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By Mike McHugh, March 9, 2010 1:22 pm

Teaching Methods From Deuteronomy

One of the most frequently quoted portions of Holy Scripture among Christian home educators is Deuteronomy 6:4-9. In these verses, the Lord gives a clear command for parents to diligently teach their children the whole of God’s precepts and commandments throughout the course of each day. In particular, verses six and seven state: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

What is obvious from this passage, is that Almighty God desires for parents to diligently and regularly instruct their covenant children in the truth of God’s Word in order that they may be prepared to walk righteously as lights in a dark and fallen world. What is less obvious, however, is how God directs parents to accomplish the noble and vital task of biblical child training. The Lord simply directs parents to walk and talk with their children throughout the hours of each day in order that they may teach them how to apply the truth of God’s Word to the issues of life.

“Wait a minute!” you may say. “The greatest duty of parenting can’t be summed up that simply, … or can it?” Too often Christian parents, including those involved in home education, imagine that the process of imparting spiritual and moral truth must be accomplished in some sort of rigid manner, complete with plenty of formal classes and workbooks. Now, it is undoubtedly true that most parents will find that they can accomplish some aspects of their training more efficiently through the utilization of Bible study texts and supplemental resources such as maps, flashcards, charts, etc. The true issue or concern, however, is not about books or the value of formal class work. The point that parents need to grasp, regardless of whether they elect to use Bible study texts or classes, is that the most important aspect of biblical training was never designed by Almighty God to be limited to or governed by man-made books or study programs. The Lord, after all, gave children to parents, and it is His intention that they take an active and personal role in the spiritual development of their offspring.
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