“… from childhood
you have known the
sacred writings …”
2 Timothy 3:15
er at home or at church—is a half-truth, at best. It says one
thing about God and portrays another thing... Psalm 145:4
shows us another way: ‘One generation shall praise Your
works to another.’ Let praises carry the truth to the next gener-
ation because the aim of truth is praise. The aim of education
is exultation. So let education model exultation in the way it
is done.” John Piper 6
9. EDUCATION THAT IS UNDERGIRDED
BY PRAYERFUL DEPENDENCE ON GOD
I have now seen a generation of children grow up into adult-
hood. Many had an excellent Christian education taught
by godly parents and teachers. Yet, sadly, more than a few
have rejected Christ and are heading toward destruction.
Undoubtedly, the most decisive factors in bringing about
faith are not our expertise, methods, or core curricula—
though all are important. Ultimately, faith will not take root
and grow unless God, in His sovereign mercy, awakens the
heart and makes a dead sinner alive to Christ (Eph 2:1-5).
That is why Christian education must be undergirded with
humble dependence on God, relentlessly calling upon Him
in prayer to bring about faith and maturity in our children
and students! 7
It is my earnest desire that these nine foundations, while
only briefly touched upon, will perhaps generate a more
thoughtful approach to discipling children and youth. Here
is a final thought to contemplate: “‘I have no greater joy than
to hear that my children are walking in the truth’ (3 John
4). Here lies the crux of the matter: The first battleground
of family discipleship is not my child’s heart—it is my heart.
Each parent must decide whether he is more concerned that
his child be accepted into heaven or ‘Harvard.’ We all have
‘Harvards’—those worldly successes we desire for our children,
but the question remains, ‘Which is most important to me?’
Each parent must finish the sentence ‘I have no greater joy
than...’” Chap Bettis 8 ■
Resources that instruct the
mind, engage the heart, and
influence the will by teaching
the whole counsel of God
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Jill Nelson, a retired homeschool mom, is currently a curriculum writer and Director of
Content for Truth78. She and her husband, Bruce, have two adult children and a growing
number of grandchildren.
ENDNOTES
1. Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David (New York, NY: Funk & Wagnalls, 1886), 433.
2. Justin Taylor, “The Great Vision of Christian Education: Ten Foundational Truths,” Desiring
God, August 18, 2015, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-great-vision-of-
christian-education.
3. Tell to the Coming Generation: The Vision of Truth78 (Minneapolis, MN: Truth78, 2018), 23.
Available online at truth78.org/viewbook.
4. This is the vision statement of Truth78 (Truth78.org).
5. R. Albert Mohler Jr., “The Glory of God in the Life of the Mind,” November 12, 2010,
https://albertmohler.com/2010/11/12/the-glory-of-god-and-the-life-of-the-mind.
6. John Piper, “One Generation Shall Praise Your Works to Another,” Desiring God, March 19,
2000, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/one-generation-shall-praise-your-works-to
-another.
7. David Michael, Big, Bold, Biblical Prayers for the Next Generation (Truth78, 2018).
8. Chap Bettis, The Disciple-Making Parent: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Raising Your
Children to Love and Follow Jesus Christ (Cumberland, RI: Diamond Hill Publishing, 2016), 17.
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