"Back-to-School" - what does that mean to you? Do you think of carpools, buses, after school practice, homework, and late night study? Does it mean mom & dad now may have some time for just the two of them to have lunch together?

"Back-to-School" can also mean out-of-town trips are mostly over and now on most Sundays everyone can be back in town for "Back-to-BIBLE-school" at LaVergne. What is involved as we build a great Bible school here?

SHARED PURPOSE
Paul describes an activity of Jesus in His church with a particular aim or purpose in mind. "And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13, NKJV). Such words as "equipping," "edifying," and "fullness of Christ" emphasize Jesus' teaching purpose in the 1st century and our teaching purpose in the 21st century.

GREAT TEACHERS
Someone has said, "God had only one Son, and they called him 'Teacher.'" God can bestow no greater honor upon you than to place his Book in your hands and call you teacher. The Bible school has: the greatest message-the gospel; the greatest audience-the world; the greatest textbook-the Bible; the greatest opportunity-for saving souls; the greatest person on earth-the Bible school teacher." What a tremendous responsibility to be a teacher of God's Word (James 3:1). Teachers must love the Lord, love His Word, and love their students.

BALANCED CURRICULUM
Material should be aimed at various stages of development. Textual, topical, practical, historical, and doctrinal studies should be included. Our Bible school should meet the challenge of addressing a wide range of specific spiritual needs. As Ira North observed that balance was the key to the growth of the Madison church, this is certainly true of our curriculum as well.

EVANGELISM EMPHASIS
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). Everything we do in the work of the Lord should contribute toward bringing the lost to Christ (Luke 19:10). The Bible class is more than simply conveying facts; it involves a teacher's heart in applying Bible truth with love and concern for souls (Ephesians 4:15).

CONCLUSION
What can our Bible school be with God's help and with your help? Will you help by being a part of the solution? Let's continue to reach and teach men, women, boys and girls with His inspired message!