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).
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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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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 and goodness.
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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 chapel service culminating in the Divine Service each Thursday.
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Historical – Connection to the historic Christian faith throughout the ages.
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Vocational – Equips children with a well-educated mind and rightly ordered heart to faithfully live as Christians in the church, home, and society.