The Sufficiency of Scripture: Christian Education (Deut. 6:4-15)

Intro:

Last week we looked at the “what and why” of education.

This week we will look at “Who and How”.

Today I want to look at the “how”. Now, there is variety in the history of Christian Education.

I do not believe that our public schools are seeking to teach error that is harmful or that in someway they are actively teaching against God, although, it is moving more in this direction, I believe they are doing something that is more covert. They are teaching the absence of God in all things. As if you can learn without knowledge of the one and true creator. I have been stirred by one of our members when he recounts his time in Highschool he said something to this effect, “I learned a lot about God in my highschool even though it was not a Chritian high school. I learned the God was absent from what I was learning.” I would say the same for my experience. It is not that I did not learn to read, write, understand patterns in math, study geography and history, etc. It was that I learned these subjects absent from the presence and acknowledgment of the one that created them.

Isn’t that the lie of the devil, that you can live life without the prieeminence of Jesus. The devil is smart, he is not teaching error, he is teaching truth without the author of that truth!

Wisdom Literature: an older father teaching his son,

Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Outline:

Prieeminence of Jesus: “Author” (Who) (Col. 1:15-20)- Colossians is written to deal with heresy or incorrect teaching about Jesus. Teaching that observing OT laws and ceremonies were more important that following Jesus, teaching that there was a deeper knowledge outside of Jesus, teaching other ways or mediators to God, teaching perfection through the philisophically elite and not through the redemption of Jesus, and teaching away the importance of Jesus as God. The book is about Christ’s superiority over all things!

Partnership with Parents: “Authority” (How) (Deut. 6:4-15)- Dueteronomy is written to not only teach the people, but show them how to apply what they had learned. It is about making a fresh commitment to the Lord knowing that this is the only way they will enter the promised land

Summary: Education is all about Highlighting the pervaisive will of God in all things.

Christian education is about highlighting the preeminence of Jesus in all things

Prayer:

Prieeminence of Jesus: “Author” Who(Col. 1:15-20) READ THE TEXT

Creator (vs. 15-16)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Some might be able to explain away the existence of an invisible God, but no one questions the existence of a Historical Jesus.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— this covers, science, biology, astonomy, geography, history, math, agriculture, Music, etc whether it is the elements on the periotic table or the vibrations of sound that we cannot see.

all things were created through him and for him.- We cannot leave out the creator when we are learning about His creation!

Sustainer (vs. 17-18)

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. -”synistemi” perf, act, ind, finite verb, to be composed, to be or become composed of many parts into a cohesive and enduring whole.- Physics, economics, ecosystems,

And he is the head of the body, the church.- anthropology, World religions, theology, the socail communities of man.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

that in everything he might be preeminent. (to be first, ranking above all others)- If we leave Jesus out, everything will fall apart, there is no purpose to what is being studied outside of selfish reason and benefit

Reconciler (vs. 19-20)

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on

earth or

in heaven,

making peace by the blood of his cross. Christian education starts with the understanding that we are all equal under God. We need to be reconciled. We all start with the same problem, sin. Jesus is the one that makes us acceptable, not my grades, not my clothes, not my postal code, not my ability to pay tuition. Christian education teaches the most important reality, man’s broken inability to succeed before God because of Sin.

Application/Implications:

Since it is true that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, He is before all things and in him all things hold together, and in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell then how do we connect every subject with this pervaisive truth? Is Christian school merely summer camp all year long or Sunday school everyday of the week? Well no,

In other words, how do we educate or receive education in such a way that “in everything HE might be preeminent”? Great question!

Students, “How did what you learned today help you understand God’s pervaisive will for you?”

Teachers/Parents, “How did what you taught today highlight the preimenence of Jesus?”

Well, I send my kids to public school, or “isn’t that the teacher’s job at CBA”, or “I am just trying to get through the day schooling at home, and now you want me to add this on top of it?”

Transitional phrase: Before we get into that, lets look at what God’s words says about the “How”...

Partnered with Parents: “Authority” (How) (Deut. 6:4-15)

There is One God (vs. 4-6)

Hear, O Israel:- Pay attention

The Lord our God, the Lord is one.- This is important, why, because they lived in a culture surrounded by polytheism, or the worship of many gods; the god of sun, rain, fertility, etc. The people were offering up their lives to these gods in order to find favour. To get what they thought they wanted.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your- “love” this is not just a head knowledge and distant relationship

heart-

and with all your soul-

and with all your might- desires, emotions, motives, abilities, etc

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart- not just facts that you know and can recite (intellect), but also the affections (desires, motives)

Teach Your Children (vs. 7-9)

You shall teach them diligently to your children- “to inculcate”- to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

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- the temptation is only to talk about the things of God at the tabernacle or during designated times or by designated people (the Levis). The temptation is still the same!

You shall bind them- to tie, fasten, or secure with a rope, string, or cord.

as a sign (reminder) on your hand,

and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes- symbolic ornament that symbolizes a truth to be remembered (the “log” illustration from Camp about allowing the problem to continue)- the temptation is to care more about the accomplishments we bind to the bulletine board, fridge, or walls than on the cords of our hearts. 

You shall write them- to communicate or express by writing

on the doorposts of your house- as you come into the home, door jam

and on your gates as you leave the home

Take Care not to Forget (vs. 10-15 )

And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—

with great and good cities that you did not build,

and houses full of all good things that you did not fill,

and cisterns that you did not dig,

and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—

and when you eat and are full,

then take care lest you forget the Lord,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

out of the house of slavery

 It is the Lord your God you shall fear.

Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

You shall not go after other gods,

the gods of the peoples who are around you—

for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—

lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you,

and he destroy you from off the face of the earth

One of the deadliest parts about being educated absent of the author of truth is that everyday you are being taught to forget. Not forget content, but forget the creator of that content.

That is what Christian education is all about, that is what we are seeking to do at CBA, that is what God has called all of his Children to.

Application/Implications:

This takes sacrifice as a, but nothing greater than what Jesus has already done

Homeschool

Christian School

Public School

Partnership with Parents is so imporant, but especially important is partnering with Parents that also believer there is one God. This can be very frustrating in a home where one parent is a believer and the other is not. Teens, choose wisely who you marry. If God is not at the heart of your relationship and the hart of your home than teaching your children about it will be very hard. Oh, but he says he is willing to come to church or She respects my faith even though she doesn’t believe it. Of course they do, they are putting their best foot forward right now to try and impress you.

Transitional phrase:

Summary

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

?

?

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