Education – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: investing in Gospel dominion

“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/2th.3.10.NASB2020

Brothers meditating on several passages based on some comments from the FLF conference. First, “Do not outsource or subcontract the discipline and instruction of your children in the Lord.” by Larry Taunton. A paraphrase, “Education is a product that costs money to develop and distribute. If you want a quality education product delivered in a loving community, then it will have a cost.” And “Money is bullets to be aimed at the enemy in the fight.”

In a time of entitlement, when many want or feel they deserve everything provided for free and often from the government (like ‘school choice’ handouts), I’m meditating on Gen. 3:19, 2 Thess. 3:10, and 1 Tim. 5:8 and praying we heads of households depend on God’s provision and work hard to provide all the tools, resources, and means for our wives and ministry of our children’s education. I pray we not fall into the traps of entitlement and demand a handout “like the nations” (1 Sam. 8:10-20). And whatever our lot, I pray we give all glory and thanks to God the provider of all good gifts! (Psalm 103) May God establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Take dominion. Make disciples. By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

Take Dominion

“There is an obvious way to take dominion of the earth, then, and it is simply through obeying God… One simple act of obedience, which Knox fulfilled, is marriage and child-rearing… Those who are committed to raising and nurturing godly families are doing some of the greatest kingdom work imaginable… When you raise godly children, they eventually raise godly children of their own, who raise godly children of their own, and on it goes… God commands us to take dominion of the earth by ruling over it for His glory. He reveals that the best way to take dominion is through the fulfillment of the Great Commission… As we do this, entire nations will eventually be Christianized for Christ… You need to study the Scriptures to learn doctrines. Then, by applying the doctrines, we take dominion. The movement is always from doctrine to dominion.” Resist Tyrants, Obey God: lessons learned from the life and times of John Knox https://press.founders.org/shop/resist-tyrants-obey-god/

“Paul fundamentally admonishes parents—specifically fathers—to raise their own children… The job of raising children does not belong directly to the school, society, church or the youth group. It belongs to parents. According to the Apostle Paul, it doesn’t take a village to raise a child. It takes a dad.” Discipline In The Home https://founders.org/articles/discipline-in-the-home/

“Parenting has consequences. Every word, every habit, every moment — it all shapes the soul of your child.” https://youtu.be/vIThYlPNKws?si=lq0yLNawd96AMDSH

“By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”” Genesis 3:19 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.3.19.NASB2020

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1ti.5.8.NASB2020

“Bless the Lord, my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits… Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, my soul!” Psalm 103:1-2, 22 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.103.1-22.NASB2020

“May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.90.17.NASB2020

“And he said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen… He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.” Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”” 1 Samuel 8:10-20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1sa.8.10-20.NASB2020

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV

Household Prayer: Summer Discipleship

To the Law and to the testimony! …” Isaiah 8:20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/isa.8.20.NASB2020

Brothers, another school year over for us. How did that happen so fast? I pray we continue to teach our families about our great God through the summer (Eph. 6:4). Also, I pray we older men encourage and disciple younger men “teaching them all God has commanded” (Matt. 28:19-20). I pray we relate all of life’s experiences back to the word of God and share it with others (Isaiah 8:20). I also pray we don’t heap guilt upon ourselves, especially when we don’t get the desired results. Duty is ours, but results are God’s. Trust Him. (Rom. 8:1)

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/eph.6.4.NASB2020

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:19-20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.28.20.NASB2020

“To the Law and to the testimony! If they do not speak in accordance with this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Isaiah 8:20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/isa.8.20.NASB2020

“The sphere of the family is perhaps the most important sphere of the three, anthropologically speaking. It was created before the fall, and thus it is a necessary component for humans to thrive in their creation mandate as well as to encourage proper roles in the other two spheres of church and state… the sphere of the family is the foundation upon which God has chosen to flourish human societies. It is the sphere in which the image God has borne upon humans will reproduce and thrive. Show me a collapsing society, and I will show you a crumbling institution of the family.” … the purpose of the magistrate is to restrain the wickedness and violent disposition of depraved humanity (cf. Rom 13:3–4and 1 Pet 2:13–14)… God says to Noah in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” … If a human man sheds the blood of another, then by mankind in the sphere of the magistrate is evil to be restrained and the murderer to be punished… Capital punishment carried out by the civil magistrate is to restrain the earth from being filled with violence as before the flood as well as to punish any evil-doer who might kill what God has especially marked with His image.” The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State – Founders Ministries

Household Prayer: Saint Valentine defiance of tyrants and obedience to God still relevant today

“First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1ti.2.1-2.NASB2020

Brothers, thinking about Saint Valentine. A pastor martyred for his faith because he obeyed God and defied the state when Emperor Claudius II tried to encroach outside of the God ordained role for civil authority and tried to become authoritarian over the sphere of marriage and family. The battle is still raging today with IL HB2827 – Homeschool Authoritarianism bill. Sounds like our voices are being heard, but keep praying (1 Tim. 2:1-2) and keep respectfully and peacefully calling and writing your representatives. IFI, ICHE, and HSLDA are great organizations to join and follow. I pray, like Pastor Valentine, that we trust in God and in His plan and not in “a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sam. 8)

Illinois Family Institute https://illinoisfamily.org/education/illinois-homeschooling-freedoms-at-risk/

ICHE https://iche.org/node/7541

HSLDA https://hslda.org/legal/illinois/news

Saint Valentine, or Valentinus, has an important story to share with us today! https://ministry.family.blog/2023/02/11/saint-valentine/

Household Prayer: Marriage, Households, and the battle of the cosmos https://ministry.family.blog/2022/02/09/household-prayer-marriage-households-and-the-battle-of-the-cosmos/

Household Prayer: the mission of marriage is greater than the Roman Empire https://ministry.family.blog/2024/02/28/household-prayer-the-mission-of-marriage-is-greater-than-the-roman-empire/

“When governments extend themselves beyond this very narrow calling to which God has tasked them [Rom. 13:3-4]… then the church with its prophetic voice must call its own magistrate back from its desire to ever expand its influence. A good example would be the role of a ‘department of education.’ Is it the state’s responsibility to educate children and young adults? According to Romans 13, that does not seem to be included. Therefore, Christians should not be silent on such matters.” A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants” Timothy L. Decker, Founders Press 2023. https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/ emphasis added

“and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.”” 1 Samuel 8:5 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1sa.8.5.NASB2020

“And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them… And he said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”” 1 Samuel 8:7, 11-18 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1sa.8.7-18.NASB2020

Household Prayer: Fall Fellowship Prayer

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the families here tonight and all those that have come together in a unity of the faith and mission to disciple and teach our children diligently to know You our God and make You known.

May we build each other up and encourage one another in our fellowship.

God I pray for continued civil favor in Illinois. Many tyrannical voices are speaking of their desire to overreach their God ordained civil role and encroach on the governance of the family and parents. May Your people be informed and active in sharing Your truth. May justice and the rule of constitutional law prevail. Heavenly Father be our advocate and fight for Your people.

May Your will, God, be our desire. Bless everyone here and especially the children.

In Jesus Christs Name I pray – amen

Scripture and supporting notes:

Unity “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the good oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.” Psalm 133:1-2 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.133.1-2.LSB

Mission “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:7 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/deu.6.7.LSB

Mission “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.4.ESV

Mission “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mrk.16.15.LSB

Encourage “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building up what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.4.29.LSB

Encourage “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/heb.3.13.LSB

Civil role “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Romans 13:3-4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/rom.13.4.LSB

Civil overreach “God’s law makes it clear that parents are to rule and raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Any man who does not take care of his family is worse than a pagan (1 Tim. 5:8)… Governments that incentivize single parenting and then take on the role of absentee father, providing income and shelter, are wicked. The moment civil government inserts itself in such ways, it has moved beyond the overlap of influence and entered into overreach.” A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/

Civil duty “As the pillar and buttress of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the local church is to have a prophetic voice in various spheres of society, promoting biblical truth… how else can magistrates be held accountable to that message except from the prophetic voice of the church? In this way, Christians, especially ministers ordained to gospel ministry, ought to engage in this governmental sphere prophetically… John the Baptist serves as a prophetic example… Mark 6:17-18.” A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/

Why Does HSLDA Get Involved in Fourth Amendment Cases? https://hslda.org/post/why-does-hslda-get-involved-in-fourth-amendment-cases

Civil justice, our King! “¶Arise, O Yahweh; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted. ¶Yahweh is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land. O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will cause Your ear to give heed To give justice to the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.” Psalm 10:12, 16-18 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.10.12-18.LSB

God’s will, our desire “‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mat.6.10.LSB

Household Prayer: God’s Providence in Ordinary Families

“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/deu.6.4-9.LSB

Brothers, I once again find myself meditating on the providence of God through history, but today really amazed by His working through “ordinary” faithful families. From Adam and Eve, Noah and his sons, Abraham, Ruth the great grandmother of David leading to Mary and Joseph, to our Savior Jesus the Christ! Amazing grace! I pray we labor to know God, to pass the faith on to our children, and to make Him known in all spheres of our lives. Happy reformation day! (Deut. 6:4-9, Ps. 127:3-5, Malachi 2:15, Eph. 6:4)

“In matters of doctrine you will find orthodox [true faith] congregations frequently change to heterodoxy [false faith] in the course of thirty or forty years & that is because too often there has been no catechizing of the children in the essential doctrines of the Gospel.” —C.H. Spurgeon

““Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as phylacteries between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/deu.6.4-9.LSB

“¶Behold, children are an inheritance of Yahweh, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.127.3-5.LSB

“Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” Malachi 2:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mal.2.15.ESV

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.4.ESV

Household Prayer: Priorities, Goals, and Resolutions

”I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“ 3 John 1:4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/3jn.1.4.LSB

Brothers, meditating on 3 John 1:4 today. Praying that the number 1 priority in our households, churches, neighborhoods, and workplaces is that every member will know “the doctrines of the gospel, the life of Christ, and the great precepts of Scripture.” Praying for the wisdom and energy to bring God’s truth into every conversation possible (Deut. 6:7). Praying that every goal and resolution is founded on God, His truth, and His purpose for us!

Priority

“I hope no parent will allow their children to grow up and leave their roof without knowing the doctrines of the gospel, the life of Christ, and the great precepts of Scripture—without having as clear an understanding as possible of the great principles and plan of salvation. It should be the holy ambition of every parent that his entire family should be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Happy as a marriage day is that day when a parent sees his child surrendered to the people of God, having first given his heart to Christ. The joy of the text is that the children “walk in the truth”—the actual demonstration of the power of the gospel in their lives. This proves that the teaching was well received, the feeling was not mere excitement, and the profession was not a falsehood but was done in truth.” The Spurgeon Study Bible

Goals

This year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years…

Roles

Family/household sphere, the ministry of health, education, and welfare.
Church sphere, the ministry of grace and peace.
Civil sphere, the ministry of justice.
Self-Government, by God’s grace, born again, the ministry that makes the other three possible.

By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen. God willing, to be the good and faithful servant until He calls me out of this world.

“Duty is ours, results are God’s.” – John Quincy Adams

”“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.“ Deuteronomy 6:4-7 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/deu.6.4-7.LSB

Warnings for getting our priorities wrong

”“If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” …“ Psalm 11:3-4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.11.3-4.LSB

”My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children.“ Hosea 4:6 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/hos.4.6.LSB

Household Prayer: Repentance and Reformation

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day…O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”” Daniel 9:3-19 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/dan.9.3-19.NKJV

Brother’s I’ve had to confess and repent before my family this week. They called me out on some attitude issues. Praise God! I also read Daniel’s prayer for his people this week. I pray we would come before God in confession and repentance when we stumble. I pray we would, like Daniel, confess on behalf of our families and pray for reformation in our souls as the heads of our households. “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” Daniel 9:19

Four steps to reformation: Lord’s Day Worship! Give your children a Christian education! Sing! Cultivate Christian fellowship!

Lord’s Day Worship! “Preach, pray, sing, and celebrate the sacraments… with exuberant, expectant faith.”

Give your children a Christian education! “next to Lord’s Day worship, teaching disciples to obey Jesus in everything is the next most important thing we do, and parents (and fathers in particular) are commanded to teach their children all day long, every day about how everything relates to Christ, how the whole Bible applies to all of life. Children are the heritage of the Lord, and they are arrows and weapons in the hands of warriors. Therefore, the training and teaching and thorough enculturation of children in the knowledge and love the Lord is essential.”

Sing! “a singing people is a joyful people, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. And if you’re not careful, you might break out in song in the streets, around your dinner table, or after football games.” “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Eph 5:19

Cultivate Christian fellowship! “we work, we build, we sing, we marry, we worship, and we feast because we are walking in the light and have fellowship with God and another.”

Excerpts from https://tobyjsumpter.com/how-to-start-a-reformation-in-four-easy-steps/

“when the world went crazy and our tyrants began tyrannizing, the only thing you had to do to win was be open. Have church, don’t mandate masks or vaccines, sing to the Lord, declare His word with authority, and celebrate the sacraments (in person) and face to face. The churches that did this have grown, and in some places they have simply exploded. Some ministers were arrested; some were fined. But everywhere there has been fruit… I believe that when God gives us Reformation, it will mostly consist of a bunch of people doing relatively ordinary things with God’s extraordinary blessing upon them. So this is not rocket science. This is not some kind of deep, esoteric masterplan. This is just simple obedience in faith. But if someone were starting from scratch, and they wanted to know what I think are the top four things they should do in order to work for Reformation and Revival, this is what I would say: …” https://tobyjsumpter.com/how-to-start-a-reformation-in-four-easy-steps/

Homeschool: A Vision for 2023-2024 School Year

Why we homeschool

To seek first God’s kingdom in our children’s education. To obey God’s command in the education of our children and to disciple and prepare them for the mission God has planned for them.

To seek first God’s kingdom in our children’s education

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Our children are God’s.

God created us, not the state or politics. God made humans before the establishment of nation states and politics. God made humans in His image.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”” Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬,26‬ ‭

Money, in Matthew 22 a denarius (Matt. 22:21), has the states “likeness.” Therefore, we pay our taxes to the state. Our money is political (not to be confused with labor!).

But our children and we ourselves have God’s “likeness” (Gen. 1:26), therefore we belong to God. We are pre-political.

“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew‬ ‭22:17, 19-21‬

To obey God’s commands for our children’s education

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Has not the LORD made [the husband and wife] one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. . .” Malachi 2:15-16

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

No longer walk as unbelievers do. Eph. 4:17
Put off your unbelieving way of life. Eph. 4:22
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Eph. 4:23
Raise your children in the instruction and discipline of the Lord. Eph. 6:4
Our children bear the image of God. Gen. 1:27
Render to God the things that are God’s. Matt. 22:21
Let the children come to Jesus and do not hinder them. Matt. 19:14
Teach God’s instructions to your children all day long. Deut. 6:7
Do not be deceived by the sons of disobedience. Eph. 5:6
Walk as children of light. Eph. 5:8 (https://ministry.family.blog/2019/11/10/education-vindicate-the-honor-of-god/)

To disciple and prepare for the mission God has given each of us

To know God and make Him known. To reform the church and reenchant the world with the truth and grace of the Gospel.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Enchant (latin: encantio): to speak meaning into.

If the church is not reenchanting this fallen world with God’s truth and grace, then it is being disenchanted with the lies of Satan!

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

To build a Godly Household

Household: (hebrew: bayit) Family, Clan, Estate, Dynasty, Amory, Strong Fortress.

Economy: (latin from greek Oikonomia, Oikos = Household, Nemein = manage) Household management.

A household is the model of the faith. Wives and husbands (Eph. 5:22,25), children and parents (Eph. 6:1-4), and bondservants and masters (extended household members) (Eph. 6:5, 9). How a household is managed is a primary qualification for church leadership (Matt. 24:45; 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Tim. 3:4-5)

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Genesis 7:1

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:19

But [Jesus], knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” Matthew 11:17

To leave a Godly legacy!

Take Dominion. Make Disciples. By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Family/household : ministry of health, education, and welfare.
Church : ministry of grace and peace.
Civil : ministry of justice.
Self-Government makes the other three possible.

These summarize the mission God has given us. Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

Household Prayer: Disciple our Children

“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 https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.22.6.NKJV

Brothers, today I pray we pass the faith on to our children. I pray for the wisdom to disciple and train our children, not just make them converts (Ps. 22:6). I pray I make training them in love, joy, obedience, and the holy conduct of new life a priority in the short time we have, teaching them all God has commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). I pray our children would be born again to a new life to be obedient, holy, and conducting their lives in the reverential fear of the Lord (I Peter 1:3, 13-19). I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!

I have a lot of notes and a lot of article quotes on discipleship in this post. Discipleship is top of mind with a 17 year old and dwindling direct discipleship time, so these are not for criticism or condemnation, but for my edification, and I hope they can help others as well. May revival start in our homes!

Fathers bring your children up in the training and admonition of the Lord! (eph. 6:4)

Fathers must disciple their children. When fathers disciple in all of life for all of life, it isn’t just instruction from a hired hand, it is a way of life, a way of being, and the children see the glory of God in it!

I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!

“A relationship with Christ cannot be reduced to the moment of initial salvation any more than a marriage can be reduced to the vow exchange at the wedding. By replacing our gospel-centrism with Christocentrism we give due weight to the ongoing covenant relationship of Christ to his elect people, and the nature of their regular worship as covenant renewal. To know Christ is not only to receive justification and adoption from him, but it is also a daily renewal consummating in resurrected glory.” https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/

“Christian buzzwords rapidly depreciate in meaning as soon as they are inducted into the religious vernacular. This is especially true of one more popular term: gospel-centered… Certainly we must be gospel-centered… the gospel does deserve our foremost attention and affection, period. The difficulty is that whenever we, as limited humans, reduce biblical theology down to a single theme or emphasis, we inevitably deemphasize some other important component of divine revelation… Rather than settling for what’s popularly dubbed “gospel-centrality”, consider three reasons why Christ-centeredness provides a firmer foundation. 1. Gospel-centrism can abstract salvation from the Savior; Christocentrism delivers Christ and his benefits together… 2. Gospel-centrism can neglect the graciousness of the law; Christocentrism elevates Christ as both Savior and Lord, Redeemer and Lawgiver… 3. Gospel-centrism can devolve into a focus on conversion only; Christocentrism involves the whole of the Christian life.” Be Christ-Centered, Not Just Gospel-Centered https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/

“Although the problems we now face are multicausal and multifaceted, who can deny that fundamentally they stem from a failure of discipleship? … This reflects the skewed way that the gospel is preached in the West: when you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see sanctification—being trained in righteousness—as legalism. When you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see political work as “of this world.” But the gospel is about salvation through the kingship of Christ—and so Christian life is about discipleship and dominion. It is about being fitted to represent God and act on his behalf, and training others to do the same—even the nations themselves…” https://notes.itsgoodtobeaman.com/frank-talk-about-the-instrumental-role-of-boomers-in-our-civilizational-collapse/

We are commanded to disciple all the nations. “The Great Commission is a directive for the church to train the nations in the word of God, which is why Paul describes the gospel as being “unto obedience of faith among all the nations” in his summary of it in Romans 1:5; 16:26.” https://notes.itsgoodtobeaman.com/frank-talk-about-the-instrumental-role-of-boomers-in-our-civilizational-collapse/

“Our time dislikes strong men – even though I think we’re waking up to the fact that we could use a few. Our time dislikes men with convictions, who speak up, who confront society, who disturb the status quo, men who know what they believe and why they believe it and are not intimidated about saying it. Such men today are branded as troublemakers. They’re branded as controversial. —John MacArthur” https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/2250/stop-criticizing#:~:text=Our%20time%20dislikes,branded%20as%20controversial

“Our forefathers who founded this nation stood on the foundation of Christian thinking and Christian living… Those foundations have been intentionally destroyed by purveyors of wickedness. And the people of God have stood idly by as it happened… The church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by our Head to make disciples of all nations. The way that we do that is by teaching and preaching the Word of Christ—all of it, including both law and gospel. It is time that God’s people humble ourselves in the face of the undeniable reality that we have not fulfilled this commission very well in the last few generations of these United States. May God grant us the grace to repent, to seek His favor and the power of His Spirit, and to give ourselves wholeheartedly to proclaim the lordship of our Christ throughout this nation once again.” https://founders.org/2022/11/18/a-requiem-for-my-nation/

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… Therefore… as obedient children… you also be holy in all your conduct… conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:3, 13-19 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.1.3-19.NKJV

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,” Romans 1:5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.1.5.NKJV

“but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— Romans 16:26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.16.26.NKJV

Household Prayer: Education Foundation: the Fear of the LORD

2022-2023 season prayer kick-off

Pray for our wives, our children, and our community into the next school year.

Set the foundation of the fear of the Lord in our children’s hearts, minds, and soul.

Proverbs 1:2-4,7 (NASB)
[2] To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
[3] To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
[4] To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion…
[7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

“This verse affirms that all knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord… for nearly four centuries, Americans believed that the fear of the Lord was the beginning of academic knowledge. For example, America’s first college, Harvard, was established in 1636, and its rules declared:

Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Prov. 2, 3). Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein…”

“In 1779, when chiefs from the Delaware Indian tribe brought George Washington three youths to be trained in American schools, Washington reaffirmed that the fear of the Lord was still central to American education. Commending the chiefs for their decision, he told them: ‘You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.’ By George Washington’s own words, what youth learned in America’s schools ‘above all’ was ‘the religion of Jesus Christ’ -that is, ‘the fear of the Lord’” – The Founders’ Bible, 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers

But now, O God, strengthen my hands…

When the work aligns with God’s will, God will see it completed.

There is a quote in the book “Gashmu Saith It” that says “Education is one of the central instruments given to us by God for the establishment and perpetuation of a culture.”

Gashmu, or Geshem as the name is translated in the ESV, is a minor critic of the rebuilding of God’s temple in Nehemiah 6:

“In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall…” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands… So the wall was finished… in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:5-9, 15-16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/neh.6.5-16.ESV

Continue the work of setting the foundation of the fear of the Lord for our children even in the face of opposition, fear, and doubt!