Page 128 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

Study Section 16: Biblical Education within the Church

16.1 Connect.

The most important command God gave to Israel was that they pass on their faith in the God of
Abraham to their children. They were to teach their kids about God’s faithfulness and how they
can obey Him by submitting to His authority. Some generations were faithful, but many were
not. It was not long before the nation departed from God’s way and wandered into idolatry.
They did not teach their generation God’s ways. So today, we want to look at ways the Church
is to in like manner, teach each generation how to love the Lord with a whole heart. After all,
that is the greatest commandment of all. Let’s go for it….

16.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able explain that PARENTS are responsible to carry out God’s command
to teach their children.

2. The student should be able explain that the Bible calls the church to come along side of the
home to assist parents in teaching and training of children.

3. The student should be able discuss that the content of Christian education must be to conform
redeemed students into the image of God in Christ. This is the duty of the home and church.

16.3 Biblical Education within the Church

When one thinks of education with the church, immediately the emphasis is on the children of
those who attend the church. This would naturally come from the Old Testament command to
parents to teach their children to love God with all their hearts, minds, and souls.

Deut. 6: 1-9 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to
teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2so that you, your
children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his
decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3Hear, Israel, and be careful
to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and
honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God,
the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your
children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write
them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

This passage was a command given to Jewish parents so that each generation will be taught to love God
with all their hearts. God was placing the responsibility of teaching children to follow God’s ways
squarely on the shoulders of each generation of parents. Failure to do so would result in a lost
generation. The principles of this passage fall upon all parents who claim belief in Christ. It is a parent

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