’

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is II Timothy 3:16, which states: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The simple truth is at the heart of good teaching and character training is the exposition of Scripture. God’s Word is sufficient for teaching us the truth. His Word exposes our wrongs, guides us to righteousness in Christ, and then provides us with the disciplines wherein we may grow to be more like Him. I remember early on in my teaching career, I stumbled across this quote from Martin Luther:

“I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.”

It became my motto. It became my “why” to teaching – to engrave the Scriptures on the hearts of youth. In my classroom, Scripture informs why we study history: God commands it (Is. 46:9-11). It frames how we view literature and explore topics and themes like: The gravity of sin (Rom 6:23); our need for repentance (1 John 1:9); the importance of humble service (Romans 12:3-8); or the weight of our words (James 3:3-6). I truly believe that what proceeds actual change and growth in character is a heart that is rooted in God’s Word.

So what does this look like, practically speaking? How do I use Scripture to cultivate virtue in the classroom? I spend a great deal of my planning time thinking through Biblical integration. This process is more than just looking up verses that apply to the text we are reading or assigning a recitation for a quick grade. Often, the Biblical insights I incorporate into the classroom reflect God’s own reproof, correction, and training in me. I find when this integration is personal, it becomes more real and tangible for my students. It becomes me not merely telling them how to live and behave, but us growing more like Christ together. It’s not easy, and sometimes it may be cheesy (rhyme intended), but I know it is worth the good work I see God doing in us.

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