Recruitment director, vicar Jeffrey Hendrix gave a Bible Study to the faculty of all the association schools on May 30th.
Vicar Hendrix lead us in contemplating the many times Christian education is referenced in the Bible. Starting with Psalm 78:1-7 we saw how generation after generation failed in many ways: failed to keep God’s law, failed to follow God alone, and failed to teach the next generation the great deeds that God had done.
But we also saw how, in spite of people’s failings, God remained faithful and continued to bless His people. He showed His ultimate love when He sent His son to die for the whole world.
For us, that means that we will not always educate perfectly. Parents will not always pass the Word of God down perfectly. Children will not always listen to the Word of God perfectly. But to admit this, to admit our failings and our sin, is to also acknowledge we need a Savior from sin. This is the goal of our educating – to teach our children of the great deeds God has done; that through Jesus Christ, God has forgiven and saved each one of them.
Psalm 78:1-7
1 Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
6 That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
7 That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
8 And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
17 But they sinned even more against Him
By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
19 Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”
23 Yet He had commanded the clouds above,
And opened the doors of heaven,
24 Had rained down manna on them to eat,
And given them of the bread of heaven.
25 Men ate angels’ food;
He sent them food to the full.