April 2015 Student Newsletter

Words from the Director

Russell Haffner

School Director: Russell Haffner

It is sometimes said that true education is life itself not merely a preparation for life. I think this is especially true when it comes to Bible education. As we grow in our understanding of God's word we make application of the scriptures to our own lives and implement its teachings into our daily activities. The inspired apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:9, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Notice the promise we are given in this verse. If we put into practice the things we have learned from the scriptures we will be favored by our God.

Of course the first step to knowing God's word is reading God's word. We should make a diligent effort to spend as much time as possible filling our minds with the holy scriptures. In Proverbs 4:20 we read, "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings." As we read the word of God we must make every effort to open our ears and give attention to its teachings.

The next goal is to study the word of God. Reading the Bible is not the same as studying the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we find, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Study of the Bible requires an in-depth examination of not only the verses, but also the words found in the verses, and the context in which the verse is found.

The next thing we should do is meditate upon God's word. We want to reflect upon the deep truths of the scriptures. The Psalmist explains that the righteous man's "...delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). The more we contemplate the profound teachings of the holy scriptures the greater our understanding will be.

The next aspect to improve our Bible education is to implant it in our hearts. The Psalmist said, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11). The word must be established deep in our hearts if we are going to avoid sin.

Perhaps the most important step in our Bible education is applying the teachings of the Bible to our lives. James warns that we will be deceiving ourselves if we are simply hearers of the word and not doers of the word (James 1:22).

The goal of your education in the School should not be a certificate, or even a diploma. The goal should be an enriched life firmly grounded in the teachings of God's word. As students of the School you have access to a great opportunity. You are able to be instructed by great teachers of God's word. You will surely be blessed for your ongoing efforts. I commend you for your decision to challenge yourself to seek an education in God's word. 

How to Study for Tests

As you know Formal and Informal students are required to take tests as part of their studies. I have been asked at times, "How should I study for the tests?" Perhaps, the biggest difficulty is that when taking an exam for the school you must do it from memory. You are not allowed to view your course notes or a Bible during the testing process. Therefore, you are graded on how much you can remember from your study. However, please do not let this discourage you. When viewing the videos you will notice that on some courses key points are highlighted with an on-screen graphic display to help you remember the information. This will be seen as text on your screen. Take special note of these graphic displays because it is highly likely the material listed will be on the test.

Also Formal and Informal students are given the course notes to study in preparation for the exam. These are the same notes the instructors use as they teach the course. When you download the tests you are also able to preview the questions. This gives you an opportunity to study the course notes to make sure you are familiar with the material which will be on the test. Hopefully, these tips will assure your success on all upcoming tests.

How Do I Do That?

If you ever have questions about the school procedures or the testing process remember we have a Help Center link under the Contact Us selection on the blue menu bar of the school's website. The Help Center includes instructional how-to guides for such topics as: How to Register for a Course, How to "Mark Complete" Lessons, How to Download Tests, How to Open and Save Tests and How to Submit Completed Tests. Please let us know if you feel there are other questions that should be answered in this section. We want to make your online experience as simple and intuitive as possible.