Appendix

Sources

Source & theology notes

Grounded locally. Enriched carefully.

The sermons and Scripture remain the curriculum’s center. Outside resources act as guardrails and enrichment, not replacement teaching.

Theological center

Scripture leads: The Old and New Testaments are the authoritative rule for faith and life. Videos, questions, and outside sources remain accountable to Scripture.
Grace comes first: Salvation is wholly God’s gift through faith in Christ. Good work follows grace as Spirit-enabled gratitude; it never earns belonging.
The whole story matters: Creation gives work dignity, the fall explains its thorns, Christ begins restoration, and Sabbath anticipates God’s completed renewal.
Every vocation serves neighbors: Paid employment is one form of calling among many. Faithfulness includes justice, care, stewardship, and the common good.
God remains God: Our work matters, but the world, the church, and our identity do not depend upon our performance. We work and rest under God’s sovereign care.

Reformed accountability

What “CRC-aligned” means here

Cascade affirms the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds and the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort. The CRC also recognizes the Belhar Confession and Our World Belongs to God as contemporary testimonies. The curriculum uses these traditions as doctrinal guardrails while keeping Scripture and the supplied pastoral teaching visible to leaders.

Theological review order

ScriptureGoverns
Cascade Fellowship’s official beliefs and ministry contextGoverns
CRC creeds, confessions, contemporary testimonies, and positionsGoverns
Pastor Bill’s Faith IRL teachingInforms
Outside theological and curriculum resourcesEnriches
Curriculum writer inference—always reviewable and never disguised as a sourceEnriches

ReviewNot yet reviewed by a human authority

Primary & governing sources

Cascade Fellowship — Who We Are and What We BelieveLocal church doctrine and affiliation
Cascade Fellowship — Mission and VisionLocal ministry emphasis
CRCNA — Our FaithCreeds, confessions, and contemporary testimonies
CRCNA Faith Practices — SabbathDenominational practice guidance
Faith IRL YouTube PlaylistPastor Bill, Cascade Fellowship · Primary pastoral sourceFive-part sermon series (Faith IRL YouTube Playlist). Only the videos the sessions play are linked below.
- Faith IRL Part 1 — Discussion Starter · 2:11
- Forming, filling, working, and caring · 5:06 · Session 2 plays 14:33–19:39. The session cites “Our First Commission — sermon excerpt and application”.
- Faith IRL Part 2 — Discussion Starter · 2:17
- Faith IRL Part 3 — Discussion Starter · 2:11
- Whatever you do, work for the Lord · 2:55 · Session 6 plays 14:02–16:57. The session cites “Called to Work — working for the Lord and leading justly”.
- Faith IRL Part 4 — Discussion Starter · 2:09
- Faith IRL Part 5 — Discussion Starter · 2:49
- God is the Redeemer—not us · 3:30 · Session 4 plays 20:09–23:39. The session cites “Faith IRL Parts 2 and 5 — meaning, identity, and rest”.

Outside enrichment

These sources informed the learning design and widened the vocational conversation. They do not supply new doctrine for Cascade.

Spacing and Retrieval Practice GuideWhy sessions reconnect to prior learning and revisit practices
Harvard — Small-Group DiscussionActive discussion and facilitation principles
CAST Universal Design for Learning GuidelinesBelonging, accessibility, participation, and meaningful action
Calvin Institute — The Christian Work StyleReformed integration of faith, character, and vocation
Calvin Institute — Rethinking Calling and VocationCalling beyond idealized careers and personal fulfillment

Series-wide guardrails

Work is broad: Include paid work, caregiving, study, retirement, volunteering, job seeking, recovery, and purposeful contribution.
Calling is not a formula: Gifts + needs + opportunities is a useful discernment aid, not a biblical guarantee or a demand to find one ideal job.
Grace comes first: Excellent work does not earn identity, salvation, or God’s approval. Christian obedience flows from grace and belonging in Christ.
Injustice is real: Do not reduce workplace harm to attitude. Sin distorts individuals, relationships, incentives, organizations, and systems.
Witness is humble: Salt and light means Christ-shaped presence and good deeds, not superiority, coercion, political dominance, or personal publicity.
Sabbath is a gift: Avoid a one-size-fits-all schedule. Rest must account for caregiving, essential work, shift work, disability, and financial pressure.