August 16, 2023 – Bible . . . More Than a School Subject

Danika Cooley

The Most Important Job

One of the clearest and most well-known sets of parenting instructions involves discipling our kids in God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, ESV, God instructs us through Moses:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Now, we usually don’t literally write God’s Word on paper bound to our foreheads. Instead, we help write God’s Word on our children’s hearts.

How do we teach God’s Word diligently to our children? As God instructs us: we do it when we go for walks, when we have breakfast, at bedtime, and as we sit together. God’s Word is meant to be a regular, ongoing part of our kids’ day.

There’s another passage I really, really love. Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV, is such an encouraging promise from the Lord:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Teaching the Bible to our kids is the job that God has entrusted us with. It’s a command. And, leading our kids through Scripture is a joy! There is so much we can to do help our kids learn and love the Bible. God’s Word is more than just a half-hour class. We can trust that God’s Word will not return empty. Rather, we can trust that He will accomplish His purpose in us—and in our children.

Editor’s Note: Head to the Freebies section to see the free printable “Bible Study Tips” to use in your homeschool.

About the author

Danika Cooley is an award-winning children’s author who blogs about Bible books, crafts, activities, and snacks at Thinking Kids. Her books include Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible and the Who What Why Series, a line of Christian history for 8–11-year-olds. Grab your free three-week sample of her popular Bible Road Trip™ curriculum.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is the perfect companion to a homeschool curriculum. It will help develop critical thinking, Biblical reasoning and rich vocabulary development. Face.net/TOSDICT

Kerry Tittle

Is Bible More Than a Subject?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9, ESV).

What does this great Shema of the Bible mean for homeschool Christians today?  This is a passage that communicates to us to disciple our children. Period. The home is where they learn about the High King of Heaven and to not forget the deeds He has done.  It is also the place they learn moral instruction and Truth from the living Word. 

Though it’s nice to be able to have several Bible curriculums to choose from, it’s more than just a subject.  As a matter of fact, it’s the very core of all the subjects. It is the way of life that the Lord wants us to live to educate our children to love the Lord and make Him known to them.

When Jesus said, “you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind”  (Matthew 22:37, ESV), He was quoting this key passage from the Old Testament as the greatest commandment in the Law.

So, make Bible the greatest subject of all subjects!

Kerry Tittle

About the author

Kerry Tittle is a mother of nine children and a 20-year homeschool veteran. She was the owner of ReformationKidz with her husband Rob until a tornado destroyed their home and business in 2014, taking the lives of Rob and two of their daughters, Tori and Rebekah. Kerry is the founder of Refined Family, which is created to encourage others to find hope in the gospel in the midst of trials.

Watch FREE, award winning documentaries and use code AMSCHOOLHOUSE to purchase workbooks and DVDs. Appian Media has reimagined Bible study! Learn more: www.appianmedia.org .

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

The Best Version

I don’t know what the big deal is when we talk about the Bible and school. There’s just something about the topic that makes us feel guilty. We’re not doing enough . . . teaching it right . . . covering all the needed topics
. . . preparing our children for the future that they’ll face.

I get it. I feel it and my wife amplifies the feeling in me when she points out that we haven’t done enough to teach them about the Bible.

But here’s the deal: it’s not that complicated. It’s NOT so much about teaching them the truths . . . as it is modeling the truths. Yes, they need to KNOW that they’re in the Bible, but it’s more important to know that those truths can be trusted and lived . . . and the way they learn that is by watching you (us).

So maybe I can eliminate some of the weight you feel by making it simple for you. 

1) Have them read their Bible or read it to them. Don’t expect amazing interaction times or that they’ll ponder it like you (an adult) do. Just let them hear the words.

2) Show them that it works and can be trusted. Show them unconditional love at home by loving your husband and children unconditionally. Show kindness at the store to strangers when they’re rude to you. Trust the Bible when the world is going crazy, and show forgiveness when your children fail you or you fail them.

That doesn’t sound so daunting, does it? Don’t worry if they can’t remember the Bible reference, the right answer to some obscure apologetic, or that they don’t feel as moved as you do by some spiritual truth.

Just read it . . . and model it.

I was looking for the quote*. . . but either can’t find it or dreamed it up, but it went something like this: “When asked what his favorite translation of the Bible was, the famous person responded, “My mother’s version.” He wasn’t talking about the version she read from . . . but the one she modeled for him.

Be real,
Todd

* If you know the real quote, send it to me at familyman@familymanweb.com

About the author

Todd Wilson is a husband, dad, grandpa, writer, homeschool conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker all across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family. As founder of The Familyman and The Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind moms and dads of what’s most important through weekly emails, podcasts, seminars, and books that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool four of their eight children (the other four are homeschool graduates) in northern Indiana and travel America in the Familyman Mobile. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Pillar of Hope

David West

Put the Bible First in Your Homeschool

Psalm 119:99-100 is helpful for Christian homeschooling. “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.”

If the author of this great Psalm spoke at a homeschool conference today, he might say, “Teach your children God’s Word first and foremost. The other subjects are necessary and will help children fulfill God’s command to subdue the earth, and to fulfill the command of Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples. Yet, no subject will add more to your children’s lives than a knowledge of God from God’s own revelation.”

Teach your children to interpret the Bible properly, to meditate on Scripture dependently, and to keep God’s law diligently. STEM learning can’t compete with this type of education. Classical studies can’t shape young hearts and minds better than the Bible. Learning from great books can’t measure up to knowledge gained from meditating on The Great Book.

Christian parents should be encouraged: we aren’t alone as we teach our children to know God and to meditate upon His Word. God Himself is at work wherever His Word is central. And where God is at work, His work is accomplished.

About the author

David West is an ordinary father serving an extraordinary Savior. He is husband to Danette, father of six, deacon at The Cornerstone Bible Church, past chairman of the Sacramento Organization of Parent Educators (scopehome.org), sales manager by vocation, and a lover of books and writing.

Christian Light Bible has both devotional and educational aspects. Students learn Bible stories, Bible culture and geography, and Biblical principles for life. Visit www.christianlight.org/bible.

How can a young person stay on the straight and narrow path? According to Psalm 119, he can pay attention to God’s Word! The best way to do that is to read and study the Scriptures, and with the Schoolhouse Bible curriculum on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, your learner will cover the Bible five times. Utilize the activities to help students internalize and apply the Word of God, giving them the skills they need to apply it now and later in life.