(Judges 2:10 ESV)

This verse illustrates what often causes a generation to turn away from God–an education gap.  In this passage, the first generation saw mighty wonders from God as He delivered them victoriously into the Promised Land.  However, they failed to adequately pass these great works of God to their children, as it states that they did not “know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.”  This failure to teach their children and grandchildren thrust Israel into a downward spiral of disobedience, illustrating for us today that great importance of properly educating the next generation. Therefore, careful attention must be given to proper Biblical education–in manner, methods, and content.

Since the time of creation, God has chosen to reveal knowledge of the world and of Himself through two venues:  general revelation (those things inherent in nature) and special revelation (those things revealed in by His Word). However, sin has “darkened the mind” and “suppressed the truth” (Rom 1:18 & 21), thusly distorting man’s ability to understand fully either form of revelation. Therefore redemption is needed, which begins the process of “renewing the mind” (Rom 12:1-2) and possessing a clear, enlightened understanding of God, the world, and others.  It is only with a renewed mind that true education can take place, for without it, the mind remains unable to fully understand either special or general revelation.

Scripture teaches the following concerning education:

The Role of God and the Holy Spirit

• God and the Holy Spirit are both described in Scripture as having a teaching function (See: Dt. 4:1, 14 & 14; Ps 32:8; Ps 94:10-12; Is 48:17; Is 54:13; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:8; 1 Cor 2:10 & 13)
• The Holy Spirit is described as the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord (Is 11:2-3, Eph 1:17).
• The fear of the Lord is described as “the beginning of all wisdom” (Pr 1:7), and God is source of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Pr 2:6; For an example of this see: Ex 28:3 & Dan 1:17 & 20).
• Rejecting God leads to futile thinking and darkened hearts (Ro 1:21).
• Proper instruction can lead to this fear of the Lord (2 Chr 26:5)

–>Therefore, educators (parents and the church), must recognize and pray for the Holy Spirit to be the teacher.

—> Educators must also seek to teach their students in a manner that will lead to the “fear of the Lord.”

Role of Scripture

• Everything written in the OT was for instructional purposes (Ro 15:14)
• Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:6)
• Scripture equips man of God for every good work (2 Tim 3:17)
• God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pe 1:5-9)
• God’s statutes bring more insight than possessed by the Psalmist’s teachers (Ps 119:99)

Need for Integration in Education

• Education is not to be separated from the rest of life:
  • God’s commands are to be taught as you “sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up,” thusly encompassing all of life (Dt 6:6-9, 11:18-19)
  • Much of education occurs through modeling (Pr 23:26; 1 Ki 9:4; Lk 6:40; 1 Cor 4:16; 1 Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17; Phil 4:9; 2 Thes 3:7, 3:9; Ti 2:7; 1 Pe 5:3)
  • “Spiritual” education is not to be separate from “secular” education:
    • “Every thought” is to be captive to obey Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Phil 4:8 provided criterion for proper thoughts.
    • As stated above, the fear of the Lord (which can be taught) leads to “ALL wisdom.”
    • The skill, ability, knowledge and wisdom all all kinds of crafts comes from the Spirit of God (Ex 28:3; Ex 31:2-6)
    • “Intelligence” and scholars and philosophers of this world will be shown to be foolishness (1 Cor 1:19-20); The wisdom of the world does not lead to knowledge of God (1 Cor 1:21); God’s “foolishness” is wiser than man’s “wisdom.” (1 Cor 1:25); There is a sharp distinction between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom (1 Cor 2:6)
    • All things were created and sustained by Him and all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Him (Col 1:16-17, 2:3).
  
  
• Commands for education of God’s people to be distinct from that of the World’s
  • Jeremiah 10:1-3: God’s command to not “learn the ways of the nations.”
  • Romans 12:1-2 Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
  • Colossians 2:8 Hollow and deceptive philosophies depending on human tradition and “basic principles of this world” can take you captive.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Command to stay away from brothers who do not live according to the teaching from Paul, Silas & Timothy
  • 1 Timothy 6:3-5 “turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing hae wandered from the faith.”

Additional Aspects of God’s Design for Education

• Formal times of instruction (Dt 4:1, 5:1, Joshua 8:35, Ro 10:17).
• Use of traditions, holidays, and symbols (Ex 12:26, 13:8; Dt 6:6-9, 11:18-19; Joshua 4:6-7)
• Recalling history and past experiences (Ex 10:1-2; Joshua 4:6-7; Is 48:19; Joel 1:3).
• Differentiated instruction for ages and life positions (Neh 8:1-8, 1 Cor 3:1, Tit 2:1-10).
• The teacher must be of solid character & godliness (2 Tim 3:14; Tit 2:7-10; 2 Thes 3:6; 1 Tim 6:3-5; 2 Pe 2:3).

God’s Institutes for Education

• The Family (Dt 4:1-14; 6:5-9; Eph 6:4; Col 3:21)
• The Community of Believers (Today, this would be the Church) (Josh 8:35; 1 Ki 12:2; Mat 18:5; Mark 16:25)

—————————————

More on A Biblical Look At Children, Families and Education

Value of Children

• Scripture consistently views children as a blessing from God. (Genesis 22:5; 48:9; Joshua 24:3; 1 Sam 2:21; 1 Kings 4:8-37; Ps 113:9, 127:3-4; Is 8:18, 48:19; Is 8:18, 61:9);
• One purpose for the writing of Scripture and commanded obedience to the law was the continuation of faith in the Lord in the next generation (Dt. 6:1-9; Ps 102:18).

Nature of Children

• Created by God in the womb and in His image (Ge 1:27; Ps 139:13-14; Is 44:2);
• Born in sin and possess a sinful nature (Ps 51:5; 58:3; Pr 29:15; Lk 18:20);
• Immature (Pr 20:11, 22:15);
• Dependent and Impressionable (Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16; Eph 6:2-3)
• Accountable
  • The laws for children disobeying parents requires punishment  (See section on “The law required obedience to parents” here).
  • 1 Kings 2:23 records account of children who mocked the bald man and then received the consequence of death.
  • Each person is accountable for their own sin–not that of their fathers (Ez 18:17-32).
  • Jeremiah records disaster coming because of fathers’ and children’s disobedience (Jer 16:10-13).
• Inquisitive (Ex 12:26; Ex 13:8; Ex 13:14; Dt 6:20-25; Dt 32:7; Joshua 4:6-7)
• Fully able to know and serve the Lord:
  • Salvation:
    • Speaking of the children who were coming to him, Jesus states that the Kingdom of Heaen belongs to “such as these” (Mt 19:13-15; Mk 10:14);
  • Other examples:
    • Samuel ministered to the Lord as a boy (1 Samuel 2:11, 2: 18, 3:1, 3: 11; 2 Sam 2:21, 2:26);
    • David:
      • sang to God as a boy;
      • was chosen by God as a boy;
      • defeated Israel’s enemy as a child (1 Sam 17:33);
      • Trusted God from the time he was an infant (Ps 22:9-10);
    • The little girl directed Naaman to visit the prophet for healing (1 Ki 5:2-4);
    • Josiah became King at age 8 and did “what was right in the sight of the Lord (1 Kin 22:1-2; 2 Chr 34:1-3);
    • Joash became King at age 7 and did what was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Chr 24:1);
    • The Lord has established strength out of the mouth of babies (Ps 8:2);
    • Along with his own, Isaiah’s children’s lives were to be signs to the people (Is 8:18);
    • Isaiah was called by God prior to his birth (Is 49:1);
    • God commanded Isaiah to include his son in his ministry (Is 7:3, 8:18):
    • Jeremiah was called by God as a boy (Jer 1:6);
    • God reveals things to little children (Mt 11:25-26);
    • The children praised Jesus during the Triumphal Entry, and thusly fulfilled prophecy (Mt 21:16);
    • As a boy, John grew in the Spirit (Lk 1:80);
    • As a boy, the grace of God was upon Jesus (Lk 2:40);
    • As a boy, Jesus was about His Father’s business (Lk 2:40);
    • A boy gave Jesus his lunch for God’s work (Jn 6:9);
    • The young can set an example for others (1 Tim 4:12);
    • Timothy was taught as a child and knew the Scriptures from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15);
  • Promises of children knowing and serving the Lord:
    • God’s Word keeps young people from sinning (Ps 119:9-11);
    • God can make boys and infants rule over the people (Iss 3:4);
    • God will uphold, sustain, carry, and rescue from birth to old age (Is 46:3-4).

Responsibility of Children

• As demonstrated in the legal requirements upon children, children are first expected to obey and respect their parents.
  • Additional Scripture expounds upon these commands:
  • • Disobedience to parents is often listed alongside other grievous sins, such as bloodshed and eagerness to do evil (Mic 7:6), hating God (Romans 1:30-31), and abuse (2 Tim 3:2-5);
    • Proverbs 10: 1 “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
    • Proverbs 19:26, 28:24 Robing parents brings shame and disgrace to them
    • Proverbs 30:17 The one who mocks his father and disobeys his mother will have his eyes picked out by ravens;
    • Malachi 1:6 Sons are to honour their fathers as we should honour God.
  • The New Testament affirms these commands in Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20.
  • Jesus provides the example for parental obedience in Luke 2:51.
• Children are also to heed instruction (Pr 1:8, 3:1, 4:20, 5:1, 5:7, 6:20-23, 7:1, 7:24, 23:22, 23:26)
• Children are to ask questions:
  • Major Hebrew holidays, such as the Passover, were designed for the children to ask their parents questions (Ex 12:26, 13:8, 13:14).
  • Commanded to do so in Dt 32:7;
• Finally, children, like all poeple are called to follow the Lord.  A specific call in Scripture to the children is Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”

We see in these passages that children are capable of knowing and serving the Lord, and are expected to do so.  Parents and church leaders must not overlook this fact, and must respond appropriately to God’s call to teach and lead these precious ones.

“Do you think you will come to Jesus up the ladder of knowledge? Come down. You will meet Him at the base. Do you think you may reach Jesus up the steep hill of experience? Come down, dear climber. He stands in the plain. ‘Oh, but when I am old, I will then be prepared for Christ.’ Stay where you are, young man. Jesus meets you at the door of life. You were never more fit to meet Him than just now. He asks nothing of you but that you will be nothing, and that He may be all in all to you. That is His teaching, and to send back the child because he does not have this or that is to fly in the face of the blessed doctrine of the grace of God.” Charles Spurgeon

——————————

More on A Biblical Look At Children, Families and Education

Part 3: Education

]]> http://thebridgekamloops.com/http:/thebridgekamloops.com/the-value-nature-and-responsibility-of-children-part-3-of-a-biblical-look-at-children-families-and-education/ /feed 0 http://thebridgekamloops.com/http:/thebridgekamloops.com/a-biblical-look-at-children-education-part-1-god%e2%80%99s-high-purpose-for-family/ http://thebridgekamloops.com/http:/thebridgekamloops.com/a-biblical-look-at-children-education-part-1-god%e2%80%99s-high-purpose-for-family/ #comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:42:21 +0000 Kyla Gleason http://thebridgekamloops.com/?p=1769 (For an introduction to this study, see here.)

Understanding God’s design for education would be impossible without first studying His design and intent for the family.  Therefore, this is where our Biblical look at children and education will begin. After studying the Scriptures pertaining to the family, it is clear that the family is a purposeful institution with a key role to play in the redemptive history and daily discipleship.

On the sixth day of creation, God created man and woman, as husband and wife, and gave them the command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).  Thusly, the family is the first institution created by God and the central means of carrying out His purposes for mankind. This high purpose for the family did not change after the introduction of sin, as evidenced throughout God’s redemptive history (such as the selection of a family as His chosen people), the Law, the structuring of His chosen people, the provision He gives to those without a family, and finally the promises He gives regarding families.

Scriptural evidences of God’s high purpose for the family are seen:

• In creation
  • The institution of marriage (Genesis 2:21-24)
  • The first command given to mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28)
    • NOTE: This was repeated to Noah (Genesis 9:1) and while the Israelites were in exile (Jer 29:6); therefore God’s desire for reproduction in the context of marriage remains despite the introduction of sin into the world or hardships upon the people.

• In the Law
  • Two explicitly stated purposes of the Law are that:
    • the people and their children may know and fear God, and that they may consequently live long (Dt. 6:1-9, Psalm 78:5-8); and
    • Each generation would teach future generations (Dt. 6:1-9; Psalm 78:5-8)
  • God’s design for the important Passover celebration included the key component of children asking questions (Exodus 12:26, 13:8 & 14)
  • The Law required obedience to parents:
    • Within “The Ten Commandments,” the fifth commandment (and the first commandment with a promise) is to honour your parents (Exodus 20:12, Repeated: Dt 5:16, Dt 14:18).
    • In list of “various laws,” respecting parents is listed first (Exodus 19:3)
    • Contempt and disobedience towards parents is listed with other grievous sins such as bloodshed and eagerness to do evil (Micah 7:6)
    • Anyone who dishonours parents is cursed (Exodus 27:16; Dt 27:16)
    • The law included severe consequences for disobedience to the commands to honour/respect parents, as follows:
      • attacking father or mother = death (Exodus 21:15)
      • cursing father or mother = death (Exodus 21:17)
      • being a rebellious son = death, specifically stoning (Dt. 21:18-21)
  • The Shema, considered one of the most significant of the OT laws includes the purpose of deliberate education of children  (Dt 6:6-9, near repeat in Dt. 11:18-19)
  • Command to meet the physical needs of the fatherless and widow (Dt 24:20-21)
  • The command to obey the commandments yourself, and the command to teach children & grandchildren is woven intricately together (Dt 4:1-14; 6:1-9)
  • Command to not marry children off to foreigners (Ez 9:12)

• In Redemptive History
  • The woman’s “seed” would crush Satan (Genesis 3:15)
  • Abraham was called by God for the explicit purpose of commanding his children and household after him to follow the Lord (Genesis 18:19)
  • Pharaoh’s heart was hardened for the explicit purpose of showing God’s signs & that they could tell their children about it (Ex 10:1-2)
  • Recording of God’s word was for the benefit of next generation (Ps 102:18)
  • Jesus came as a baby to a family (Is 7:14)
  • The New Testament provides numerous examples of entire households receiving Christ together (Cornelius-Acts 11:14; Lydia-Acts 16:15, Jailer-Acts16:31-34; Ruler of the Synagogue-Acts 18:8; the household of Stephanas 1 Cor 1:16)

• In God’s structure of Israel for land, battle & worship
  • (see entire book of Numbers!)

• In the analogy of God as Father and His people as a family
  • God calls Himself “Father” to His people (Ex 4:22; Dt 32:6; 2 Sam 7:14; Is 1:2; Jer 3:19; Jer 31:9; Rom 8:14; Rom 9:4; 2 Cor 6:18).

• In God’s provisions for those without a family
  • Through the command to meet the physical needs of the fatherless and widow (Dt 24:20-21)
  • God promises that He
    • “sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6);
    • defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow (Dt 10:18); and
    • is a helper to the fatherless (Ps 10:14) (see also: Ps 27:10-11)
    • “Settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children” (Psalm 113:9)

• In God’s Promises
  • If you curse parents, your lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness (Pr 20:20)
  • Descendants of one who follows the Lord:
    • Will inherit the land (Ps 25:12-13, 37:28-29)
    • Will have great inheritance (Ps 69:36)
    • Will be mighty in the land (Ps 112:2)
    • Will be blessed (Ps 112:2, Pr 20:7, Is 44:3)
    • God will save the children of the needy (Ps 72:4)

• The above evidence is reaffirmed in New Testament:
  • Fifth commandment is repeated, with additional exhortation to fathers to bring children up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord,” thusly summarizing and reaffirming previous commands of the OT (Eph 6:2-3, Col 3:20)
  • Command to care for fatherless and widow also repeated (James 1:27; 1 Tim 5:4-16)
  • Provision for own house is to be a priority (Lk 8:39; 1 Tim 5:4, 8 )
  • Disobeying parents remains listed among other grievous sins (Rom 10:30-31; 2 tim 3:2-5)
  • Requirements for Elders includes their children being believers and not wild or disobedient (Tit 1:6)

——————————-

Part 2: Value, Nature & Responsibility of Children

From here, I developed “A Biblical Look at Children and Education,” which I would like to share with you over the next few weeks. This includes the important role that families play in the Bible, the value, nature & responsibilities of children, and the means and methods of education described in education.

As I set out on this study,  I was unable to find “education” as a topic in any leading systematic theology. Books that I did find that included a “theology of education” were sadly full of at least as much secular psychology as Scripture.  I am surprised by the lack of discussion on God’s design for education, particularly considering the importance placed upon this within His word, seen in the well known closing words of the SHEMA: “… And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  Dt 6:6-7

Join me here over the next few weeks as we overview these verses to discover God’s plan for families, children & education!

————————–

Part 1: God’s High Purpose for the Family

I’m not sure when I first developed my passion for teaching; its seems to have just always been a part of who I am. Playing “school” was my favorite make-believe activity as a little girl. My chalkboard easel got much more use than my Little Tikes kitchen or dollhouse combined. Oddly though, a “teacher” was never even on my list of “what I want to be when I grow up.” Instead, spaces on that list were reserved for the more adventurous careers of a missionary, a church pianist, a baker, or a juggler.

In high school, I bounced between dreams of careers in the medical field or communications/media.  Then, being the academic overachiever that I was, I was invited to a summer camp entitled “Economic for Leaders.”  The teachers of the economic classes throughout the week made what is often a boring or difficult subject come alive!  I previously had no interest in economic concepts, but while under the teaching at this camp, I found myself more engaged in learning than any other point in my previous eleven years of education.

I think the idea was to inspire us to pursue careers in economics or business, and while I certainly considered this briefly in the months following my attendance at the camp, its lasting impact had quite a different effect. Instead, the giftedness of the teachers at this camp awakened my childhood interest in teaching with renewed fervor and  increased depth.  It’s still been quite the journey to bring me to where I am now, as obviously I did not pursue the typical route to a typical teaching profession, and I imagine that I’ve still got quite the journey ahead fulfilling my dream of teaching.  And perhaps elements of this journey are topics for a future post.  But for now, I say all of this to make one point: I recognize that I have what is probably an abnormal interest in and passion for teaching, and really for education in general.

God’s Design

Seeking to determine how to properly “do” school, how to best educate the next generation, and understanding God’s heart for teaching has been the driving force of my studies and ministry for the last five years.  Recently, this lead me to eagerly search the Scriptures to arrive at a Biblical model for education (elements of this too will perhaps be expanded upon in a future post!).  And I thought I had come near to exhausting all the clear verses which discuss teaching, but this morning in my time with the Lord, my devotional book said to read Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statues and rules in Israel.”

This is a wonderful example of how we should approach our teaching! It should always be in this order: STUDY, DO, TEACH.  Other Scriptures affirm this foundational method (such as Dt 6:4-7; Mt 7:3-5); we cannot appropriately teach another something that we ourselves do not know or are not following.

A Call For Us All?

The concept of “study, do, teach” is certainly not new to me, but then it struck me that the particular discipleship book I was reading from was not written only for those interested in teaching, but was actually indicating that all believers should follow Ezra’s example.  I was a bit confused.  Then the Lord brought some more passages to my mind, and I’m becoming increasingly convinced from the Scriptures that God calls each of us to particular teaching assignments.

As I said, I recognize that I have an unusual interest in teaching and I’ve come to the (somewhat sad) realization that things relating to education often don’t interest others as much as me. But, even if you don’t share my intense enthusiasm for teaching, I hope that you can see from the passages below that you share this responsibility in the Body of Christ.

Parental Teaching

If you’re a dad, mom, or grandparent, then your job as teacher is explicitly commanded throughout Scripture.  Deuteronomy 6:7 makes this clear: “You shall teach them diligently to your children.” Pretty clear and straightforward. (Dt 4:9 extends this command to teaching grandchildren as well.) This is to be done through modeling, deliberate times of instruction, and simply weaving God’s truth into everyday life circumstances.  YOU bear ultimate responsibility before the Lord for your child’s upbringing and YOU are called to take the lead in their education.

Great Commission Discipleship

Jesus’ parting words to His disciples was a command to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”  (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Great Commission is God’s task to the Church, which every believer bears responsibility in fulfilling. We indeed all have a call to teach new believers the ways of the Lord.

Life in the Body

If any doubt remains that as a Christian you are in fact called to teach, here’s a final command from the Lord: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…” Colossians 3:16

Do not misunderstand what I am saying: Scripture makes a very clear distinction between the form of teaching that we are all to engage in with one another and the office of pastor/teacher, which carries with it authority and is reserved for godly men (see, for example, 1 Timothy 2:12 & 3:1-7).  It is this office that James warns not many to enter into and which promises to bring greater judgement (James 3:1).

But, understanding the harmony of these Scriptures, we see that God desires us each to take an active role in the growth of our fellow believers.  This edification process is to be deliberate and occur as a vital part of our fellowship.  Titus 2 describes one example of an informal teaching relationship in the church: older women teaching younger ones to “love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands.”  This follows the command for older women to behave in a particular way, and thusly demonstrates the same “study, do, teach” model as employed elsewhere in Scripture.

A Shared Passion

Whether it’s with your children, or with new believers, or with fellow brothers and sisters, I see that Scripture desires us all to take seriously our responsibility to teach.  Sure, I may be wired with a unique passion for the subject, but I hope that you can join me in pondering how to be an active part of the life-long education of those whom Christ has placed in your life.

So one may wonder…what is the value in a room full of as many children as adults singing praises to the Lord?  Glad you asked.

Cross-generational worship follows the Biblical command

Psalm 148:7-13 states:  “Praise the Lord from the Earth…Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord…” How are young men, maidens, old men and children to praise the Lord together without times of intentional cross-generational worship?

Cross-generational worship follows Biblical examples

Several Old Testament accounts record children and adults worshipping together.  For example, 2 Chronicles 20:13 says that all of Judah “stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives, and their children…” for a word from God which then resulted in all present “worshiping the Lord” (vs. 18). Nehemiah 8 and Nehemiah 12 also records times of children worshipping God alongside their parents.

Cross-generational worship provides a time of teaching for the younger ones

Children undoubtedly learn from modeling. This is observed by all parents and those who work with kids, and teaching through modeling is encouraged in Scripture (see Proverbs 23:26, Titus 2:7 and 1 Peter 5:3).  As children spend 20 or 30 minutes each Sunday observing their parents and other respected adults worshipping the Lord, they learn to do the same.

I can remember attending worship one Sunday morning with my Grandmother as a young girl, and I can still hear her voice joyfully singing “Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior. Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God!” I remember noticing the joy in her voice as she sang and realizing that the words were not just generic lyrics to a song, but was the testimony of her own life. As a result, this hymn has become a personal favorite as I’m reminded of the example of worship my Grandmother set for me that day.

Whenever I’m blessed to have one our church’s children crawl into my arms or stand beside me during our times of worship, I pray that they sense that same genuineness from me and that it spurs them on to seek a relationship with the Lord themselves. I also pray that all of the children would sense that these times of worship are something special…that they would see their parents and a room full of other adult role-models making the worship of God a priority in their lives. I pray that they would sense God’s presence in our midst and be drawn into their own time of worship.

Sure it may be a bit chaotic at times to have the little ones in the same room worshipping alongside us! But as the body of Christ, we have an obligation to show patience to each other, “bearing with the failings of the weak” (Romans 15:1) and to follow Jesus’ command to welcome the children (Luke 18:16).  May we never have the same attitude as the Pharisees recorded in Matthew 21:15 who became “indignant” at the children worshipping Jesus in the temple. Rather let us welcome the children and model for them the proper attitude of worship, training the child in the way they should go!

NOTE: This has simply been recopied from Joshua’s email, not written by me!

Saturday, May 1@ 9:30 AM, we invite all the men at The Bridge Church to gather together for a time of breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage,  toast, and lots of coffee), fellowship, a brief Bible Study, and discussion. You may be wondering, “What is there to discuss?” Short answer: being a man!

It is our conviction that God’s design and intention for us as men (i.e. how we live our lives, how we lead our families, how we serve in our church, and how we take the Gospel to our communities) is clearly given to us in the Bible. The problem is that we, as men, are not paying attention. A part of the problem is that we are bombarded with a million different messages in modern media and advertising every day. As a result, we are easily distracted.The other part of the problem is that we are spiritually lazy, and we are not devoting ourselves to the study and daily practice of Biblical manhood.

So come and join us for men’s breakfast Saturday, May 1. This is a Men’s breakfast so no women are allowed! All men, ages 13 and up, are required. Don’t be a sissy and not show up!

Maybe you don’t have the time to read extensive books?  Or maybe you’ve read them but would like some practical tips on a regular basis?

Two or three times a week, the National Center for Biblical Parenting sends emails entitled “Effective Parenting Tips.”   Each one tackles a new topic related to parenting, including infants through teenagers, as well as sibling issues.  Recent emails have included topics such as “What to Do When Kids are Annoying;” “When Children React with Anger;” “Obey First and Then We’ll Talk;” and “Teaching Through Decision Making.”  Each email is just several paragraphs, making reading them take little time, and application can be immediate.

The National Center for Biblical Parenting’s vision is to help parents meet four parenting goals:

1. Be Practical
2. Focus on the Heart
3. Be Biblical
4. Look for Adult Solutions to Children’s Problems

They also offer many other resources for parents and children that are worth checking out, but signing up for the daily emails are sure to provide quick encouragement and advice in the midst of your busy family life!

Click here to sign up for the emails, or just check out their website: www.biblicalparenting.org

See more great resources for your family!

For Instructions in Righteousness: A Topical Reference Guide for Child-Training, by Pam Forster

I’ve now suggested two books which are really helpful in providing the framework and practical instructions for using Scripture in teaching and training your children.  But knowing where to find Biblical examples and specific verses addressing various behaviors may be challenging, even to the person who’s been reading the Bible for years! Well, allow me to introduce you to an excellent resource for just such endeavor, a spiral-bound book called: “For Instruction in Righteousness: A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training” by Pam Forster of Doorposts.

This manual divides common sins of children into seven categories: Sins of a Proud Heart; Sins of Discontent; Sins of Unbelief; Sins of an Undisciplined Life; Sins of the Tongue; Sins of an Unloving Heart; and Sins of Relationships.  Within each category are three to thirteen specific issues, such as arguing, selfishness, anger, lying, revenge, and poor manners.  The book then provides a thorough and categorized list of Scriptures for each sin, including general commandments regarding the sin; what happens or should happen to the person committing this sin (as well as helpful ways to implement these consequences in your family); Biblical examples of people experiencing consequences of this sin; and helpful verses to memorize to avoid this sin.  Of particular note is that each section also includes the blessings that come from having the opposite attitude or behavior.

This reference guide is sure to be a great resource for you as you apply the Scriptures in your children’s lives–in fact, you’ll even find these to be helpful in addressing sin in your own life!

“For Instructions in Righteousness” is published by Doorposts.  And speaking of Doorposts, let me just say that this company, which was begun by a homeschooling family 20 years ago, has a host of other helpful products! If you’re not familiar with them, take some time to look at their website and see what’s available! However, this is a US company, and I couldn’t fin information about the extra shipping costs for Canada. But I did find that many of their products are also available through the Ontario based website JOY Center of Learning.

I also have a copy of this reference guide that I’m happy to lend out to anyone in the Kamloops and Logan Lake area!

Part 5: Email Parenting Tips

Teach Them Dilegntly, by Lou Priolo

Where “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” provides convincing Biblical evidence of the need to focus on the heart of issues in childrearing, “Teach them Diligently” provides parents with detailed ways to apply the Scriptures to these issues.  Author Lou Priolo shares from his own parenting experiences in providing this practical and Biblically sound model.

Priolo draws primarily from 2 Timothy 3:16 which states that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”  He explains the difference between teaching, reproof, correction, and training, as well as the importance of each in raising children.

This excellent book is available from Lou Priolo’s website (unfortunately, I’ve given my only copy away!). A study guide is also available. For more information on this resource, I also found this excellent book review.

Out of all the resources and books on children that I have read, I can say that this is one of the most Biblically-sound and practical. It will be an excellent read that God will use to equip you for your most important ministry!

Part 2: Shepherding a Child’s Heart; Part 4: Scripture Reference Manual

]]> http://thebridgekamloops.com/http:/thebridgekamloops.com/great-parenting-resources-part-3-of-5/ /feed 0