A Biblical Approach to
Christian Education
Our Vision for the Next Generation
GOD’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 PHILOSOPHY
of 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 28:18-20
1)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
“..for precept must
be upon precept…
line upon line…”
Isaiah 28:10
Principles
The lines of God’s Word
applying doctrine to practice
A Biblical view of God, man and the world….
applying the Bible to every area of life
A BIBLICAL VIEW
of the Christian Life
and Christian Education
Philosophy – why?
Goal – godly lifestyle
Doctrine (research)
Biblical Premises
and principles
Instruction (record)
in Righteousness
Reflective Teaching
Of God
To God
By Christ
For Christ
Obedient Living
Christian SelfGovernment
Personalized
instruction
Through God
Methodology – how?
Reproof (reason);
Exposure of Sin
In Christ
Creative Expression
Disciplined Learning
Curriculum – what?
Correction (relate);
Work of the Cross
EZEKIEL CHEEVER (1614-1708)
70 years teaching three generations
A Vision for MultiGenerations
- 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
“…there were teachers of
distinction in the colonies… most
notable of all, Ezekiel Cheever”
Lawrence Cremin
American Education: the Colonial
Experience 1706-1783; 1970
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 Education
OUR VISION - Advancing the Kingdom of God
through discipling consecutive generations
Methodology (how?)
Philosophy (why?)
Biblical Premises
and principles
Biblical methods of
instruction
Goal (godly lifestyle)
Curriculum (what?)
Righteous impact of
one’s culture
Biblical world view
“….that the man of God may be perfect (mature), throughly
furnished unto all good works…” – 2nd Timothy 3:17