Featured Passages: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1–3; Job 38:4–7 [“sons of God” refers here to angels]; Hebrews 1:10; Deuteronomy 10:14.
The creation week (actually, as we will see in a later lesson, “re-creation” week) is an important teaching of the Bible and God’s Church. However, before the week recorded in the first chapter of Genesis, there was a time when there was only God—two Beings whom we now know as God the Father and the Word, whom we usually call Jesus Christ. God purposed to expand His family. He first created other spirit beings, including angels. Afterward, God began to create the physical universe. God’s creative ability is truly amazing! The whole universe, everything seen and unseen, was created in preparation for the future sons and daughters of God Almighty.
Discuss:
Make these verses come alive by asking your child questions about what it must have been like before God and Jesus Christ (the Word) created anything.
Explain that Jesus Christ had a different name to begin with (the “Word”) and that He later was born as God’s Son and was given a new name, Jesus Christ. That is also why we now refer to God as “the Father.”
Talk about how God and Jesus Christ wanted a family and built a creation for them to enjoy. Originally, it was just the two of them, and they wanted a much bigger family.
Help your child to understand that God is the Creator and that only God can create from nothing. Even when we create a chair of wood, God is the One who created the wood!
Explain to your child that God created the angels before creating the physical universe.
Ask your child what things in God’s creation he enjoys the most. Help him understand, in a simple way, that God created all of these things for us.
Memory Challenge: Help your child memorize the days of the creation week:
Day 1 – Divided light from darkness
Day 2 – Prepared sky and clouds
Day 3 – Separated dry land from seas; Created plants
Day 4 – Appointed Sun, Moon, & the Stars for lights in the sky
These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.
Dr. John Cole attends the local Charlotte congregation, and as a licensed Property and Casualty Agent, has accumulated many years of experience in business strategy. In a recent forum message addressed to the students of Living Education-Charlotte, he shared several important tips and lessons for developing a solid business strategy for your own life.
SWOT Analysis
Dr. Cole encouraged the students to utilize the tool of a SWOT analysis when making important career decisions. SWOT stands for: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Making a list of what falls under these categories can help inform those important decisions. Whether you’re applying for a company or planning to be an entrepreneur, as you construct a strategy for your life and career, doing a SWOT analysis is an important tool.
Know What the Company is All About
What if you’re applying for a position at a company? Dr. Cole encouraged the students to research and understand what the company is all about beforehand, and to determine if working for that company would align with your values, as well as your long-term goals and overall business strategy.
This principle also applies to entrepreneurs starting their own business. If you’re going to create a company and market yourself, you should have a clear business plan and solid idea not only of what your company does, but what it’s all about. This will help your company’s success in the long term, as well as how it’s perceived by others.
Reputation
In learning to navigate the world of careers and entrepreneurship, it’s important to keep your reputation in mind. Employers and interviewers check up on applicants to see if they should hire the person. Dr. Cole reminded the students to guard their reputations—when ethical challenges or other situations arise that bring your character into question, you can have a clean conscience and even welcome the scrutiny that proves your character is solid.
Envision Success and Pray for Guidance
Dr. Cole told the students to assess whether they would want to climb the corporate ladders they might come into contact with. Make sure to embody trustworthiness and confidentiality, and to have an employable character. Take the time to envision the success of your business strategy, and put in the hard work to achieve it. And in any undertaking, always involve God in the process. We should always remember to pray for guidance as we pursue any endeavor and develop a strategy for our life.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rawpixel-action-2277292.jpg10241500David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-19 18:30:002026-03-19 16:29:32Dr. John Cole: Business Strategy
This past Thursday, the Living Education-Charlotte students, along with the McNair and Johnson families, made a trip to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, NC. With the weather getting warmer and hints of spring beginning to appear, this was a welcome opportunity to get outside, spend time together, and enjoy seeing some of God’s creation.
After arriving at the zoo, Mr. McNair tasked our intrepid group of wildlife adventurers with a challenge—throughout the zoo visit, the students would be participating in a scavenger hunt. Divided into teams headed up by our second-year student leaders, each team had to find certain animals or landmarks scattered throughout the zoo and take a group selfie—and for bonus points, they had to find the McNairs too! Splitting up, each group spent time scouting out their targets while also enjoying the exhibits and scenery—and of course, all the animals. To see some of their successful selfies, just scroll below this post!
At noon, the group gathered back together to enjoy a pre-packed sandwich lunch before spending another hour and a half enjoying the rest of the zoo—and before long, it was time to head home. While the fun was over for now, there were plenty of photos and memories to enjoy of another LivingEd-Charlotte outing in the great outdoors.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_4319-X4.jpg11251500David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-16 14:13:192026-03-16 14:13:22A Trip to the North Carolina Zoo
This past Tuesday, the Living Education-Charlotte students, accompanied by faculty, the Johnson family, and Mr. Adam West, visited the JAARS facility in Waxhaw, North Carolina. JAARS—which stands for Jungle Aviation And Relay Service—is a Christian organization that facilitates large-scale translation efforts of the Bible into many endangered languages.
Arriving in the morning, the group received an introductory talk by JAARS employees on the history of the organization, its formation and early development, and what they do now. Splitting into two groups, they toured part of the grounds. The facilities house aircraft in hangars, boats, dirt bikes, and other transports used in various regions.
JAARS not only sponsors translation of the Bible into indigenous languages, but also helps train translators and volunteers to learn these languages, as well as providing resources and bringing Bibles to locations around the world. Their efforts to help spread God’s word over the years have resulted in many people around the world being able to read the Bible in their own language. After a pre-packed lunch, the students regrouped and headed back to the office, having learned more not only about local history but also a broader view of what is occurring in the Christian world today.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_7340-X4.jpg15001125David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-16 14:08:462026-03-16 14:13:30A Visit to JAARS
These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.
Mr. Marc Arseneault is a pastor serving in the Quebec and New Brunswick areas of Canada. Recently, he delivered a forum message addressed to the Living Education-Charlotte students.
The Great Commission
Mr. Arseneault quoted Matthew 28:18, stating: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This commission directly applies to our lives today. Mr. Arseneault encouraged the students to remember that we can all have a part in this Work.
Be Witnesses
Jeremiah 1:5 says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you.” God has a plan for each of our lives, and He expects us to follow Him and to contribute to His Work being done. This includes our commission to be witnesses of God’s way of life and the Gospel message.
To be witnesses of this way of life, we can do many things to be lights and examples to other people. Mr. Arseneault encouraged the
Use This Year to Start a Change
To be witnesses of this way of life, we can do many things to be lights and examples to other people. Mr. Arseneault encouraged the students to bear these important truths in mind and to live accordingly—use this year to make a change. To be of benefit to other people could mean many things—taking of our time to serve them, or even learning another language. Seize the opportunity you have to do the right thing and to be a light and witness of God’s way of life to all nations.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/yuri_b-map-of-the-world-2401458_1280.jpg7671280David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-13 17:30:002026-03-13 14:52:56Mr. Marc Arseneault: Reaching the Nations
These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.
Mr. Michael Brown is a pastor serving in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Western Ontario, and in a recent forum addressed to the students of the Living Education-Charlotte program, he delivered helpful advice on social interactions and developing confidence.
Commanded to Be Courageous
Joshua 1:9 says: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God encourages us to be courageous in the face of adversity. Sometimes, those difficulties come in social settings. In Proverbs 29:25, we read: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”
We all often face fear of men. We have a natural fear of judgment for the things we say or do. That fear prevents us from being courageous and speaking the truth—we’re worried about what people may say or think.
Mr. Brown reminded the students that it’s important to remain courageous, and offered four keys to overcoming that fear—through the acronym of FEAR.
F — Framing
The first step to overcoming social fear is learning to frame narratives. In conversation, people often frame a narrative. We need to be able to recognize how someone else might be framing their side of the conversation and what they’re trying to say or build up to. It also means being intentional about how we frame what we say so that it is well-received and accurate.
Sometimes people might challenge you or present a logical fallacy that is intended to trick you. In order to avoid affirming a false premise in an argument, be aware of conversational framing and what the person is trying to say. You can politely express your disagreement, ask for permission politely to disagree, and set boundaries for the discussion—when a conversation becomes uncivil, you have made it acceptable to politely exit the interaction because the other person has violated an agreed-upon rule.
E — Emotions
To be strong and of good courage, it’s important to rule over our emotions. Our worst decisions come when we’re feeling extremely emotional. Those different emotions can lead us to making snap decisions that ultimately have adverse consequences.
When interacting with someone, or listening or watching something, remember that what they’re saying may not necessarily be true. Some media are designed to attack your emotions—ask yourself if you should be reacting in this way. Furthermore, always remember to ask God to help you control your emotions.
A — Authority
There is often an authority figure in a social setting—even if the authority figure is not present in the conversation, the dynamic may still affect our interactions. We need to have a humble and accurate view of ourselves and how we may fit into a particular dynamic. How we view ourselves in relation to others, and how much authority we may or may not have to use, affects how we conduct ourselves.
This requires a healthy balance. If we have a measure of influence or authority, we should use it positively and not at the expense of other people. Conversely, while we should remain humble and teachable when we are not given as much authority as someone else, we should also not be dejected—our interactions and social confidence benefit from maintaining confidence and assertiveness. We have the ability and the room to assert ourselves, even if we’re uncomfortable with it, and as we do this, it will become easier.
R — Righteousness
Proverbs 28:1 says: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Everyone wants to be bold and confident—no one wants to be insecure. Mr. Brown reminded the students that in order to not be insecure, you have to live righteously.
In your interactions, if your intentions are honorable, pure, and righteous, it dispels that fear of judgment from our minds. We should pray to God to help us develop pure motives and to help us be a light to others. This changes the entire reason we assert ourselves or even interact at all—if it’s done out of a sense of wanting to preserve the relationship with the other person’s best interest at heart, it removes that insecurity from our hearts. If our motives are based in righteousness, we don’t truly have anything to be insecure about—we can hold our heads high and have confidence.
Do the Hard Thing
Mr. Brown encouraged the students to do the hard thing. Applying these principles can cause some discomfort in social interactions—but the important thing to remember is that as you practice them more frequently, they will become habits that come far more naturally. Keep practicing, keep trying, keep doing.
When our motives are rooted in an outgoing, selfless sense of righteousness, we are naturally eliminating any room to be insecure. Keeping this in mind helps us qualify our relationships and interactions in a godly context, and gives us the confidence needed to keep practicing and improving in social settings.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/sasint-achieve-1822503_1920.jpg12481920David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-09 17:04:552026-03-09 17:04:58Mr. Michael Brown: Four Steps to Social Courage
These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.
Mr. Phil Sena is an area pastor serving in the Ohio region, and in a recent forum message to the Living Education-Charlotte students, he offered important lessons from the example of Biblical characters on how to show willingness to God’s will.
An Attitude of Willingness
The Bible gives us many examples of those who showed willingness and served God. Willingness is characterized by accepting God’s will and being willing to follow His direction no matter what. This trait is expressed in the phrase: “here I am.” Spoken by many biblical figures at key points, this phrase should be our go-to response when God gets our attention.
A Personal Relationship
One way we can cultivate a willingness to say “here I am” is by developing a strong personal relationship with God. Mr. Sena gave the example of Abraham in the book of Genesis. Genesis 22:1-2 is the account of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac—a very difficult test that Abraham did not want to do. But this verse shows Abraham’s response to God was purely humble and faithful, and God revealed that it was a test later on by allowing Isaac to live. Interestingly, Abraham even said “here I am” before he had even heard God’s request. Hebrews 11:17 says that Abraham offered up Isaac “by faith”—he trusted that God would work it out. Abraham was able to say “here I am” because he already had a strong personal relationship with Him, and knew that He would honor His promises.
Personal Hardship
Another way we learn to say “here I am” might be by learning lessons through personal hardship. One example of this is the story of Jacob. Jacob was a highly confident individual who tricked his father and brother. But he had been humbled after being tricked by his father-in-law, Laban. God then humbled Jacob further by taking him out of where he had been living, and back to the land of Canaan. There, he experienced the heartache of losing his son, Joseph, who he thought was dead.
In Genesis 46:2, God appeared to Jacob and told him not to fear—he would meet Joseph in Egypt, and would eventually bring them back to the land of Israel. Interestingly, Jacob’s response was identical to Abraham’s: before he had even heard God’s statement, he said “here I am.”
In his youth, Jacob had been a confident, smooth-talking individual. But a life of hardship and humbling from God had helped him get to a place where he could finally say “here I am.” This might be familiar to us sometimes—it’s easy to get satisfied or even overconfident with our ability to figure things out for ourselves. But just like Jacob, we can’t figure everything out ourselves. Sometimes God allows us to be humbled before He makes His will known—after He knows we’re reading to show willingness.
Unexpected Ways
Mr. Sena also reminded the students that God can make His will known in unexpected ways. How will we respond in those situations?
Giving the example of Moses, Mr. Sena pointed out that God did not appear to have had contact with Moses during the 40 years he lived in Midian. Moses had left his life behind and was living as a shepherd—and he may have thought that’s all there was to it. But, seemingly out of the blue, we find in Exodus 3:1-4 that something happened that would change Moses’ life once again. Happening upon the burning bush, Moses heard God’s voice call his name. Moses’ response was the same as his ancestors—before he even knew what God wanted, he responded with “here I am.” This unusual setting for God to communicate His will didn’t stop Moses from presenting a willing heart, and we shouldn’t be surprised when God shows up in unexpected ways in our lives either.
Anyone Can Be Willing
Another important point to consider is that anyone can show willingness—we shouldn’t wait around for the right time. Like the examples of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, we should be ready to faithfully follow God even if we don’t know what He’ll require of us. God can call anyone He chooses, including young people or those without offices. Mr. Sena pointed out the example of young Samuel—before he was ever a prophet, God spoke to him in the night in 1 Samuel 3:1-14. Samuel, unsure of what he was hearing, still listened for God’s voice, telling Him: “Your servant hears.” God often calls and uses young people and children.
And in the New Testament, a miraculous healing was performed by a Christian disciple who never appeared to have ever held an office. Acts 9:3-17 tells of the story of Saul’s—later Paul—conversion. Stricken blind, God used Ananias—a humble Christian in Damascus—to heal and baptize Saul. Paul would become one of the most prolific and charismatic apostles who spread the Gospel across the known world, contributing greatly to our modern biblical canon. Ananias was never ordained and not much is known about him as a person, yet God used him in a small but important part of Paul’s story. While God made a unique exception in this case to fulfill duties reserved for the ministry, Ananias was willing to overcome his fear of Saul and to serve him by presenting himself before God as a humble servant.
How Can I Know God’s Will?
These examples and the lessons we can learn from them give us a template for how to respond when God makes His will known to us. But you may be thinking: I am just as willing and want to do the right thing, but I don’t know what God’s will is.
Sometimes, God doesn’t always make His will immediately clear—it can be difficult to tell what He’d like for us to do. And sometimes, we face choices between two things that are not inherently bad at all—both choices could be good, and the decision falls to us to make.
In general, we do know God’s will. We know He wants us to obey His word, follow the Ten Commandments, and stay focused on the Kingdom. There are fundamental things that we can know for sure, but the hang-up is often on specific things. What, you might ask, is God’s will for me?
Look For the Open Doors
Mr. Sena advised the students to look for the open doors. What doors and opportunities are open, or opening? If there is a smooth and consistent path forward that doesn’t require us to force our own will, we can be confident that God is blessing it. Sometimes we shut those doors or try to force our own way, but the results will not turn out well. But if we aren’t hitting hard spots, we can show willingness to follow God by walking through the doors He’s opening.
Seek Wise Counsel
It’s important to seek wisdom and counsel from those around us. Sometimes a choice isn’t necessarily between something good and something wrong—God might let us make a decision for ourselves. In those cases, it can be helpful to assess our priorities and seek advice from those who know us well. Proverbs 1:5 tells us: “A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”
Fleece Test
In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon was trying to understand God’s will. He laid down a fleece of wool on the ground, and asked for God’s will to be made apparent in two steps—if it was God’s will for him to lead the Israelites, in the morning there would be dew on the fleece only and not on the ground; the next day, there would be dew on the ground but not on the fleece. God followed these steps to make it very clear to Gideon what he should do. While we don’t want to tempt or goad God, it seems that God didn’t mind being tested in this way. And after this step, Gideon did obey—if we ask for a sign and are given confirmation, will we show willingness by acting on that confirmation?
Getting on Track
We might also find ourselves on the other side. Maybe we’re facing a difficult question and we may not want to follow where God is leading us, let alone are we sure of what He’s doing. In that case, we can do two things to help us get back on track:
Ask God For Willingness
Pray to God to ask Him for a willing and humble heart to follow His will no matter what.
Fasting
Fasting will help us draw closer to God and develop humility.
Say “Here I Am!”
Throughout our lives, we will all face situations where God tests us, calls us to follow Him, or faces us with a decision. Our attitude should be one of humility and willingness to serve and follow Him, even if we don’t yet know what He might require of us. And while it might take time, we should continually cultivate a strong personal relationship with God and be receptive to His direction, as well as His correction. When God begins moving in our lives, our response should be a wholehearted and earnest “here I am!”
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/himsan-prayer-2544994_1920.jpg12851920David Markopouloshttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngDavid Markopoulos2026-03-06 15:37:522026-03-06 15:38:59Mr. Phil Sena: Here I Am
