
Great Christian Classics: Volume 1 (Download)
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Overview
There is a wealth of great literature to study in the history of man, some written by Christians and some by non-Christians. However, the Christian student should direct special attention to literature produced by Christians. The empires of man will always crumble and fall, but the kingdom of Jesus Christ will continue forever.
This high-school literature course covers five of the greatest life narratives of all time. A thorough study of these great books will help the student understand the life, theology, and worldview of some of the greatest Christian men in church history. Sit at the feet of some of the best teachers God has given to His church.
Product Attachments
Product Details
SKU | K070-3 |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Master Books |
Weight (in lbs) | 0.00 |
Title | Great Christian Classics: Volume 1 (Download) |
Subtitle | Five Remarkable Narratives of the Faith |
Contributors | Kevin Swanson |
Publisher | New Leaf Publishing Group, LLC |
More Information
There is a wealth of great literature to study in the history of man, some written by Christians and some by non-Christians. However, the Christian student should direct special attention to literature produced by Christians. The empires of man will always crumble and fall, but the kingdom of Jesus Christ will continue forever. This collection covers five of the greatest life narratives of all time. A thorough study of these great books will help students understand the life, theology, and worldview of some of the greatest Christian men in church history. Sit at the feet of some of the best teachers God has given to His church.
Augustine Confessions: (354-430) Augustine is perhaps the most influential thinker of the first thousand years of Christian history. This fifth-century Christian wrote Confessions as a biography in the form of a prayer to God.
Patrick Confessions: (387-493) Amid the chaos following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Patrick, a man of legendary faith, led the way to the evangelization of the wild and pagan tribes of Ireland.
John Knox History of the Reformation In Scotland (c.1510-1572) Few men have lived in more dangerous times than John Knox of Scotland. Yet he led a reformation movement in a very dangerous land, leaving a testimony for generations to come.
John Bunyan Grace Abounding (1628-1688) Great men tell great stories because they live them. This is the case with John Bunyan, whose personal testimony, Grace Abounding, records one of the most tumultuous and agonizing spiritual journeys.
John Paton Autobiography (1824-1907) The kingdom of God is only taken by force by courageous men of faith like John Paton, whose missionary work among the cannibals in the New Hebrides is nothing short of legendary.
Customer Reviews
Studying literature just for the sake of literature has never appealed to us as something worth taking our childrens’ valuable time for - and knowing that they will be shaped by the thought and life patterns of the authors (as Kevin Swanson states in the introduction of this volume) - raises great caution when it comes to many of the classics that are frequently studied. But to sit at the feet of great Christian leaders in history and witness the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives fleshes out what Psalm 78:4 describes, telling “the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” The growth of the Church stems from the experiences and ministries of individual Christians, and studying the experiences and ministries of past Christians inspires us to imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). I am therefore excited about the spiritual as well as literary benefits of this study course!
The textbook is a compilation of five narratives, with brief introductions to each: Augustine’s Confessions, Patrick’s Confessions, John Knox’s History of the Reformation in Scotland, John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding, and John Paton’s Autobiography. The wide margins offer great opportunity for note-taking and personal interaction with the text. While reading the textbook on its own will be enjoyable and profitable for older students and adults, the workbook (sold separately) is a wonderful tool for deeper study with a schedule laid out in the front so it’s easy to implement in a school year, vocabulary exercises, Scripture study, and probing questions which help the students delve deeper into the texts and also apply what they are reading. This is an excellent course for developing literary skills while growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Though history tells us how it turns out, these stories enlighten the struggles and victories that are glossed over in history books and make these heroes of the faith relatable while giving us a strength of faith to strive for.
It could easily be modified for a high school student who may want to take additional time to read through a few selections, if needed.
The reading is broken into digestible portions. The amount is sufficient without being overwhelming. It can easily be completed in the 30–45-minute timeframe that is estimated a student will spend daily on this course. Alternately, there is a schedule to utilize this as a two-year course in the back of the teacher’s guide. This could be helpful for a student who desires to take this course but has a heavy course load or for one who wishes to go at a slower pace to meditate more deeply on the content. There is a glossary of vocabulary words in the back of the teacher’s guide, and there are notes in the margins that clarify the content.
One of my favorite features of this course is the application of scripture to the literature that is being studied. The student is assigned applicable scriptures to copy for each section. I believe this helps reinforce a biblical worldview and develop the habit of comparing the writings of various authors to the standard of scripture. The other one of my favorite features is the closing prayer at the end of each exam. What a meaningful way to end each segment! Another beautiful inclusion is Patrick’s Breastplate, which is a beautiful poem/prayer. I think it would be a wonderful thing to memorize a portion of it.
The essay assignments are meant to help the students think deeper about the literature they’ve read. In my opinion, the questions are thoughtfully planned out to help the student gain a better understanding of the concepts contained within these texts. The essays are 500 words (about 2 pages if you prefer double-spaced). I appreciate the guide for grading the assigned essays. So much of the grading can be subjective, so I find the guide helpful.
In my opinion, this is a great course for high school students who enjoy literature or who may need to reinforce their worldview foundation.