And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. -Eph. 6:4 NKJV

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. -Prov. 22: 6 NKJV

These passages make it clear that parents are responsible to God for the education or training of their children.

• Who or what is in control of educating my child at home? What training is being done directly by me, the parent? What influence do I allow the media to have on my child at home? Do I know what my child is seeing, hearing, or doing while at home?

• Do I know what my child is being taught in my neighborhood? What are other parents or peers teaching my child when they are together?

• What is my child being taught in church, Sunday school, and other church related activities?

• What is my child learning at school? From teachers? From textbooks? From the curriculum? From other students? From the school’s policies and procedures?

-Glen Schultz

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. -Deut. 6:7 NKJV

God says that parents must teach their children diligently with intense, highly concentrated, consistent effort. This effort must take place:

• When our children get up each morning;

• When they are at home and around the house;

• When they are away from the house; and

• When they lie down to go to sleep.

-Glen Schultz

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. -Matt. 28:19-20 NKJV

That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. -Ps. 78:6-7 NKJV

Christians must develop a single-minded focus on the purpose behind the education of their children. This purpose is to see their children become mature followers of Christ.

• Am I consistently sharing the gospel with my children?

• Am I a mature disciple of Christ, reflecting a life characterized by love, trust, and obedience to Him?

• Do all the educational efforts that I provide my child, both at home and away from home, point him to Christ and help him follow Christ?

-Glen Schultz

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. -Matt. 24:35 NKJV

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. -Isa. 40:8 NKJV

The education of children and youth must be based on God’s word and absolute truth.

• Do we, as parents, know God’s Word and are we growing in this knowledge by daily study and meditation?

• Is what we are teaching our children at home, both in words and actions, founded on the truth of God’s Word?

• Do we know what is being taught to our children through the media, entertainment, recreation, church, and school?

• Is everything that is being taught to our children outside the home grounded in the Word of God?

-Glen Schultz

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. -Col. 2:3 NKJV

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead Bodily, and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power. -Col. 2:6-10 NKJV

Christ is to be preeminent in everything. The education of our children and youth must be centered on Christ. By doing this, it will lead us to the goal of seeing our children living in a personal, intimate love relationship with Jesus. Christ must be at the center or heart of all we teach our children.

• Do our children know that Christ is our first love by our actions concerning: how we live at home? church attendance and involvement? stewardship of our lives? how and what we tell them to do?

• Is Christ the preeminent focus of our church as it relates to training our children?

• Is Christ the center of our children’s schooling?

• Are our family activities such that Christ would be comfortable and welcome?

-Glen Schultz

The little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” -Matt. 19:13-14 NKJV

The education of children and youth must not hinder the spiritual and moral development of the next generations.

• Are our children being taught anything that will draw them away from Jesus?

-Glen Schultz

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord. -1 Sam. 1:27-28 NKJV

Although we cannot control this in every situation, this principle can and must be applied. Consider those you allow to help in educating your children. Then, ask these questions:

• Does this person fear God, love truth, and hate covetousness?

• What can you do to ensure that such people are the only ones that you allow to help you educate your children?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. -Luke 6:40 NKJV

The things which you earned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. -Phil. 4:9 NKJV

“Every person has a worldview or an underlying belief system that drives his or her attitudes and actions in life-a God-centered worldview or a man-centered worldview.”

• Do I have a God-centered worldview? Do I think and act from a biblical perspective of life?

• What type of worldview is my child receiving and seeing in our home, in our church, in his school?

• What type or worldview is being presented in the music my children listen to? in the media they see and read? in the textbooks they study?

-Glen Schultz

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. -Prov. 4:5,7 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. -Prov. 9:10 NKJV

The education of children and youth must lead to true wisdom by connecting all knowledge to a biblical worldview frame of reference.

• Do I believe that there is some knowledge that is spiritually neutral?

• Have I developed a biblical frame of reference that causes me to interpret the meaning of all knowledge and every aspect of life with its God-intended meaning?

• Does the education my children receive at home, church, and school require them to submit their minds to God and does it lead them to interpret every aspect of creation in the light of His Word?

-Glen Schultz

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. -2 Tim. 4:6-8 NKJV

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. -Acts 20:24 NKJV

The education of children and you must have a view of the future that includes the eternal perspective.

• Why do I want my child to have a good education?

• How does my life reflect an eternal perspective as I live it before my children?

• How is the eternal perspective seen in the teaching of my children that takes place in my home, the church, and the school?

• Do I want my children to get a good job and have a comfortable lifestyle more that I want God to use them in any way He sees fit?

-Glen Schultz