Theology
We at Lutheran High School of Indianapolis have committed ourselves to exploring our individual learning disciplines with scholarly excellence with diligence, and to assist in the development of our students within a biblical worldview, thus preparing them for servant leadership in society through their own academic and vocational pursuits. The mission of LHS includes the integration of biblical faith and learning in its educational experiences, which are designed to enrich scholarship, Christian discipleship, and produce lifelong learning. The faculty and staff pledge themselves to integrate biblical faith into every aspect of the life of the campus and community in which we serve.
Theology Curriculum
Prerequisites: None
Credits: 2
Given the enormous depth and breadth of the Old Testament, it is impossible to fully study it in two semesters. This course, therefore, will be a thematic overview of God’s Word to us in the Old Testament. In studying the Old Testament both instructor and students will find answers to “Who is God and what is His nature?”, “Who is man and what is his nature?” “What is man’s relationship to God?”, and “How then shall we live?” The major central theme in the Old Testament and the one that will be highlighted is mankind’s rebellion and God’s eternal response of undeserved love centered in the coming Messiah. Both Biblical and extra-biblical sources will be used to understand the context and meaning of the message.
This course as it seeks to develop and understand the central themes of the Old Testament will involve academic rigor and serious scholarship. The instructor and students are expected to regularly keep up with the readings, analyze what they have read, ask questions, take notes, and become involved in the learning process. Through our involvement with the text, we will find God’s message to us in the Old Testament to be unique, challenging, uplifting, and exciting.
While the course is academic and inquiry based in nature, the class atmosphere seeks to include the whole person as both students and teacher respond to the text with appreciation for God's beauty and goodness and for each other as fellow creatures loved by God.
Prerequisites: None
Credits: 2
All of human history centers around the fulfillment of God’s promise of a male child, born of a human woman who would defeat the forces of evil and rescue us from our rebellion against God. The years 4 BCE-33 CE are pivotal in the history of the world. In fact, our calendars try to center on the date of Jesus’ birth. The goal of the course is that we receive what God promised – forgiveness and to be brought into the kingdom of heaven through hearing, reading, and studying the words of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension and the writings of the other eye-witnesses. Apart from Jesus, it is impossible to truly know who God is. Our goal is to know Jesus in his word and find a firm foundation for our trust in God and grow in our practice of life as God’s child -- to live and mature in God’s love and in love for one another.
The course will read through one of the four gospel accounts in its entirety and include elements from the other for the 1st semester. Second semester will include what the eyewitnesses said and did in response to having been with Jesus. We will read through the books of Acts, Romans, and one other of the New Testament writings.
Emphasis is also placed on Christian Doctrine and Biblical interpretation. In conjunction with the New Testament course, issues that face youth today will be studied and discussed on a regular basis. All issues will be taught from a Christian perspective.
Prerequisites: department approval, open to 11th and 12th graders
Credits: 1
Lutheran High School believes that Christian Leaders have never been in more demand than they are today. The problems facing our world – terrorism, poverty, corruption, moral decay, decadence, disrupted family life, dishonesty, racism, false gods and hopes – call for young Christian leaders to confront these challenges in love. The greatest Christian leader our world has ever seen, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, spent the last year and a half of his life primarily training up twelve disciples or future Christian leaders. These apostles, spreading the Good News, changed the world. Whatever our vocations are in our life, we need to do everything for God’s glory. In all we do, God works through us. Christian derstanding, and application of Christian Leadership.
Required Materials:
Ordinary Men and God at Work are the main two books. Portions of other books will also be used. The main text will be the Concordia Self Study NIV Bible. YOUR BIBLE must be brought to class every day, along with, pen or pencil, highlighter, and a 3 ring binder or folder.
Prerequisites: department approval, open to 11th and 12th graders
Credits: 1
Applied Christianity is a class designed with the young Christian in mind. This class will give tangible ways to live a Christian life in an increasingly challenging world. Most visibly, students in this class will help in the creation and presentation of the weekly chapel services. Prayer life and witnessing become is class, best exemplified in the weekly chapels.
Credit: 1
Taken either junior or senior year
This course will assist students sort out the many different religious beliefs of people from various parts of the world. Upon learning of the inadequacies of other religions, it is hoped that our students will strengthen their personal commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Included in this course will be a study of Martin Luther, Christian Doctrine, and other Christian denominations, major faith groups, and cults.
Credit: 1
Taken either junior or senior year
This course is designed to assist the students to learn how to make good choices when faced with the many difficult decisions that confront them daily. By studying the many examples given to us in Scripture and discussing the many issues of today’s world, the students will be reminded that only through Christ can Christ-like choices be made, and that we are forgiven for the many times we fail.
Credit: 1
Taken either junior or senior year
This course is designed to assist the Christian through an understanding and comprehension of not only Lutheran Doctrine but Christian Doctrine as a whole. Points of emphasis will include although not be limited to the development of some great religious leaders of our day, their thoughts, and how we are to reflect upon them.
Credit: 1
Taken either junior or senior year
This course is designed to direct the students to think and plan for his/her years from present to old age, with emphasis on dating, marriage, and sexuality from a Christ-centered point of view. Other issues of interest will include child-rearing, family and church relationships, and related topics.