It’s back to school season. Pencils, textbooks, new shoes, and iPads are flying off shelves. Some kids are excited to return to the classroom, some less eager. No matter where education is received—homeschool, private school, or public school—themed classes or curriculum will likely be implemented. Some students might even be eligible to select their own electives.
This was my favorite schooling incentive at any level. It’s nice having the option to select what you learn. Motivation is typically heightened when interests are entertained. For the believing student, the great privilege is being able to treasure the glory of Christ through any topic being engaged. And for the believing student, it is imperative they strive by God’s grace to do so. Academics in the classroom setting are a great tool when viewed as one of God’s means to sharpen issues of worldview and Christlike character.
The classroom is limited, though. Wise teachers abound and well-researched curriculum is not lacking, but the classroom is limited. God has designated parents as primary disciple-makers of each of their children (Deut 6:4-9; Prov 2:8-9; Eph 6:1-4). Discipline and the Lord’s instruction are principally tools in the hands of good ole mom and dad. This is why a great deal of time outside the classroom must be redeemed within the home. It is critical for parents to view their roles as in-home ministers to their children. Despite demanding work and extra-curricular schedules, God makes it clear that within the home godly instruction must occur.
Back to my love for electives… It may be easy to agree in principle that godly instruction must occur within the home, but it may be much more taxing to discern exactly what to teach and how to go about it. Should times of family instruction be formal, like kids seated listening to a 30-minute lecture? Should spiritual discussion occur casually while driving home from a soccer game? Is the standard a bedtime prayer and Scripture reading?
These are great questions, and many more exist. Effective home instruction requires honest, pragmatic discussion of what qualifies as best-practice within the home. This is why I am inviting you to a parenting workshop to be held on Saturday, August 22, 9am-2pm at Providence Bible Fellowship. You can sign up HERE. At this workshop, we will travel beyond the theological foundation of home instruction and delve into the “nuts and bolts” of spiritual life as families in a busy culture. In addition, we’ll touch on tricky situations such as instruction within single-parent homes, shared-custody situations, and discipling those with educational and/or physiological challenges.
Aside from an instructional, discussion-based workshop, though, another tool exists to assist with discipling efforts. I’m referring to the book, Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God, by Dr. Bruce A. Ware (currently $2.99 as a Kindle eBook). In this volume, parents and children alike will gain easy access to basic, yet profound truths of God’s character and ways. The chapters are brief, discussion questions are plenty, and a prescribed memory verse accompanies each lesson. What does this mean for busy parents and kids? It means this resource extinguishes the angst of preparation and eliminates the argument of being too busy to teach, learn, and model joyful obedience to the Lord.
In preparing to write this blog entry, it was my intention to sporadically insert motivational excerpts of the foreword, written by Dr. Ware’s daughter’s, Bethany Strachan and Rachel Ware. Instead, take advantage of reading the entire foreword HERE. I’ve read it numerous times, and each pass tends only to provide more motivation and know-how regarding discipling my own children. I hope it stirs you up to disciple more faithfully.
A helpful tool is here, a helpful workshop soon to come. All time is the Lord’s. The discipling task belongs to parents. For the glory of Christ, let’s disciple well.
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