Biblical Teachings: Christian Education in the Church

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What does the Bible say about education in regards to our children but also adults? More than you think!

Education

What does the Bible say about education? Well, it does not specifically mention public education, but it does emphasize the spiritual and moral education or instruction of children and adults who believe in God. Christianity is about teaching believers how the world was built, who Jesus is, and understanding all the teachings He left behind for us. Other religions do not believe Jesus was a real Person, was born from a virgin, and then came as the prophesied Messiah, but the fact is, Jesus was here, on earth and He did leave us His teachings in the Bible. In fact, the Bible encompasses all His teachings from Genesis to Revelation. There are spiritual and moral principles that believers are to abide by and that should be the foundation of a fruitful and knowledge life.

Biblical Christianity

God has existed forever and is the Creator of this world and the universe, however, the Lord decided to reveal His teachings to man, apart from which He exists independently. In the Bible, God has imparted to us all that we need to know, and of course, the Bible is the foundation of Biblical Christianity and Christian education as well. All the teachings God has revealed to us are fundamental principles that are at the basis of Christian education, or at least should be. And these truths were revealed by the greatest Teacher of all times, Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Teachings

God sent Jesus among men to teach them God’s own principles. Jesus’ mission is the Great Commission, was given to all His disciples to go into all nations. Jesus came from God and is God and came with a message, like making disciples of all nations. Matthew wrote, “Go therefore and 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:19), so this is one of the main goals and missions for the church, but also for each believer. We are told to make new disciples, teaching them to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ, Who is God Himself. Included in this commission is to teach the principles of Christianity to our children but to adults as well. Obeying the teachings of Jesus is essential because these teachings provide a lens through which we can see the world and the value of what’s in the Bible. This can add immense spiritual value to our lives.

Teaching and Nurturing

The first mention of the importance of teaching our children the love of God is in the Old Testament when God said to people that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut 6:4). Along with the Bible, the emphasis is put on how essential it is for parents, teachers, and the Church to nurture the love of God, but at the same time, the Bible is not His way of sending His message only to adults. It is also for our children and grandchildren who are urged to “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Prov 1:8).

New Testament Teaching

Not only in the Old Testament are we instructed to teach our children, but also in the New Testament. There are several mentions about teaching our children and nurturing them in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Inside the Bible, there’s an invaluable book; the Book of Proverbs, dedicated to the subject of Christian education for adults and children. There’s a lot of emphasis on training children, who early in life, need to learn about God’s existence, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and learn to love the Lord from an early age. The spiritual welfare of our children and grandchildren is something that should not be neglected.

Individuals and Groups

We tend to look at Jesus’ last words, as we feel they may contain the greatest spiritual teachings, but His first words in Nazareth are even more powerful and they teach us that God cares about individuals and groups as well. As it was written of Christ, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).

The Essential Contribution

The Christian Church was built created and build by Jesus Christ and the doctrines on the teachings and principles of God, foremost Jesus Christ Who is the Head of the Church (Col 1:18), but as people are free to believe what they want nowadays, others have created their own religions and in their own likeness, but it’s not true Biblical Christianity. They’re forgeries, so it’s important to stay grounded in the Bible. Some passages describe our extending a helping hand as we see the needs (Matt 25:35-36). The poor are taken care of and so are the elderly. The Church has many missions, chief among them is teaching disciples the love of God, understanding the importance of worship (Heb 10:24-25), and helping those in need as in helping Christ Himself (Matt 25:40). If the Church doesn’t do all these things, it’s not function as the Body of Christ should.

Final Words

The Bible is a book that comes with many teachings, all of which are essential to a sound Christian education in the Church. Even though there are so many different religions in the world, Christianity is the only one that is based on the teachings of Jesus of Christ. The Church is now the messenger of God, commanded to go into all nations, making new disciples, while teaching them the very same thing Jesus taught His first disciples (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

Here is some related reading for you: What Does the Bible Say About Education? A Christian Study

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Author’s Bio: Vendy Adams is a content writer and editor at a magazine focused on spirituality. She also offers courseworks from native expert writers on a wide variety of topics. Vendy lives a life governed by the teachings of Jesus.

Tagged as: Children, Christian Education, teaching children