Shreveport, LA
1. God, through Paul, exhorted us through his letter to Timothy to, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15 - NAS)
2. Christians are encouraged to be like those in Berea who "were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11 - KJV)
3. God created man in His image, including giving man a mind with which to reason and learn.
4. Growing in one's knowledge of the Bible and Godly ways is pleasing to Him and profitable for happiness and fulfillment in this earthly life.
5. A requirement of eldership in God's church is being apt to teach: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" (1 Tim 3:2- KJV). Indeed, being a servant of the Lord requires the same, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient," (2 Tim 2:24 - KJV). If we are to have leadership and servant-hood we must see to it that Christians learn so well that they become knowledgeable and able to teach.
6. Without proper teaching, Christians are unable to mature and become strong in the faith. Paul encouraged the Ephesians, "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ." (Eph 4:14-16 - NAS)
7. As Christians mature, we have need of stronger food, not being content to feast on milk. We should become teachers rather than continue as students. The Hebrew writer puts it so in Hebrews: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Heb 5:12-13 - KJV)
8. Knowledge without love is nothing so it is essential that not just knowledge is taught but Godly knowledge in the right spirit. "And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Cor 13:2-3 NAS)
Therefore, a functional Christian education ministry should stimulate a desire to learn of God and his will from the earliest age, create baptized believers, and bring Christians to maturity that fosters leadership and competency to give an answer to everyone who asks: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15 NIV) Further, a natural outgrowth of proper Christian education should be that parents, especially fathers, take the lead in the family and nurture those with an aptitude to do so to enter Christian preaching, counseling, youth ministry, and missionary work.
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