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Clendennen took the whole idea for SOC from Theodore W. Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 The SOC curriculum was taken 1:1 from the School of Christ Book written by T. Austin Sparks. We thank God for the life and legacy of Brother Sparks and this revelation of the School into which Jesus brings every true disciple. We believe that apart from the Bible this is the best book ever written for the basic principles of true Christianity.
http://www.austin-sparks.net/index.html
Dr. Vinny Hudson
This post is a misguided attempt to elevate T. Austin-Sparks’ teachings to an undue level of authority, which is both misleading and dangerous. While Sparks may have had a significant influence on some individuals, it is crucial to remember that true Christianity is firmly rooted in Scripture, not in the interpretations or writings of any one man. According to Pew Research, there is a growing concern about the prevalence of gnostic theology in modern Christian circles, which prioritizes personal revelation over biblical truth (Pew Research Center, 2020). By asserting that Sparks’ book is ‘the best book ever written for the basic principles of true Christianity,’ the author risks promoting a heretical view that undermines the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Furthermore, placing such emphasis on a single work can lead followers away from sound doctrine and into confusion. Therefore, it is imperative to critically evaluate such claims and recognize them for what they are: false news and an attempt to propagate personal agendas rather than authentic biblical teaching.
Troy Day
Jeff Latham Kristopher McHugh @Ashley Faulk Josh Mercer @seu.edu Neil Steven Lawrence Nelson Banuchi Philip Williams Kyle Williams and @everyone else
BH Clendennen took the whole idea for SOC from Theodore W. Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 The SOC curriculum was taken 1:1 from the School of Christ Book written by T. Austin Sparks. We thank God for the life and legacy of Brother Sparks and this revelation of the School into which Jesus brings every true disciple. We believe that apart from the Bible this is the best book ever written for the basic principles of true Christianity.
http://www.austin-sparks.net/index.html @
Troy Day
B.H. Clendennen’s “School of Christ” (SOC) concept and curriculum were directly and almost entirely derived from the earlier work of Rev. Theodore W. Austin‑Sparks, especially his “School of Christ” teaching, which the author regards as second only to Scripture in presenting the basic principles of true Christianity.
Main claim of the post
The core assertion is that Clendennen “took the whole idea” for SOC from T. Austin‑Sparks, including the curriculum itself, which is said to have been taken “1:1” from Austin‑Sparks’ School of Christ book. In other words, the post is not just saying Sparks influenced Clendennen, but that Clendennen essentially adopted Sparks’ framework and content wholesale.
View of Austin‑Sparks and his book
The post presents Austin‑Sparks in very positive, almost canonical terms, thanking God for his “life and legacy” and for the “revelation of the School into which Jesus brings every true disciple.” It then makes the very strong evaluative claim that, apart from the Bible, Sparks’ School of Christ book is “the best book ever written” on the basic principles of true Christianity, elevating it above all other classic works of spiritual formation and theology.
Implications for SOC and authority
By tying SOC so tightly to Austin‑Sparks, the post implies that to value SOC is implicitly to receive Sparks’ spiritual insights and approach to discipleship. At the same time, the language used risks placing Sparks’ work in a quasi‑normative position for defining “true Christianity,” which is exactly what the critical comment by “Dr. Vinny Hudson” on the same page pushes back against as potentially undermining sola Scriptura and promoting a kind of modern “gnostic” or extra‑biblical authority.