Updated: December 15, 2025

We feel a real sense of awe when we think of the fact that many of our learners will be with us from age 2 to age 18 (Ark's high school program is currently planned for 2028-29). The amount of time and the amount of potential for spiritual formation of the learner (as well as staff and families!) that this total time represents are simply staggering to consider.

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Therefore, we take on the opportunity to partner with families as hybrid educators and "associate pastors" in service to the parents -- who we view as the "senior pastors" to their own children -- with great joy and great seriousness.

 

Below is an overview of the most important values and principles that shape the theological content of our spiritual formation program:​

 

1. Gospel centeredness...

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” -Dr. Timothy Keller

We seek to avoid the pitfalls of moralism/religion and relativism/irreligion, as we look away from ourselves and towards Christ and what He accomplished for us all (justification through faith alone...), and the new, Spirit regenerated life of the pursuit of holiness and joy in God (...a justifying faith that does not remain alone).

 

2. ...Towards the aim of treasuring God above all things.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." -John Piper

"The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever" -John Piper's adaptation of the Westminster short catechism, underline added for emphasis

From the cross, we're brought into an all satisfying relationship with God Himself as our highest joy. We believe genuine love for people -- family, friends, neighbors, the world -- is from the overflow from joy in and love for God, as well as a desire to bring them into that ever expanding joy in God. 

 

3. The importance of building a strong, biblically rooted systematic theology over time

“Theology is for doxology and devotion—that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness." -J.I. Packer

“I do not believe that God intended the study of theology to be dry and boring. Theology is the study of God and all his works! Theology is meant to be LIVED and PRAYED and SUNG! All of the great doctrinal writings of the Bible (such as Paul's epistle to the Romans) are full of praise to God and personal application to life.”
― Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

We believe theology is not only for pastors or church ministry workers, but for every believer and can even be inspiring and positively life changing for everyone, and that right thinking about God impacts right worship and praise to and joyfulness in God. We believe we're to seek God for wisdom in how to train children at different ages in their theological and spiritual instruction such that it is age appropriate and life giving unto the glory of God and their maximum joy in Him, but that it is definitely possible and a worthy aim. We refer to Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology textbook, trusted by a wide range of pastors and teachers from very different traditions such as Vern Poythress (Westminster Seminary), John Frame (RTS), John Piper, Jack Deere, Sam Storms, and others, as well as Dr. Wayne Grudem's other works on Christian doctrine.
 

4. The importance of "the whole counsel of God," or developing a personal understanding of the entire Bible over time, with the Holy Spirit and the help of gifted, trusted human teachers

“If you want to be sure that you are preaching the whole counsel of God, then preach through books of the Bible.” — Mark Dever, TGC Council Member, paraphrased from various Nine Marks sermons & interviews

We value the development of a comprehensive understanding of God's Word in its totality, taking care to avoid disporportionately magnifying certain teachings over another, but to make a best effort to study and submit ourselves to the "the whole counsel of God." One of our goals will be to familiarize our learners with the entire Bible over time, and to see the reality of the glory of God, and to see how all 66 books ultimately point to and and give glory to Christ. We also believe in interdepending within the body of Christ and the spiritual gifts that Christ gave to His church, including the gift of teaching, moderating against both extremes of hyper-individualistic, self-reliance, as well as against the lack of independent reading and thinking with the help of the Holy Spirit that lives in every true believer. Therefore, we do seek to learn from gifted, trusted biblical teachers from the global body of Christ and throughough church history, as well as to develop the individual reader for Christ. Some of our key, modern influences include Timothy Keller, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, Sam Storms, as well as others from The Gospel Coalition and from throughout church history. 

 

5. A biblical understanding and experience of empowered living with the Holy Spirit

“When the Word, by the power of the Spirit, is heard, embraced, and enjoyed, we are strengthened to resist the flesh and to savor the Son.” ― Sam Storms, The Hope of Glory: 100 Daily Meditations on Colossians

While we believe God's Word is the only source of infallible, inerrant authority for believers, we also believe that the Holy Spirit continues to work through believers through spiritual gifts as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 for the encouragement and building up of the church, and that eager pursuit of the spiritual gifts in the way of love, and discernment in the administration of the spiritual gifts are both commanded by Scripture.

 

6. The pursuit of Christ honoring biblical truth, while balancing unity and diversity of biblical interpretation and practice

"A church that truly understands the implications of the biblical gospel will look like an unusual hybrid of various church forms and stereotypes." -Dr. Timothy Keller, from Keller's book "Center Church"

In general, we will be taking much inspiration and teaching resources from diverse pastors, theologians, authors and speakers, and largely from the The Gospel Coalition, especially from some of the TGC council members and others that we quoted above (Timothy Keller, John Piper, Sam Storms, Wayne Grudem), as well as others from both contemporary, likeminded church backgrounds as well as from earlier church history.

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Our goal is neither unity or diversity of perspective for the sake of either, but both unity and diversity in service towards an ultimate pursuit of Christ honoring biblical truth. By unity, we mean a coherent set of biblical teachings that help to lead young learners towards a comprehensive view of God through the Scripture. By diversity, we mean that we still intend to learn from a plurality of perspectives so as not to become overly dependent on a single pastor/theologian or denominational lens. 

 

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Additional guiding principles of our spiritual formation program beyond theological content:

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• The view of the school as a warm, welcoming, Christ-centered fellowship of like-minded families, welcoming to everyone, to both the Christian believer and non-believer alike.
   

• We desire to spiritually encourage and strengthen our community as a whole -- Ark staff & families -- so that we might advance in our mission together.
   

• The view of the family functioning as a "little church" (as Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and many early church fathers thought and taught about the family unit) and the view of the school staff as helpers to this "little church" in their spiritual formation goals for their children. The spiritual authority and greatest opportunity is that of the parents by far, but we also believe we can be of great and glad service to the parents.
   

• Ark & Acton's community system for Christ-like character building, with both systems and processes for encouraging and rewarding good character (intrinsic/extrinsic rewards), as well as systems and processes for gently and firmly correcting character when it is needed.
   

• Selection of Ark staff, especially in lead educator and ministry roles, prioritizes both excellence as educator and calling/character/capability for children's/youth ministry (which makes hiring and training one of our most important challenges and prayer requests)