Children: The Best Bible School for Adults

Let me tell you my story. Two years ago, my ten-year-old son decided he wanted to read the whole Bible, and he wanted my help. How could I say no? So we opened to the first chapter of Genesis and started reading at least one chapter each day. This was great until we got to the “begats.” Then there were the regulations of the law, but we pressed on!

Now, every morning, three of my children and I read the Bible together. We read the whole Bible chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Every word. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, all the way through to Revelation.

I am getting quite an education! Have you ever had to explain God’s nature throughout the Bible to your children? It will help you grow in the knowledge of God. Have you had to explain what Asherah worship was to your eleven-year-old? It will sharpen your understanding of the justice of God. Have you ever been forced to have such a handle on each of the kings of Judah and the northern kingdom that your child can grasp it? Or the major and minor prophets?

The best way to learn material thoroughly is to teach it. Whether we have formal teaching experience or not, God expected His people to attain this ability through discipling their own children. The Bible commanded the Israelites to talk about God’s Word with their families all the time. When they rose up in the morning, throughout the day, and when they went to bed, they were to train their youngsters in the Scriptures. It was a life-consuming task. Why did God require this?

I discovered the answer recently at a Bible study with friends. In our study group, we were going through common objections to the Bible. The men in my group were doing their best to give answers, but they frequently commented that my responses seemed so thought-out and reflexive. I appeared to have read the questions in advance and prepared answers, even when I had not.

The reason was because my children had exercised me. Through digging into the Word daily to disciple my children, I had grown more able to understand the Scriptures. And because we do not skip the hard content, I am being constantly exercised in addressing questions and challenges.

I do not believe that God’s ideal is that we drop our children off to spiritual experts who in turn educate them. It sounds nice, but He has designed parents with not only the capacity but with the need to teach our kids the Scriptures. If you shirk from the exhausting effort of discipling your children, you are not just cheating them, you are cheating yourself. You may think, “I am not neglecting my child by allowing a great youth minister or teacher to shoulder their spiritual growth” but you are, at the least, neglecting yourself. Your children can be the best Bible school you could ever pay for.

Have you ever noticed in Paul’s letters that the requirements for pastors and overseers were never a certain number of years in seminary? Rather, they were required to be the faithful heads of their families (1 Tim. 3:4-5). If you have been successfully teaching apologetics and the rationale of your faith for years to your own family, there is no better equipping to serve in the church.

Likewise, certain young women who had lost their spouses were encouraged to marry again, and then raise families (1 Tim. 5:11-14). Why? Because it makes you ridiculously busy! There is less opportunity to be drawn away from the Lord. In our culture, the temptation to be obsessed with daytime television or online videos is greatly reduced. You do not have time to get into trouble with a spouse and children! And through the toil of pouring God’s precepts into their children, mothers develop character, forbearance, and the skills necessary to disciple younger women. In conclusion, I encourage mothers and fathers to consider how they are raising their families. Ask God what you can change so that you can best disciple the little blessings that He has placed within your care. You never know: in helping them grow, God may be growing you.

TRAVIS LEE
Evangelical | Historic Premillennialism
Travis Lee is a Nashville recording artist and ordained minister of Hope Church in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. He founded Faithwalk Ministries in 2009 and has authored several books including DEEPER: Launching a Faithwalk with God and the children’s book series entitled Adventures of Fred and Sylvia. The Travis Lee Band currently tours the United States and abroad teaching God’s Word at churches, recovery groups, and prisons. Travis and his wife Allegra, minister together and travel with their six young children, Arrow, Sabre, Scythe, Lance, Dagger, and Mace.