Introduction

Faith formation is about change in the heart and head. Faith formation—that process of growing one's reliance on the God of the Bible—impacts and is impacted by other life levels or dimensions: physical or biological, mental or psychological, moral and social. The disciplines of medicine, psychology, even organizational development, increasingly reference a "holistic" focus: Multiple factors contribute to improvement and health. The Bible points to holistic growth in a person, and therefore, holistic teaching.

Luke 2:52 captures in the life of Christ this holistic concept: "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (NIT). Proceeding this comment was the account of Jesus "in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Luke 2:46). "Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers" (Luke 2:47). Luke 2:52 highlights that Jesus experienced and evidenced growth: He grew intellectually ("wisdom"), physically ("stature"), spiritually ("favor with God") and socially ("favor with men"). He grew as a teenager, such growth seemingly more evident as a teen than an infant or child, with continued growth in young adulthood. This account reminds us that teenagers can and should grow spiritually and reveals that spiritual growth parallels the other facets of human development. Development of Bible curriculum for students must intentionally address holistic growth. Teen obesity is evidence of this need for holistic focus; as we teach the spiritual we should connect it to the physical to promote well-being.

My intention here is not to examine each life level or facet of human growth. Instead, I seek briefly and boldly to explore the interconnection and interaction of the psychology and biology (head) and the spirituality (heart) of learning. You can say the intent is to get to the heart of how teens learn, the purpose being to inform necessary holistic teaching of teens to promote formation of their faith in Christ. The framework or context for this exploration is a proposed lesson scheme in teaching youth the Bible.

Catch, content, create and commit comprise this proposed lesson scheme. As I discuss each element of this scheme, I'll explain the interconnection and interaction of each between psychology, biology and spirituality. Related to psychology and biology, I am speaking about brain functioning in learning. Pertaining to spirituality, I am addressing that part of human beings that exists after death, drives us to connect with what is beyond the physical, and has the capacity to make the right choices because God breathed into us "the breath of life," making us in His "image" and "likeness." The term spirituality often is used in our culture with various meanings. As I speak of spirituality here, I mean biblical spirituality -- inner growth in reliance on the God of the Bible and outward expression of this reliance in life. It is the essence of faith formation.