H. A. B. I. T. S.

HABITS is not another program. It’s an emphasis, a philosophy, a discipleship strategy of sorts. HABITS is an attempt to change the focus of getting students to a discipleship class (to be loaded with Bible information) to helping them learn to connect with

God and grow spiritually . . . on their own.

 

Because we focus on the word “HABITS,” we have tried to put our actions in a form that is easy to remember. Committed students need:

 

H ang time with God

A ccountability with another believer

B ible memorization

I nvolvement with a church body

T ithing Commitment (Giving)

S tudy Scripture

 

Remember, these are the habits we want them to develop. This list doesn’t include all the information we want them to know before they graduate. We try to cover the educational element of discipleship through several different teaching times during our regular services, our small group Bible studies, and other occasional programs that reflect an educational and biblical dimension. What are the Resources? Most of the tools will be self-explanatory as you examine them but here’s a little more information than what’s provided in the tools. 

 

Tool > Quiet Time Journals

 

When you look through our Quiet Time Journals, you’ll see that it’s really nothing more than a short space to write, a little design, and a few prompter questions. We’ve learned that half-sheet size journals work best. The short space doesn’t force the student to write an entire page for each day’s entry. When a student asks for a new journal, it becomes an opportunity to affirm him or her and a reason to celebrate the students’ growth and ask about his or her times with God.

 

Tool > BACK TO BACK

 

BACK TO BACK is the name for our 1 on 1 accountability groups. We don’t tell students to pray in the middle of the campus or stand on lunch tables to draw attention to their spirituality. We encourage them to meet somewhere at school and pray together. We regularly remind students to seek out a BACK TO BACK partner. For the most part, students keep their same BACK TO BACK partner during the entire school year. We have them sign the BACK TO BACK Covenant and then give them the business card as both a reminder and an opportunity to record their partner’s phone number and email. We return it to them with a note of encouragement.

Tool > Hidden Treasures

 

The title of this resource comes from a combination of the NIV and the NASB translation of Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (NIV).  “Your word I have treasured in my heart” . . . (NASB).  Hidden Treasures is a simple flashcard type, Bible memorization tool. When students sign up for Hidden Treasures, we give them a set of five verses. We’ve made them small so a student can carry them with their keys or in their pocket, purse or wallet. Along with the cards we also e-mail them songs of the Bible verses where the lyrics are the exact words of the verse. We understand that memorizing things can be a lot easier with a tune.  After a student has memorized the first set of verses, we give them the next set (then the next, then the next).

 

This is the only habit of the six that doesn’t need or require a resource to give to students. We are always talking to our students about attending the church and being involved with the ministries of our church body. We talk highly of all-church events, and we model involvement from our leaders by supporting church-wide programs.