In this article, we’ll be looking at the Positive Action Bible Curriculum and what you should know about this curriculum.
The Positive Action Bible Curriculum is a comprehensive Christian education program designed to help students develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen their faith. It’s rooted in the teachings of the Bible and can be applied in various settings, including churches, schools, and homeschools. The curriculum is structured into three levels: Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High, with a range of resources like lesson plans, student worksheets, and teacher guides. Its flexibility allows for customization to suit the specific needs of both students and educators.
One of its core objectives is to teach students the truth of the Bible and guide them in applying these principles to their lives. Additionally, it emphasizes the promotion of Christian values, including love, compassion, and forgiveness.
The benefits of using the Positive Action Bible Curriculum are evident in its Bible-centric approach, adaptability to individual needs, focus on practical application, and the instillation of Christian values. Whether you’re seeking a program for a Christian school or homeschooling, this curriculum provides a robust, non-denominational, and character-focused foundation for students’ spiritual and personal growth. It’s known for being accessible for parents without formal teaching experience, offering well-structured daily lesson plans to facilitate learning and character development.
History
Positive Action for Christ is a nonprofit publishing ministry with a rich history rooted in providing Bible studies and curriculum for churches, traditional schools, and homeschools. The journey began in 1969 at Falls Road Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC, with a ProTeen club led by Frank Hamrick. His dynamic teaching style, filled with energy, humor, and a profound love for God and His Word, quickly drew the attention of other churches seeking to use his lessons. This led to the establishment of a fledgling print shop.
In July 1972, Positive Action was officially incorporated, forming a dedicated board to oversee the ministry. Over the decades, Positive Action’s materials gained traction globally, finding their way into churches, schools, and ministries worldwide. The ministry’s growth and impact have been profound, with distribution to all 50 states in the U.S. and over 50 countries.
Today, Positive Action for Christ operates from renovated offices in Whitakers, NC, with a committed team of full-time staff overseeing various aspects, from writing and editing to graphic design, printing, IT, customer service, and shipping. Their overarching mission is to empower teachers, including pastors, youth workers, school teachers, and homeschool parents, to magnify the majesty of God. The ministry continues to evolve, looking ahead to the future with a passion for spreading God’s glory and grace through their work.
Philosophy & Doctrine
Positive Action for Christ’s philosophy and doctrine are firmly grounded in a God-centered approach to the Bible curriculum. They emphasize that the Bible is God’s self-revelation, a divine gift that unveils His glory, grace, and love. Their studies are meticulously crafted to exalt God’s majesty, His works, and His nature. In each passage of the Bible, they seek to understand how God reveals Himself and how His message can transcend context, culture, language, and application. Their primary aim is to inspire students to stand in awe of God, to know and love Him, and to recognize that this is the foundation for any meaningful change of character.
This God-focused perspective permeates every facet of life, creation, and Scripture, enabling them to view everything as a window through which God’s goodness, power, and love can shine. Through His grace, they encourage individuals to find joy in God, and in His holiness, they promote repentance, submission, and worship. God becomes the central focus of their thoughts, desires, and actions, driving their love and hope.
By maintaining this focus, Positive Action for Christ views Scripture as more than a mere manual for life or a list of rules; it becomes the epic narrative of God’s glory. Even as they teach about imperfect individuals like Moses, Ruth, and David, they magnify the God who uses flawed humans to reflect His glory. They also emphasize the perfection and sacrifice of Christ before teaching about holiness and love. When they stumble, it’s not just seen as breaking God’s law but as a betrayal of Christ’s love. Conversely, when they reflect God’s holiness through His grace, it’s not merely obedience but a deep connection with Him. This perspective forms the core of their educational philosophy and doctrine, underlining the significance of a God-focused approach to life and learning.
Biblically Grounded
Positive Action for Christ’s approach is firmly rooted in being biblically grounded. They recognize that lectures and textbooks, while valuable, have their limits. To truly cultivate a meaningful relationship with the Bible and its Author, they emphasize the importance of encouraging students to delve deep and seek God independently. When students engage with their materials, they should encounter a supportive companion to their Bible. This companion offers exercises and activities that reinforce the discipline required to explore, comprehend, and live out the gospel of Christ, all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit’s grace. This approach aims to empower students not only to know the Word but to personally experience and embody its teachings in their daily lives. It reflects the belief that a deeper understanding of and connection with the Bible can be achieved through active exploration and a reliance on God’s grace.
Teacher-Driven
Positive Action for Christ is firmly teacher-driven, recognizing the vital role educators play in nurturing students’ faith. Their mission is to empower teachers to magnify God’s presence in the lives of their students. They believe that it’s through personal, face-to-face interactions with dedicated teachers that God’s children can grow, as these educators exemplify both love and truth.
The ministry’s success over more than four decades is attributed to their commitment to being accountable to God and teachers. They value and actively seek teacher feedback to continuously improve their materials. They view this partnership as essential in fulfilling their mission and believe that, with ongoing collaboration and guidance from educators, they can continue to be instrumental in introducing God’s grace to countless more students in the years ahead. This teacher-centered approach underscores the significance of educators in the spiritual and personal growth of students.
Doctrine
Positive Action for Christ’s doctrine, as outlined in their materials and curriculum, is characterized by several core beliefs:
- Divine Inspiration and Authority of Scriptures: They firmly assert that all of the Scriptures are divinely inspired and constitute the revealed Word of God.
- Deity and Humanity of Christ: They uphold the belief in the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, emphasizing his virgin birth, sinless life, substitutional death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and premillennial return.
- Sovereignty of God and Total Depravity: They adhere to the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, recognize the total depravity of all humans, and stress the necessity of regeneration.
- Trinity: They maintain the historic and scriptural belief in the Trinity.
- Autonomy of the Local Church: They emphasize the autonomy of the local church, separate from worldly influences.
- Believer’s Baptism and Lord’s Supper: They advocate for believer’s baptism as a prerequisite for church membership and the administration of the Lord’s Supper by the local church.
- Rapture and Resurrection: They hold the belief in the Rapture of the church, followed by the resurrection of the bodies of all Christians in concurrence with the Rapture.
- Premillennial Coming of Christ: They anticipate the premillennial coming of Christ to establish His rule and reign for one thousand years.
- Eternal Destiny: They affirm an eternal heaven for the saved and eternal punishment in the lake of fire for the lost.
- Christian Separation: They advocate the separation of Christians from worldly practices, promoting wholehearted devotion to the cause of Christ.
- Salvation through Faith in Christ: They stress salvation of the soul through repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They believe that once a soul is saved, it is eternally saved and cannot be lost.
- Separation from Unbelief: They advocate separation from liberalism, neo-evangelicalism, and all forms of apostasy and compromise with unbelief.
These doctrinal positions underscore their commitment to a conservative and evangelical Christian worldview, focusing on essential theological beliefs and practices while minimizing denominational differences.