"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Psalm 34:11

Our Pastor-Teacher, John MacArthur, once introduced a sermon with the following poignant anecdote. A veteran school teacher explained the reason for her untimely resignation as follows. "The teachers are afraid of the principal. The principal is afraid of the superintendent. The superintendent is afraid of the school board. The school board is afraid of the parents. The parents are afraid of the students. And the students are afraid of no one."

What a tragic but true commentary on modern American society. How did it come to pass in the wealthiest, most educated, most technologically advanced society in the history of the world, that our children are not learning - that serious crime and violence are daily occurrences even in elementary schools - that the word "Columbine" immediately brings horrific, but all too familiar images immediately to our minds?

The answer, as always, lies in the uncomplicated, simple, and simultaneously profound truths of Scripture - our ONLY sure source of objective truth. We have taught children, by example and precept, their rights. We have taught children, by example and precept, that "Life is all about me!". We have taught them, by example and precept, to eschew discipline, self-control,and hard work in exchange for the relentless, obsessive pursuit of self-centered, momentary entertainment. As a culture, we have failed to teach children the fear of the Lord.

In absolute contrast to the direction of our times, it is with deliberate, purposeful concentrated effort that Grace Community School chooses to teach our students the fear of the Lord - a healthy reverence and awe of our Creator. Thus, our 2008-2009 theme, "In Pursuit of Holiness", based upon 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord".

It is our prayer and passion that each Grace Community School student will learn to reverence and love his or her Creator, repent of and reject sin, embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and pursue a life of holiness. And this life-long endeavor begins with a healthy fear of God. As the Proverbs tell us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding". Proverbs 9:10