Public Blog

If we are being honest with ourselves, most of us are accustomed to getting what we want. Now, I’m not suggesting that we can all get the million-dollar home on the beach, but when it comes to our daily needs and desires, we tend to find ways to make things happen. If we want something from Amazon, we put it on the card, and it arrives the next day. A trip to Disney? Charge it. That car we’ve had our eye on? We can stretch payments over eight years, and it’s ours. If we want our kids to be academic overachievers, we hire tutors, ensuring they spend the necessary time to achieve a 4.0 GPA, and help them crush the SAT/ACT. If we want our children to be top athletes, we invest countless hours and dollars into training, teams, and travel. If we want them to be great cooks, musicians, or artists, the same investment of time and resources applies. And, the list could go on.

The question I often ask school leaders and educators is this: Are we getting what we want when it comes to Christian education? Yes, there are more variables involved when it comes to reaching the hearts of young people, but we still need to ask: Are we putting in the time and effort necessary to truly capture hearts for Christ? After all, we’ve clearly defined our “wants” and “goals” on school documentation, listing what we hope to accomplish through Christian education. Here are just a few of those common desires found in mission statements and expected student outcomes:

• A heart for God and others
• Spiritual formation
• Christ-honoring relationships
• A biblical worldview
• Engaging the culture for Christ
• Cultivating hearts
• Servant leadership
• Glorifying God

I think we would all agree that these and other biblical outcomes outlined in similar documents are excellent and desirable goals for Christian education. But the question remains: Are we getting what we want to the extent that we want it?  Have we allowed the programs, calendar of events, competitive spirit, need for enrollment, budgets, and just the daily barrage of emails to sidetrack us from getting what we want?  

In 2015, the Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social Issues) test revealed that 90% of students from Christian homes attending secular schools scored in the range that indicates their views are firmly grounded in secularism.

If the current system of educating young people is failing—both in secular and some Christian schools—shouldn’t we do everything in our power to figure out what changes are necessary for the sake of future generations and the cause of Christ? If government schools are anti-Christ and some Christian schools are failing to produce true disciples, then surely something must change. 

Before we go any further, let me recap a few key points as a reminder:

• The vast majority of young people from “Christian” homes are educated in a secular humanistic system that lacks the ability and desire to proclaim the truth of God’s word.
• From the age of 2 to 18, young people today spend approximately 40 hours a week in a godless educational environment.
• Only about 2% of millennials hold a biblical worldview, which suggests that parents are not handing down to their children something they themselves do not possess.
• Students attending Christian schools are many times educated primarily according to state standards, with the goal of getting into secular colleges and living a comfortable life.
• There does not seem to be a widespread fear of God or an overwhelming desire to change the current trends in how we educate future generations.

If these points are even close to being true—and I believe they are—we cannot afford to waste another minute doing things the same way. Change must happen, and it must happen now. Now is the time to “examine everything carefully”, clinging to that which is Christ-honoring and cutting out anything that has driven us off course in our homes, churches, and schools.  

To that end, it is our desire at Kingdom Education Ministries to be a part of seeing the home, church, and school come together like never before to impact future generations for Christ.  

It is our desire, as it was Peter’s desire in 2 Peter 1:13, to “stir you up by way of reminder.”  If we can ever be of service to you, to challenge and encourage you in the biblical principles we know to be true, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  We would love to come alongside you in the weeks to come.

We concluded last week’s blog with the following…

Ultimately, the academy should not be…

• In place of…
• In spite of…
• In addition to…

BUT… A ministry of the Church, working in perfect harmony to advance the Kingdom.

In Acts 2 when the sound from heaven filled the house and anointed the Church, this was no accident. The Church was given a specific assignment,

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

This assignment has been going forward for over 2,000 years. Since the day of Pentecost, the Church has had her ups and downs, though one thing has remained, the Church’s mission. Whether the Church has always lived up to that mission or not, is a conversation for another day. Today, the Church cannot reside inside 4 walls, it must be a place of going, rather than coming. As the Church, Christians must be going forth, preaching the name of Jesus, winning the lost to Jesus, and baptizing them in the name of Jesus. It is a mission that goes beyond the 4 walls of a building.

The Church is to operate 24/7/365. There is never a time off. As Christ followers we are the message carriers, under the umbrella of the Church. This applies for the academy as well. The academy should function under the umbrella of the Church, working as a ministry of the Church. I say often, our responsibility as Kingdom educators is to carry what is ministered from the pulpit on Sunday to the lectern on Monday. Kingdom Educators should work as an extension of the Church, executing The Great Commission Monday – Saturday. As an extension or ministry of the Church, we see the fruit of our labor as beautifying the bride of Christ.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27

 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Revelation 19:7-9

The work of the academy should be focused on making certain everything we do brings honor to the Church, the body of Christ. It is our responsibility to not hinder the moral and spiritual development of anyone that encounters our academies. We must serve the Church. We must honor the Church. We must elevate the Church. We must partner with the Church. The Church should be the covering by which the academy operates under daily.

We believe at Kingdom Education Ministries™, we are called to…

Engaging church leaders to address the issue of education biblically and equip parents to fulfill their God-given mandate to educate children biblically.

If the individual is the message carrier,

If the family is the message expansion,

Then the Church is the message trainer.

The Church is the second ordained institution in Scripture. When Jesus left the earth and the Holy Spirit arrived, the Church became the training ground for carrying the message from generation to generation. The Church was commissioned to take the message of the Gospel and train up future generations to be the light sent into a dark world.

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Acts 1:7-9

It is the responsibility of the academy to create the partnership with the Church that is long lasting, gospel advancing, and Kingdom honoring.

How should the Church and Academy interact with each other?

I am not certain how many of you are basketball fans but some of you may remember July 8, 2010, “The Decision’. It was the day LeBron James made the famous statement, “I am taking my talents to South Beach.” This would then form what was known as the “Big Three”. It changed the course of NBA history. In fact, LeBron, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh all decided to take pay cuts to make room for Mike Miller to join them. The “Big Three” in an interview stated that they were going to win 1, 2, 3, 4…7 championships. They ended up only wining 2 championships in 4 seasons together before LeBron left to go back to Cleveland.

What many don’t remember is this was not the first time a “Big Three” joined forces in the NBA. From 1968-1973 Wilt Chamberlin, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West all played together forming what was called the “Super Team”. The Lakers reached the NBA finals twice, losing to the Celtics and Knicks but eventually winning a championship in 1972 before Chamberlain and West retired.

Why the history lesson on the NBA “Big Three”?

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Amos 3:3

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-13

We can get into conversation as to why the “Big Three” didn’t win the 7+ championships they said they were going to win, or we can just realize the real reason was lack of unity. It takes unity, walking together, to make things work.

Far too long the Church and Academy have disagreed with each other. They have tried to figure out who should be in charge, what body is more important, and who is doing a better a job at discipling families. What has suffered is the entire body of Christ. Like two parents in an argument, nearing or getting divorced and children caught in the middle, the disunity between the church and academy has caused the families to suffer, being caught in the middle of the fight. This is exactly how the enemy works. He first causes disunity and then he goes in and destroys.

Monthly we get calls from churches or schools who are on the verge of divorce. Sadly, it causes the entire body of Christ to suffer. The Home, Church, and School, working together could win championship after championship but due to pride and selfishness, we allow pettiness to interrupt what God could use.

Alan Pue writes,

“Of course, parents bear responsibility for discipling their children. Who is responsible for equipping parents for such a challenging role?  Isn’t that a primary role of the church?”

This mindset creates a partnership where the academy can assist. The academy should never replace the church. Working together in unity, the church and the academy must understand they are to come alongside the parents in raising up the next generation. This partnership becomes a three-cord strand that is not easily broken. This partnership requires each entity to understand their unique gifting and calling. This partnership when functionally properly, in unity, advances the Kingdom.

We have heard all kinds of horror stories and from the outside looking in on these stories, the weight of blame is on both the church and the academy. We must strive for unity together and when that happens, we become the “Big Three” and “Super Team” that nothing can overtake. That unity begins with recognizing what God has called each of us to bring to the table in this battle. It requires us to humbly serve the King and not our own interests. Ultimately the academy should not be…

In place of…

In spite of…

In addition to…

BUT…A ministry of the Church.

Working in perfect harmony to advance the Kingdom.

Last week’s blog ended with this statement, “May the church become our spiritual emergency room.” The church was designed to be place where people heard the Word, believed the Word, and acted on the Word.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:14

Instead, the church in many places has leaned toward the woke culture and has become anything to anyone. Dr. George Barna in recent research has discovered the following when it comes to pastors with a biblical worldview.

Pastors in the church demonstrating a biblical worldview

Executive Pastors 4%

Children/Youth Pastors 12%

Teaching Pastors 13%

Assistant Pastors 28%

Senior Pastors 41%

All Pastors 37%

What has happened over the last 2,000 years is that the enemy has attacked the original purpose of the Church and led it off task. The mission of the Church could not have been more direct and identifiable. The secularization of the Church over the last two millennia is, at its core, the battle between the secular and the sacred. Sadly, the Church has become lukewarm, losing its love for the bride.

A lukewarm church may still look like a church, function like a church, and, in most ways, achieve the original mission of the Church. However, it will only do so with a focus on the short term—10, 20, 30, or even 50 years in sight. The lukewarm church needs to see the Great Physician and return to its first love. Transformation will not come from an overemphasis on programming, but from a recentering on the Truth that built the Church.

Dr. Barna tells us that 80% of those who grow up in the Church leave it when they reach college. The question we must ask ourselves is: Why? Why do they no longer believe in the message the Church was commissioned to teach them? Could it be that programming has overtaken the message—TRUTH?

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

The truth of the Church must be centered around one message: Jesus. In returning to its first love, the Church would embrace this message above all. Truth grew the Church in Acts 2, and it can once again grow the Church.

Truth comes from God’s Word alone, and it is the Church’s responsibility to equip families with this message!

The Church & the Individual

 Many have suggested over the years that the church should be a hospital for the spiritually sick. For many years of my life, I didn’t see the church fulfilling this role but rather focusing solely on discipleship. However, my perspective changed when I fell into the most broken state of my life.

The church we attended for years held a service every Wednesday night called the “House of Prayer.” The entire service was dedicated to worship, scripture reading, and prayer. It wasn’t for the faint of heart. Every week, it was intense and incredibly powerful. One Wednesday, I found myself at the lowest point of my life, and I needed a spiritual doctor. I needed to go to the spiritual emergency room. That evening, I broke, and the altar became my spiritual hospital bed. I laid there for longer than I could remember, praying, seeking God’s face, direction, and hope for my life. The altar became my hospital bed, and my physician was my Creator.

Dr. Schultz has often quoted the phrase, “It is easier to be traditional than Biblical.” While many have associated this phrase with the school and how we need to forget the training we’ve had as educators and seek God’s direction for our school, it can also be applied to the church. We walk into church, hear announcements, sing three songs, listen to a message, are challenged to leave differently, and then have an altar call. We walk out, checking a box, ready for another week, but no surgery was performed on us. We leave with little change within us, head to Cracker Barrel to beat the crowd, then go home to take a Sunday afternoon nap while watching a sporting event. Check, another appointment accomplished.

What if we did away with the tradition of church?

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” What if we walked into church and allowed those with whom we fellowship to change us? What if we walked into church and allowed the One we’re there to worship to remake us? Would the outcome of church be truly transformational in us and in all areas of our lives?

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:22-25

Sadly, I sense that too many of us walk into church for a social event rather than a transformational one. The church should be a place where we are confronted with the Word, forced to examine our hearts and minds, much like we examine ourselves in the mirror before leaving the house in the morning. We must arrive at church prepared to understand that we are walking into a spiritual hospital, and we need serious treatment. Too often, we walk in with guarded walls and fail to allow the Word to diagnose and heal us.

When you walk into an emergency room, you know something is going to change. Why do we not walk into church with this same urgency? Could a Sunday morning or Wednesday night be one of the most dualistic places of the week? We know we need help. We know we need a spiritual cast placed on our hearts. We know we are broken, and we know we need spiritual surgery. Yet, we so intently guard against looking deeply into the mirror of God’s Word and allowing it to treat, heal, and transform us. His Word and His Church should reshape and mold us.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Malachi 3:2-3

May the church become our spiritual emergency room.

Sharing a home with three girls over the last 20 years has meant that I’ve watched my fair share of Disney animated movies. Recently, we watched Into the Unknown: Making of Frozen II. It was a fascinating six-part series that took the audience through the detailed and lengthy process of creating Frozen II. One thing that grabbed my attention was that it took 400 people over 9 years to create both Frozen I and Frozen II. This struck me because it seemed like such a dedicated, committed team working tirelessly for years to create something as seemingly simple as an animated movie. Yet, these films have had a profound impact on the hearts and minds of young people. Very few people in the world would fail to recognize Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. Thanks to the teamwork, hard work, and vision of the creators, Frozen became an incredible success, with the Frozen movies becoming the highest-grossing Disney films of all time by 2022.

As much as I enjoyed the Frozen movies and the series The Making of Frozen, it also served as a convicting reminder. If the creators of Frozen were so committed to working for 9 years, putting in long hours, and being teachable and flexible in their opinions and desires—all for a 90-minute animated film—why can’t the Body of Christ be just as intentional about pointing the next generation to Christ? Imagine what could happen if parents, along with church and school leaders, came together during the most formative years of kids’ lives and were just as intentional with the message and truth of Jesus Christ. Imagine if they didn’t care about the hours involved, didn’t care about who received the credit, and didn’t mind digging deeper and working harder, as long as it produced biblical fruit in their kids.

What if, instead of 9 years, we had roughly 18 years to influence future generations for Christ? What if we were able to teach and mold our children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

God has always used people to accomplish His will. Here are a few examples of those He used over the years:

• God brought Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch to reveal the truth and lead him to a better understanding of God’s Word (Acts 8:26-40).
• God used Moses, even though he doubted his abilities and tried to avoid his calling (Exodus 3:11-12).
• God used Paul, who was once a persecutor of Christians, to spread the gospel after his conversion (Acts 9:1-19).
• God used Andrew, a humble man, to bring his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42). Peter then became a bold witness and leader in the early church.
• God even used Pharaoh, despite his rejection of God, to accomplish His will (Exodus 9:16).

The list goes on: Abraham, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, David, Samuel, Solomon, and many others. None of them were perfect. Some failed, yet God used them to accomplish His purposes. God uses a variety of people, with different gifts, talents, and personalities, to do His work.

As we consider those who could influence the lives of young people—teachers, coaches, pastors, and other key influencers—we must be certain that the utmost care is given to ensuring that they know and live out biblical truth.

It seems that, for the most part, we do a good job of protecting our children from harm, illness, and other things that could affect their safety. We secure the doors at home, activate the security system, encourage healthy eating, ensure they take necessary medications, make them wear seat belts, and stop them from running with scissors. In these areas, most parents are doing a good job. But the question is: how are we doing at protecting their hearts and minds?

These days, there are so many voices speaking into the lives of our children—through social media, friends, teachers, and more. There are no longer quiet moments for young people to think and process. They always have something in their ear or in front of their eyes. It is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to monitor and restrict every influence in their children’s lives.

Our children spend hours every day in front of screens—whether it’s TV, Netflix, video games, or social media. According to 2023 statistics, “Globally, people average 6 hours and 58 minutes of screen time per day.” In the United States, the average is even higher—“7 hours and 4 minutes.” This number is likely to continue increasing each year.

As we continue to see the destructive influences on our children, I’m reminded of the nation of Israel’s descent into idolatry and destruction, which bears a striking resemblance to our current situation. In Psalm 106, we see the steps they took toward their downfall:

1. “They forgot God their Savior” (Psalm 106:21).
2. “They grumbled and did not listen to the voice of the Lord” (Psalm 106:25).
3. “They did not destroy the evil influences as the Lord had commanded them” (Psalm 106:34).
4. “They mingled with the nations and learned their practices…which became a snare to them” (Psalm 106:35).
5. “The Lord gave them into the hands of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them” (Psalm 106:41).

Doesn’t that sound similar to the world we live in today? Not long ago, I watched the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. By the end of the film, I was ready to throw all technology out the window. The documentary highlights how social media platforms intentionally use algorithms to target children, making them the product sold to the highest bidder for their attention. Jaron Lanier, a former Silicon Valley executive featured in the film, said, “The goal of social media outlets is the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your behavior and perception. Their desire is to change what we do, how we think, and who we are.”

Parents must recognize that their children are the targets, and the battle for their hearts and minds is no longer distant—it’s in our hands, our living rooms, and even our bedrooms. Technology is now used by the world to win our kids over to its cause. Even parents are being held captive by the influence of smartphones and social media. Sarah Zylstra, in an article for The Gospel Coalition, states, “Teens report that 15 percent of parents—or one in seven—use their device almost constantly.” (Gospel Coalition).

But there is good news. According to Zylstra, “Kids in intact families (those who live with their married biological parents) spend less time on digital media. These families tend to have clearer rules about screen time, and their children, with lower digital media use, tend to be less depressed, lonely, dissatisfied with life, and sleep-deprived.” This gives me hope that we can protect our children from the barrage of influences coming at them from digital media.

So, what are parents to do? We must be on high alert and do a better job of guarding the hearts and minds of our children. Scripture is very clear about this:

• “With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance…” (Eph. 6:18).
• “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7).
• “Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
• “See to it that no one misleads you…” (Matthew 24:4).
• “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation…” (Matthew 26:41).
• “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers…” (Philippians 3:2).
• “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert…” (Colossians 4:2).
• “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what you have accomplished…” (2 John 1:8).
• “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith…” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
• “You therefore…be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your steadfastness…” (2 Peter 3:17).
• “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
• “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:45).
• “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

These verses encourage and implore us to be vigilant and protect that which we have received from Christ.

I realize it is hard to monitor what your children are exposed to in the media 24/7, but I believe it is a battle we must fight daily if we are to be victorious. The seeds planted in the hearts and minds of our children will bear fruit in the days, weeks, months, and years to come, and once roots have been planted deep in their hearts and minds, it can be difficult to reverse the effects. Now, imagine if the Word of God was planted securely in the hearts and minds of our children. If that were the case, Psalm 119:11 would become more of a reality: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

My encouragement today is that we be more intentional about what we allow our children’s hearts and minds to feed on daily. When they do see evil and wickedness in the world, unfiltered, we must make the most of every opportunity and use it as a teachable moment to show what is good and what is evil.

In November 2002, my wife and I brought home our first daughter from the hospital. Prior to that, our responsibilities were limited to feeding the cat and dog and changing the oil in the car. We were nowhere near prepared for how quickly life would change. However, as we look back, we realize just how blessed we are that God entrusted us with our two daughters.

Psalm 127 is spot on when it says:

“Children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”
— Psalm 127:3-4 (NKJV)

We can often forget, especially in difficult times, how precious our children are and how great our responsibility is to raise them to be “arrows in the hands of a warrior.” We can lose sight of the fact that children are not just a gift for our lifetime, but for generations to come and for all eternity. As Timothy Jones writes in Family Ministry Field Guide:

“Children are far more than a gift for this life. They are bearers of the gospel to generations yet unborn. In God’s design, your children and mine will raise children who will, in turn, beget more children. How we mold our children’s souls while they reside in our households will shape the lives of children who have yet to draw their first gasp of air.”
— Timothy Jones, Family Ministry Field Guide, p. 56

Jones goes on to say, “If our focus were only on this life, it might make sense to put more emphasis on the frantic schedules, the top-tier universities, and busy competitive athletic schedules than on the intentional spiritual formation of our children.” However, we know that God created us to be fruitful, to multiply, and to fill the earth. He has commanded us to bring up our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Genesis 1:28, Ephesians 6:4). To be obedient to that mandate, we must focus on raising arrows that are straight, sharp, and pointed at the target that will bring glory to God and advance His kingdom.

As our children are both a precious gift and a homework assignment for us, we must understand that Scripture is very clear: parents are primarily responsible for the education and training of their children. The Bible emphasizes this truth in several places:

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
— Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

“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. 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.”
— Psalm 78:4-8 (NKJV)

The problem facing today’s parents is that many have unintentionally or unknowingly abdicated a responsibility that is God-given. Statistics do not lie. Too many of us have delegated the primary responsibility for educating our children to others.

Author, professor, and political commentator Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry highlights this reality during an interview on MSNBC, where she said:

“We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we’ve always had kind of a private notion of children. Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven’t had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents or kids belong to their families and recognize that kids belong to whole communities. Once it’s everyone’s responsibility and not just the household’s, then we start making better investments.”
— Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, MSNBC Interview

This ideology, which suggests the state is in control of our children, has even reached the highest levels of government. President Joe Biden once said:

“There’s no such thing as someone else’s child. Our nation’s children are all our children. As I often say, you teachers hold the kite strings that lift our ‘national ambitions’ aloft…you are determining our future.”
— President Joe Biden, Fox News.com

With such ideas permeating society, it is important to recall what Dr. Glen Schultz says:

“From birth on, parents must expend all of their energy to accomplish one goal—passing on their faith to their child’s heart. They must stretch and strain to get the baton firmly in the grasp of their child’s heart before the child gets too far down the racetrack of life. Statistics show that the odds of an individual placing his faith in Christ decrease significantly as the child grows older.”
— Dr. Glen Schultz, Applying KE, 11

Our children are the one thing we leave behind as cultural influencers and the only things that will spend eternity in heaven or hell. All the other things we commit our time and energy to will eventually fade away or be destroyed. As the enemy seeks to advance his cause, should we not give all our time and energy to ensuring “that all the earth may know that there is a God”?

As God calls people back to Himself, He can accomplish His original plan of parents being fruitful and sending out children to fill the earth and have dominion over His creation. This is no easy task, but as God empowers parents through the knowledge of His Word and the filling of His Spirit, He will do a great work in and through families for the good and glory of His name.

Through examining the birth of Jesus, we find a template for raising the next generation. This template is a simple five-step approach to creating disciples:

Faithful Parents

An Anointing

A Training (Biblical Education)

A Process and Timing

A Tempting/Trial

When we look closely at the life of Jesus, we must remember that He was 100% God and 100% human. We see that Jesus experienced temptation, was tired, cried, sweat, and, as Scripture tells us, He took on the form of a servant. As we study the Christmas story, we see Jesus growing, maturing, and developing relationships. This template, found in the first four chapters of Luke, establishes a pattern for parents, educators, pastors, and mentors to follow. The greatest takeaway for us to understand is that creating disciples for the Kingdom is a process.

The process of creating Kingdom disciples begins with placing our children in an environment based on biblical truth. Over the years, society has shifted the meaning of “Christian” to encompass many things. As Dr. Glen Schultz taught many, “It is easier to be traditional than Biblical.” The tradition of men has transformed the modern concept of being Christian into something less rooted in Scripture. When Jesus, at the age of 12, sat in Luke 2, He did not sit at the feet of influencers or cultural guides. He sat at the feet of biblical doctors of the Word. He asked questions, showing His 100% humanity, giving us a template to follow.

Our children face many challenges from the culture. They are confronted with worldly traditions and responses to questions that many “scholars” claim have no answers. However, when a child grows in “wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man,” they experience a training ground rooted in the truth of God’s Word. When the angels cried out, “Glory to God in the highest,” they truly meant that we have a hope and expectation that surpasses anything this world has to offer.

This revelation of God’s Glory is revealed through the asking of questions and seeking for God to dwell among us. When Jesus was born on this earth, His Glory literally dwelt among us, providing a template for how we should live our lives. This template impacts us as individuals, parents, churches, and schools. The question we must answer is, “Are we living in the expectation of His Glory?” We should live our lives, parent our children, create discipleship in our churches, and educate our children with the end in mind—will they bring God glory through what they are learning and the answers they are seeking?

Merry Christmas from Kingdom Education Ministries!

These days it seems that most people are looking for the easy answer or the one thing that could fix all their problems.  They are looking for that one pill or supplement that will take care of health issues. They are looking for the latest fitness routine that will get them in tip-top shape.  They are looking for that one investment or career that will bring financial comfort and freedom.  They are looking for that job or relationship that will bring lasting joy and satisfaction.

The great news is that during the Christmas season and all throughout the year, for those of us who are children of God, we can rest assured that God will accomplish His will in and through us and meet our every need.

As you read through the Matthew and Luke accounts of Jesus coming to earth, I want to remind you of a few key phrases that can have a profound present and future impact on our lives:

“…and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21

“…and they shall call His name “Immanuel”, which translated means, “God with us.”

Matthew 1:23

“…and He will reign over the house of Jacob, and His Kingdom will have no end.”

Luke 1:33

As we celebrate this Christmas season, it should give us great peace and confidence in the fact that the Kingdom of God is a current reality and a future certainty.  It is the salvation that comes from Christ, His presence and reign in our lives, and the promise that His kingdom will never end, that must be at the heart of our lives and the education of young people.  These are the truths that motivate us at Kingdom Education Ministries to continue to encourage and train up the home, church, and school.

In Matthew 6:10, Jesus instructed his disciples in how they were to pray. He said this:

Pray, then, in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”

Because Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth 2,000 years ago, we know that God’s Kingdom is here, His Kingdom will never end, and He will accomplish His will in our lives.

 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”