Session 5: Genre

School Leadership

School Leadership

by Andrew Carlson -
Number of replies: 3

Provide an example of how a misinterpretation of Scripture could impact teaching, decision-making, or spiritual development in a school setting.

In reply to Andrew Carlson

Re: School Leadership

by Amanda Dockery -
Misinterpretation could lead to confusion among students and discord between the student-parent relationship.
In reply to Andrew Carlson

Re: School Leadership

by Brad Deiter -
A leader might think this verse to say that students can literally get anything they want, simply by having faith—like excelling in every subject without having to overcome every challenge without the hard work needed.
In reply to Andrew Carlson

Re: School Leadership

by Lisa Helton -
A common misinterpretation of Scripture that could negatively impact education is the misuse of Jeremiah 29:11—often quoted to suggest that God guarantees individual success, comfort, or achievement in the near future. If this verse is applied out of context in a school setting, it can unintentionally foster false expectations among students and staff, leading them to believe that hardships or academic struggles mean they are outside of God’s will or blessing.

Such a misinterpretation may cause discouragement, hinder resilience, and promote a prosperity-based view of faith rather than a biblically grounded one. As leaders, we must model and teach correct interpretation by emphasizing the importance of context, historical background, and genre, guiding our community to see God’s faithfulness even in seasons of waiting or difficulty.

Correct interpretation empowers both staff and students to trust God’s bigger redemptive plan, develop spiritual maturity, and make decisions rooted in wisdom and biblical truth, rather than emotional or circumstantial responses.