OUR CURRICULUM

WHAT’S IN THE CURRICULUM?

• BIBLE ENGAGEMENT / BOOK STUDY: HABAKKUK

A quick overview of the story of the Bible, and how to approach the various literary genres of Scripture. Different approaches to studying and interpreting the Bible on one’s own or in a small group are presented, with opportunity for practical application. Students are also introduced to the various tools available to help one make the most of understanding and applying the Bible. While many of these approaches to studying the Word are applied throughout the course of the school, students also do an inductive study of an entire book of the Bible—Habakkuk.

• BACK TO BASICS

Understanding the core and implications of the gospel—that the believer is called to repentance, faith, discipleship and holiness. This module, taught right at the start of the school, resets what a Christian really is, as well as sets a realistic expectation of the Christian life.

• FOUNDATIONS FOR GROWTH

Understanding the place of God’s Word as being ultimate truth for our lives; that human beings are not just body and soul, but also spirit; principles for nourishing our spirit; understanding our identity in Christ; learning how to take our stand against the lies of the evil one with the truth of God’s Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• ANGER: A TOOL FOR CHANGE

What God’s Word has to say about anger and how to deal with it in a God-honouring way. (This has been included in the curriculum in view of increasing anger issues among youth today.)

• DISCOVERING THE FATHER’S HEART

How truly knowing God as our Father and our status as his child becomes the foundation for God to transform every aspect of our life.

• WORSHIP

A biblical theology of worship, along with practical help for improving the depth and quality of our personal and corporate worship; how to lead corporate worship.

• PRAYER

A biblical understanding of the doctrine of prayer, including different aspects of prayer, and practical ways towards deepening one’s own prayer life and listening to God.

• SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

An overview of various spiritual disciplines (other than those already covered more specifically elsewhere in the curriculum): meditation, fasting, submission, giving, acts of kindness, self-denial, silence and simplicity. Students also put into practice some of these during the course of the school.

• SHARING YOUR FAITH

Practical help for sharing one’s faith naturally, clearly and effectively. Students should be able to understand the basic elements of the gospel and be able to present it clearly to a non-Christian. They also learn how to prepare a personal testimony of their faith. Students also participate in a practical assignment on the streets of Cameron Highlands during the school period, striking up conversations with locals and tourists that will hopefully open doors to speaking of Christ and the gospel.

• MISSIONS

A biblical foundation for missions, and catching a vision for what God is doing in the world and how one can be a part of his great plan for the nations.

• CHURCH

What is church really all about? What does God expect of me in my local church, as well as in his universal Church? How do I discover and use my spiritual gifts for the building up of the church?

• OLD & NEW TESTAMENT OVERVIEWS

A birds-eye view of each of the testaments—its structure, key themes and relevance to the rest of the Bible.

• DOCTRINE AND APOLOGETICS

The key doctrines of the Christian faith explained via a biblical theology (vs systematic theology) approach. Covers the nature and work of the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit; man; sin; salvation; the person and work of Christ; and the Word of God—and how to defend these beliefs against some of the common questions and issues unbelievers raise.

• COMPARATIVE RELIGION

A comparison of the major teachings of the three main world religions—Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism—with the aim of not just understanding their beliefs, but also learning how to reach out with the gospel to those who subscribe to these beliefs.

• CHURCH HISTORY

How God’s story (“his story”) through the church has developed since the time of the apostles, and some of the key people and movements through the ages and their significance.

• OVERVIEW OF THE BRETHREN

An overview of the Brethren movement—why we came to be, what was important to us, where we are now, and where we are going.

• CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

How to be able to reach out to, and communicate effectively and creatively with children. Students learn how to develop age-appropriate lesson plans as well as how to communicate the gospel to children. This is applied in the students’ mission trips to the orang asli villages and their end-of-school mission trips.

• SEXUALITY

God’s design for gender and sexuality and how to live out our gender roles and sexuality confidently and to the glory of God.

• BOY-GIRL RELATIONSHIPS

Guidelines for romantic relationships.

• DISCOVERING GOD’S WILL

How to discern God’s will for our life.

• CREATIVITY

What the Bible says about creativity and how we may holistically express it in our walk with God and our service for him as an act of worship for his glory.

• MEDIA

Understanding the impact of media on our lives and how to shape an approach to media that is “in the world but not of it”. Discernment and stewardship are the end goals.

• MY FAMILY / MY COUNTRY / MY WORLD

How our faith should affect and shape how we relate to each of these areas of our lives.

• PREPARING FOR RE-ENTRY

Preparing students for the realities of returning from their “mountaintop experience” and helping to equip them for some of the temptations and disappointments they may face in a world that can be far from the supportive Christian community they have become accustomed to over the last six weeks.

• BOOK REPORT

Students are also required to purchase a book (related to Christian living) from a prescribed book list on the first day of the school. Over the following 3 weeks, they are required to read the book and write a book report that provides: a summary of the key themes of the book; and an evaluation of their own lives in the context of that teaching, plus practical application steps. Apart from the obvious spiritual benefit, this is also to encourage the habit of reading good Christian literature.

WHAT ABOUT THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES AMONG CHRISTIANS?

It is not the aim of RBS to stir controversy over minor differences in theology or practice between various Christians and/or denominations. We “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”, remembering that “there is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6). When addressing such issues, we encourage a level-headed approach that is fair to the various views surrounding the issue. Teachers are asked to acknowledge—and often elaborate on—alternative points of view while being feel free to state their own personal stand/view without being dogmatic. On such issues, students are encouraged to search the Scriptures for themselves and to not be afraid of forming their own personal convictions, while learning to exercise grace to those who may hold a contrary view.

WHAT’S THE DAILY SCHEDULE LIKE?

07:00am: Rise

07:00am: Breakfast

07:00am: Worship in song

07:00am: Personal devotion followed by communal sharing

10:00am: MORNING CLASS (with breaks)

01:00pm: Lunch

01:45pm: Free time

02:45pm: Silence (for siesta, personal time or working on assignments)

04:00pm: Free time

04:30pm: AFTERNOON CLASS (with breaks) or Games

06:30pm: Dinner

07:30pm: NIGHT CLASS (with breaks)

09:30pm: Personal reflection and journalling

10:00pm: Dorm or communal sharing and prayer

10:30pm: Supper and fellowship

11:15pm: Back to dorms

11:30pm: Lights out

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The above schedule will vary on certain days. Sundays are mostly rest days.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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