Spiritual Life

At Lipscomb Academy we see spiritual formation as the process of growing more aware of God’s presence and becoming more like Christ, through the Spirit in order to live in right relationship with God, self, and others, in every dimension of life.

Spiritual development is woven into everything we do. Science experiments become an opportunity to recognize the power and activity of God on earth. Historical events become a chance to discuss issues and topics in our society as we seek to love others well. Reflecting on literature becomes your child’s doorway to see how their life is a part of God’s bigger story.

Faith is integrated into Lipscomb’s curriculum through foundational standards that start with the spiritual formation of our faculty and staff so that they can guide students in how to encounter God’s presence, to see all people, including themselves, as created in God’s image, and to engage the world with a kingdom vision.

God. Self. Others.

The Centering Core

Lipscomb University, like the “Restoration Movement” that emerged in the 1830s, seeks to call together all people of Christian faith into God’s story and work, including the work of this institution. Then, as well as now, it seeks to unify those who embrace Scripture as the guide to the Christian faith and reflect its teachings and practices in their lives. In an increasingly secular nation and in a higher education environment that is far less supportive of Christian education, Lipscomb University seeks to be a spiritual light, faithful in its calling and completely committed to the education of the whole student both academically and spiritually. It humbly seeks the prayers and support of those who see its mission as important in today’s world: educating students to be competent in their professions while also taking lives of Christian character into the world.

In a time when Christian universities must operate in a more secular world, Lipscomb University’s Board of Trustees has deliberately chosen to visibly and vigorously affirm its Christian heritage and commitment. By adopting the Centering Core as a Biblical statement of faith through which all members of the university community can be unified, the board follows in the footsteps of Lipscomb University’s founders who sought to unify all people of faith in embracing Biblical truth. The Centering Core affirms the core Biblical beliefs of Christianity and embraces the distinctive beliefs and practices that have emerged in Churches of Christ. The Centering Core boldly affirms that Lipscomb University will be intentionally, courageously and graciously Christian, and it is through this lens that governing decisions are made for an educational institution comprised of almost 5,000 students and more than 900 faculty and staff.

The Centering Core is an important part of the Lipscomb community as a reflection of its Biblical beliefs, as a reference in the employment process, as an affirmation in community worship and as a tangible way those beliefs can be articulated in witness to the larger world.

Our Programs

Student Support

As a college preparatory school, a primary focus at Lipscomb Academy is providing a solid academic foundation. At the same time, we know that students are more than scholars and we want to focus on them holistically, valuing not only their academic development but also supporting them socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We know that all of our students come to us with their own stories and experiences, their personal successes and struggles.

Our Student Support team seeks to provide social emotional support on campus. While we are not equipped to offer ongoing, in depth counseling, we desire to empower students to be successful at school by offering space to process and manage their thoughts and feelings as well as identify helpful ways to navigate situations. This team also works to connect students and families to outside resources and offers parenting tools to promote healthy development.

Social Emotional Spiritual Learning

Lipscomb has always valued social emotional skills and spiritual formation. We believe that only focusing on outward behaviors misses an opportunity to connect our thoughts, words and actions to the heart of God. In our Heart and Mind classes, we begin by seeking the nature of God to understand what it means to be made in His image. By making intentional choices to reflect Him, our relationships look different. Though God has many traits, these classes focus on eight that are directly connected to social emotional skills which help us manage ourselves and live well in community with others.

Chapel

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

At Lipscomb, chapel provides students a space to encounter God, Jesus and the Spirit through a community of prayer, worship and intentional experiences grounded in scripture. Our campus ministers seek to provide relevant and engaging experiences that also allow all of our students an opportunity to practice spiritual leadership. The desire is for our students to become aware of God’s constant presence and activity in all aspects of their lives.

Bible

We desire for our students to both understand the metanarrative of scripture and see themselves as part of God’s story. Our Bible classes at all levels from PK-12th grade are designed to engage students in various acts of His story and invite them to learn more about the nature of God, who they are created to be, and how to live well in community with others.

We offer a variety of options and formats for Bible classes to best meet the needs and developmental levels of our students. Our hope is that all students are offered introductions and encounters with God, Jesus and the Spirit through those classes.

Community

Knowing that we are created for relationships, we intentionally create space to build community. Whether it is Morning Meeting in the Lower School, CORE groups in the Middle School or Advisory in the High School, time is set aside for purposeful conversations and activities which set the tone for joyful and respectful learning and foster meaningful connections with both peers as well as faculty and staff.

Service & Missions

The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11

Loving God includes taking care of his image bearers and seeking to meet their needs. Students are given opportunities to serve those within the school, within the city and throughout the world. Through our Winterim program, Day of Service, mission trips, and learning to be attentive to the world around them, students have opportunities to reflect God’s love. When students serve, we are also intentional in shepherding their hearts so that the experience is impactful to the recipient and transformational in their own lives.

Click here to learn more about missions

Relationship. Presence. Image. Relevance. Giftedness. Service.

Spiritual formation should be displayed in the life of your child in real and meaningful ways. Our strongest desire is to see our students live more like Jesus and become disciples with an active, living faith.