Homeschooling has experienced a surge in popularity over the last few decades. It has been attributed to a number of reasons from dissatisfaction with public school systems to religious motivation or desiring to create a certain type of school environment. No matter the reason, many parents find themselves asking a deep and meaningful question, “What does God say about homeschooling our children?
” In this article, we will explore thirteen points about what God’s Word may say about this type of schooling for children.
1. God Wants Our Children To Be Wise
The Bible tells us to direct our children in the ways they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). God desires that we teach our children, but He also wants us to bring them up in a godly wisdom. In Deuteronomy, He tells us to diligently comply with His commands so that our children may learn to revere Him and place their trust in Him (Deuteronomy 6:2-7).
This is how they gain wisdom to be able to put the Bible into practice in their own lives. Teaching them at home allows us to take into account the individual needs of each child and helps us to focus on training our children to serve the Lord.
Homeschooling can be one way that we teach children in the ways of the Lord. When we teach our children in the comfort of our own home, we can create an environment that is conducive to teaching wisdom from the Bible.
We have the opportunity to extend our instruction beyond just general knowledge, equipping our children with practical knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God. This type of instruction involves trusting God to lead us and our children and it also means that we depend on Him for guidance in all the decisions that we make about our children’s education.
2. We Are To Bring Them Up with Knowledge of the Bible
The Bible talks about bringing up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). This goes beyond just reading Bible stories. We also need to teach our children doctrines and beliefs from the Bible.
When we teach our children from the Bible, we are modeling and showing them the examples of Christ’s teachings. We are helping them to understand how our faith relates to the world around us and how we should respond to difficult situations.
Teaching them from the Bible also helps us to be examples of obedience and faithfulness to God. Homeschooling can provide an opportunity to integrate the study of the Bible into our children’s education.
We can share our beliefs and teachings in a direct and interactive way. This helps our children to engage in meaningful conversations that can be life-changing. We can also provide our own instruction in the scriptures and make sure that our children are growing in the knowledge of God.
3. We Are To teach our Children to be Submissive and Respectful
The Bible also encourages us to teach our children to be submissive and respectful (Ephesians 6:1-3). This includes teaching our children to respect their elders, authorities, and other people around them.
We should also model the type of behavior that we want our children to follow. When we provide our own instruction in the home, we can have more control over the environment and the attitudes that our children experience. We also have a unique opportunity to be an example for our children and to help them to learn how to live according to biblical principles.
Home-schooling provides a great way to ingrain this type of behavior in our children. We can have a much more structured environment with clear expectations and rules.
We also have more control over the type of behavior and attitudes that our children experience. This allows us to promote the type of respectful, obedient behavior that pleases the Lord.
4. We Should Train Up Our Children in the Fear of God
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. ” This verse is often taken to mean that by teaching our children in the ways of the Lord, we can ensure that they will continue on a path of righteousness as adults.
This is a great promise, but it is important to note that we have to actively train our children in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). This means that we should not just rely on our own wisdom and understanding. We should be teaching our children from the Bible, showing them the ways of the Lord, and teaching them to rely upon Him for guidance and wisdom.
Homeschooling can be a great way for us to actively train our children in the fear of God. We can create an environment that is conducive to biblical instruction and teaching. We can share our own faith with our children, speaking with them about God’s word, and even encouraging them to participate in Christian activities such as church camps or retreats.
We can also get involved in the local church and lend our teaching and enthusiasm to Bible study groups.
5. We Should Make Education Fun and Meaningful
In Proverbs, King Solomon writes, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Ideally, this means that we should provide our children with formal instruction in core academic subjects along with other activities that enrich their souls and spiritual lives.
We should provide them with a well-rounded education that teaches them vital knowledge and connects them to meaningful events in history and the world around them. Homeschooling gives us the opportunity to make education fun and meaningful for our children. We can create an environment that encourages creativity and exploration of different topics, even letting them take ownership of certain projects or campaigns.
We can also bring our faith into the learning by integrating Bible stories or other scripture-based learning. This provides a great opportunity for us to nurture our children’s curiosity and academic growth.
6. We Should Be Careful to Choose Appropriate Age-Appropriate Curriculum
As parents, it is our responsibility to choose appropriate curriculum based on our children’s ages and their academic ability. This means that we need to be careful to not go too far above or below their level and to make sure that the material covered is age-appropriate.
We should also be intentional in our selection and choose curriculum that will equip our children with knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their future. When homeschooling, this opens up an even bigger opportunity for us to be intentional in our selection. We can choose where our children invest the majority of their time and energy.
We can pick topics and activities that align with their interests and abilities. This can include supplemental reading, social studies projects and projects, or even computer programming or coding.
We can also use this flexibility to provide our children with customized learning opportunities.
7. We should Not Take on Too Much
Providing our children with an education can be a very rewarding experience. But it can also become overwhelming, especially if we try to take on too much.
We need to be careful not to overextend our time and energy when it comes to homeschooling. It can also be difficult for us to remain consistent if we feel that we are doing too much or our workload is too heavy. When homeschooling, it is best for us to focus on teaching the core academic subjects.
This includes the essentials of reading, writing, math, science, and history. We can provide additional instruction in other topics, but we have to be careful to not overwhelm ourselves and our children. We need to be mindful of our time and energy and prioritize the most important topics to cover in our homeschool.
This will help us to maintain a balanced and productive homeschool.
8. We Should Provide Care and Support
As parents, it is our responsibility to not only provide our children with an education, but also to provide them with the tools they need to be successful. This means that we should offer our children our care and support throughout their educational journey.
We should not be afraid to step in and offer help if they are struggling with a subject or if they could use a bit of extra guidance. We should also celebrate their victories and encourage them in their successes. When homeschooling, this gives us the unique opportunity to be more hands-on in our children’s education.
We have the opportunity to give them the individualized support and attention that they need as they learn. We can make sure that they are understanding and engaging with the material and help them to stay motivated. We can also provide additional activities at home that can supplement their studies and help them to reach their fullest potential.
9. God Wants Us To Take Responsibility for Our Children’s Education
In the Bible, God reminds us that we are to take responsibility for educating our children (Deuteronomy 6:7). This means that we should be actively involved in their academic growth and endeavor to provide them with a rich, quality education. By taking responsibility, we are demonstrating our commitment to our children’s success.
When homeschooling, this provides us with a wonderful opportunity to be heavily involved in their education. We can be their teacher and their mentor, providing them with detailed instruction and guidance as they grow.
We can also create a learning environment that is focused on their personal growth and development and prepare them for their lives ahead.
10. We Should Do Research and Seek Guidance When Making Decisions
As parents, we should be doing research and seeking guidance when it comes to homeschooling our children. This includes researching different curriculums, understanding the laws and regulations in our state, and getting advice from veteran homeschoolers.
We also need to make sure that we stay up-to-date on the latest changes in the homeschooling world. By doing our research and seeking guidance, we can be sure that we are making informed decisions about our children’s education. We can also feel more confident in our choices and know that we are doing the best that we can for our children.
We should also be praying and asking God to direct us in all our decisions.
11. We Should Make Sure That Our Priorities are Aligned with God’s Will
As parents, it is important that we make sure that our priorities are aligned with God’s will. This means that we need to spend our time and energy on activities that bring glory and honor to the Lord. We should also place our trust in Him and seek His guidance as we make decisions about our children’s education.
When homeschooling, it is important that we remain focused on the task at hand. We should make sure that our priorities match up with the Lord’s priorities and that we are focusing on the most important goals.
This includes providing our children with a quality education and raising them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
12. We Should Encourage Our Children to Step Out and Serve
Just as God served others when He was here on earth, we too should be actively engaged in serving others. This applies to our children as well; we should be encouraging them to step out and serve others in their communities, both in their own homes and outside of it. This can include doing service projects, helping out at local charities, or even volunteering at church.
When homeschooling, this can provide us with a unique opportunity to teach our children about the importance of service. We can take advantage of our extra time that we may have during the day and plan service projects or activities.
We can also have our children participate in local events or programs that offer volunteer opportunities.
13. We Should Remember the Importance of Rest, Play, and Unstructured Learning
It is also important to remember that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. We should make sure that our children still have plenty of time for rest and play. We should also take advantage of the natural learning opportunities and let our children explore the world around them.
When homeschooling, this can be an even bigger blessing. We can be more flexible with our schedules and give our children more free time to do the things they enjoy.
We can also take advantage of our location to go on field trips and explore new places. We can also have our children participate in extracurricular activities such as music, sports, or theater.
Conclusion: Whether you are a parent considering a homeschooling option for your child’s education or you are already on that path, it is important to consider what God has to say about homeschooling our children. God is ultimately the one who will guide us and provide us with wisdom as we make decisions about our children’s education. As we strive to be wise and faithful in our raising of children, may we always remember that He is with us and will never abandon us.