God's Plan for Education

Here is a post with some information:  http://transformationbytheword.blogspot.com/2011/08/gods-view-of-education.html

Below are some of the scriptures that I found. I hope to devote a blog post to each of the headings, but for now you can get a head start on your own study.

God's View of Education

FOCUS VERSE:

Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (CEV)

Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.

God's command to us:

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.



What we don't want for our kids and who we don't want to be is found in 2 Tim. 3:1-7. This is the direction the rest of the world is going. Don't follow!

Part 1: Foundational Truths

• The heart is what is important, not appearances or behavior. Behavior will follow as a fruit, but the heart is the root from which the behavior should grow. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you only take home one thing today, let this be it.

1 Sam. 16:7, 1 Chron. 28:9-10, Prov. 1:7 & Prov. 9:10 (these two verses go together), Is. 11:3, Is. 29:13-16, Matt. 18:1-6, Luke 11:37-44, Luke 16:15, 1 Cor. 4:5, 2 Cor. 5:11-12, Col. 2:20-23, James 3:13-18

• Do not fear or be pressured by the world's system.

You will need to deprogram yourself from the world's system even if you think you don't, and I doubt any of us are immune to questions from family and friends that make up feel pressured to “measure up.”

Josh. 1:5-9; 1 Chron. 28:20; Ps. 37:1-8; Is. 30:1-3,9-11; Is. 54:11-17; Is. 55:7-13; Micah 4:12; Matt. 10:19-42; Mark 8:33; Luke 11:52; John 14:27; 1Cor. 3:18-21; 2 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 5:1; Phil. 4:4-7,11-13; Col. 2:8-10; 1Tim. 6:20-21; 1Pet. 5:7; 1John 2:15-17; 1John 4:18

• We and our children are each called and gifted for a specific purpose.

Isaiah, Jeramiah, and Paul all talk about being called while in the womb. There are many other examples in scripture as well (Samson, John the Baptist, etc.). We are also all part of the whole body of Christ. Each part has a specific purpose.

Ex. 31:1-6 & Ex. 35:25-36:7 (Bezalel, Oholiab, skillful women); Ps. 139:13-18; Is. 49:1-7 (actually lots of verses from Is. 41-49); Jer. 1:5-10; Amos 7:14-15; Rom. 11:29; Rom. 12:3-8 & 1Cor. 12:1-31 (body); Gal. 1:15 (Paul); Eph. 3:1-13; Eph. 4:1; 1Thess. 1:4; 2Tim. 1:5-12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11

• God will prepare them for their purpose.

The Bible is full of stories of people receiving SPECIFIC preparation and/or instructions from God (e.g. Noah, Joseph, Moses and Aaron, Abraham, Samuel, David, etc.). There are also plenty of more contemporary examples (e.g. Columbus, George Washington Carver, many missionary stories, and my own life).

Ps. 16:7; Ps. 25:9,12-14; Ps. 32:8-9; Ps. 94:9-12; Is. 28:24-29; Is. 30:20-21; Is. 54:13; Is. 64:8; John. 14:26; John 16:13-15; 1Cor. 2:1-16; 2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1John 2:20-21,27-28

• We can go against His plan. (NOT recommended!!!)

This is a warning that things don't automatically work out the way He plans. God gave us a free will. We can reject His plan and purpose if we want to. Let's teach our kids to follow His plan instead of rejecting it.

Neh. 9:28-31; Is. 29:15-16; Is. 30:1-3,9-13; Is. 65:11-12; Is. 66:4; Jer. 32:33; Hos. 4:6,11; Rom. 1:18-25; 1Tim. 1:3-5; 2Tim. 2:14-18; 2Tim. 4:3-4

Part 2: How Do We Follow Through?

• God is the source of wisdom, and we can ask for it.

We don't have to know it all ourselves. We don't even have to have a head start. We know the One who knows EVERYTHING!

1Kings 4:29-34; Ps. 25:4-5,14; Prov. 3:5-7; Dan. 1:17; Dan. 2:19-23, 28-30 (revealer of mysteries); Luke 10:21-24; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 1:17-31; Eph. 1:15-23 (prayer); Col. 2:2-4; 2Tim. 2:7; James 1:5-8,17

• Read, meditate on, and speak the Word.

Deut. 29:29; Josh 1:8; Ps. 119:97-104,130; Prov. 30:5-6; Is. 59:21; Matt. 13:1-23; Mark 4:3-34; Luke 10:38-42; John 17:17; Acts 20:27; Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:15-17; 2Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12-13; James 1:22-25; 2Pet. 1:16-21

• We can learn from righteous wise people.

And so can our kids! We are the main righteous wise people in their lives.

Prov. 9:9; Prov. 12:15; Prov. 13:14, 20; Prov. 24:6; Luke 6:39-40; 1Cor. 4:1-2; 1Cor. 11:1; Phil 3:17; Phil. 4:9; 2Tim. 1:5&3:14-15; 2Tim. 2:2; Heb. 6:11-12

• Dialogue with kids about what God has done.

As far as I can tell, history is the one subject God has commanded to be taught (as His story).

Ex. 10:2; Ex. 13:1-16; Deut. 4:9-10; Deut. 6:6-7; Deut. 11:19; Josh. 4:5-7, 20-24; Ps. 78:1-8; Prov. 22:6; Is. 38:19; Joel 1:3; Eph. 6:4; 2Tim 1:5 & 3:14-15

• Specific teaching methods

It is absolutely stunning the different teaching methods God uses including visual aids, plays on words, stories, using music, using history, learning from nature, reminding over and over again and many more.

Ps. 49:4; Prov. 6:6-11; Is. 28:9(teach those who are ready); Jer. 1:11-14 (mnemonic device); Amos 8:1-2; Jonah 4:1-11; Matt. 13:10-17; Mark 4:1-2(Jesus taught by the sea, not just in church); Mark 4:33-34; Acts 7; Acts 21:5-6 (the children were with their parents, doing life together); 1Cor. 10:6,11; 1Thess. 2:7-8,11-12; 2Tim. 2:3-6,14; Titus 2:1-8,15; 2Pet. 1:12-15 (remind!); Jude 5-19

• Other people will see and seek their wisdom and skill.

This is an encouragement! Encouragement is much needed when you are doing something radically different from the prevailing culture.

1Sam. 16:18; 2Chron. 2:7-8,11-14; 2Chron. 9:1-12; Dan. 1:3-4,18-20; Acts 4:13; Acts 6:3,8-11; 1Thess. 1:8; 1Tim. 4:15

• It is only by God's grace that we do it!

I can never do it in my own strength. In fact, I cannot do ANYTHING He has called me to do, the way He has called me to do it, in my own strength.

Neh. 6:16; Is. 40:27-31; Is. 46:3-4; Jer. 32:17; John 15:1-17; 1Cor. 1:4-5; 2Cor. 12:9; Eph. 3; Phil. 1:9-12; James 4:6,10; 2Pet. 1:2

2Cor. 12:9 (ESV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Matthew 11:25-30 (ESV)

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I encourage you to dive into the Word yourself to find out what God has to say about education. Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11:

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.