A Biblical Approach to Christian Education

Our Vision for the Next Generation

GOD’S VISIONGOD’S VISION“For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his

children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and

judgment..” Genesis 18:19

“As arrows are… so are children of the youth… they (together) shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak (subdue) the enemies in the gate.” - Psalm 127:4-5

(1) a multi-generational vision for three generations in order to see justice and judgment in the earth

(2) a heart to advance the Kingdom of God in the spirit of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit…

(3) a head to discern in wisdom how to bring the culture from where it is to God’s standard in His Word…

A BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHYA BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHYof the Christian Lifeof the Christian Life

“..for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Romans 11:36

“for by him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and

invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all

things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things

consist.”

Colossians 1:16-18

BIBLICAL METHODOLOGY (DISCIPLESHIP) IN THE HOME AND CHURCH

The Home – “and ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the

nurture and admonition of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6:4

The Church – “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you….” – Matthew 28:18-201)Teaching the Lord’s commands in Home and

Church

2) Learning through disciplined obedience

3) Obeying the Truth and impacting others

THE ROLE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING AND

LEARNING

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all

good works.”

2nd Timothy 3:16-17

“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and

perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2

THE ROLE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE CURRICULUM A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW

Doctrine

The precepts and premises of God’s Word

Principles

The lines of God’s Word applying doctrine to

practice

“..for precept must be upon precept… line upon line…”

Isaiah 28:10

A Biblical view of God, man and the world…. applying the Bible to every area of life

A BIBLICAL VIEWA BIBLICAL VIEWof the Christian Lifeof the Christian Life

and Christian Educationand Christian Education

Philosophy – why?

Doctrine (research)

Biblical Premises and principles

Of God

By Christ

Methodology – how?

Reproof (reason);

Exposure of Sin

Curriculum – what?

Correction (relate);

Work of the Cross

Through God

In Christ

Goal – godly lifestyle

Instruction (record) in

RighteousnessTo God

For ChristReflective Teaching

Personalized instruction

Creative Expression

Disciplined Learning

Obedient Living

Christian Self-Government

EZEKIEL CHEEVER (1614-1708)

70 years teaching three generations

“…there were teachers of distinction in the colonies… most notable of all, Ezekiel

Cheever”

Lawrence Cremin

American Education: the Colonial Experience 1706-1783;

1970

A Vision for Multi-Generations

- Taught in New Haven, Ipswich & Charlestown for

32 years (1638-1670)

- Taught at Boston Latin School for 38 years (1670-

1708)

- Tutored three generations of Mather’s (Richard, Increase and Cotton)

“He flourished so long in this Great work, of bringing our Sons to be men, that it gave him an opportunity to send forth many Bezaleels and

Aholiabls for the service of the Tabernacle; and Men fitted for

all good employments.”

Cotton Mather

EZEKIEL CHEEVER (1614-1708) A Philosophy of Holiness

- He had an intense love of the Lord

- He saw himself as lifting the hands of parents but never replacing their role as primary

educators

- He taught separation from worldliness by example as well as precept

Come from the Mount, he shone with ancient Grace Awful the splendor of his Aged Face.

Cloath’d in the Good Old Way, his Garb did wage A war with the vain fashions of the age.

Fearful of nothing more than hateful Sin; ‘twas that from which he labored all to win….

Cotton Mather’s Eulogy in 1708

EZEKIEL CHEEVER (1614-1708) A Biblical Methodology of Rigor

- He utilized the copy-book for productive learning

- He used the tools of recitation, original research and well reasoned compositions and

essays

- He inspired students to love learning through relating what was learned to their personal

lives

“Now Rome and Athens from their ashes rise; See their Platonic Year with vast surprise; and in our School a miracle is wrought;

for the dead languages to life are brought. His work he lov’d; Oh! Had we done the same! Our Play-days still to

him ungrateful came. And yet so well our work adjusted lay, we

came to work, as if we came to play.”

Cotton Mather

EZEKIEL CHEEVER (1614-1708) A Christian Classical Curriculum

- Study of English and Latin syntax from ages 8-11

- Practice of research, logic & Greek from ages 13-15

- Speaking and writing, utilizing the knowledge of history, literature, geography and the sciences

“The Bible is the Sacred Grammar; where the rules of speaking well contained are. He taught us Lilly, and the Gospel taught;

And us poor Children to our Savior brought.. Master of

sentences, he gave us more Than we in our sentence had before. We learn’t good things in Tullies Offices, But we from him learn’t better things than

these. With Cato’s he to us the higher gave Lessons from Jesus, that our

souls do save.

Cotton Mather

COTTON MATHER (1663-1728) Fruit of Ezekiel Cheever’s Discipleship

- Enters Harvard at age 12, graduates at 16

- Pastors with his father Increase in Boston

- Wrote over 400 books in his lifetime

- Introduced the smallpox inoculation in 1721

“Religion begat prosperity,

and the daughter hath devoured the mother”

“we shall never long retain the Gospel, without the help of learning. And if we should have no regard unto religion, even

the outward prosperity of a people in this world would necessarily require Schools and (the) Learned… My Fathers

and Brethren, if you have any love to God and Christ and posterity, let godly schools be more encouraged.”

Cotton Mather – The Education of Children

A Biblical Approach to Christian EducationOUR VISION - Advancing the Kingdom of God

through discipling consecutive generations

Philosophy (why?)

Biblical Premises and principles

Goal (godly lifestyle)

Righteous impact of one’s culture

Methodology (how?)

Biblical methods of instruction

Curriculum (what?)

Biblical world view

“….that the man of God may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished unto all good works…” – 2nd

Timothy 3:17