homeschool – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: John Knox and Acts 5:29

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/act.5.29.NASB2020

“Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” John Knox

Brothers, started a new book on the life of John Knox, and it has me reflecting on Acts 5:29. I pray we put our love for God above all worldly comforts. I pray we don’t love our comfort and ease so much that we just submit to tyranny and lawlessness. I pray we don’t fall for the false teaching of unqualified submission to wicked authorities. “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” John Knox

Oppose the Illinois Homeschool Registration Act “If HB 2827 became state law, parents’ educational choice to teach their children according to their children’s needs and their families’ worldviews would become dramatically limited.” https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/Campaigns/121259/Respond

“Resist Tyrants, Obey God: Lessons Learned from the Life and Times of John Knox” by Jacob Tanner https://press.founders.org/shop/resist-tyrants-obey-god/

“but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1ti.3.15.LSB

“Romans 13 has been abused… Romans 13 does not primarily address to what extent or how much a Christian should obey the government but rather how they should not disrupt the current government by private revolution… Paul is not demanding unquestioning obedience to one’s government, even if that government has righteous foundations… Rather, it necessitates an attitude of respect and honor to one’s duly ordained civil magistrates, and it prohibits private revolution against that magistrate… If this is an institute ordained by God, then that institute carries with it a deserved respect and honor. However, if we skip to verse 7, we can see that fear/respect is due to the government when they act honorably and respectably.” “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/

“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” Timothy L. Decker, Founders Press 2023. https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/

“It is difficult to fathom that our local leaders and representatives would practice their authority in legislation and administration righteously when the church remains silent as to how they are to serve their constituents righteously… Acceding to the common evangelical mantra to keep politics out of the pulpit is not an option if one is to preach the whole counsel of God… for the preacher to say nothing would be nothing less than pulpit malpractice.” “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/

“If [a gospel minister] shall speak straight out & boldly, fearless of man, & only fearful lest he should grieve his God, he will stir the kennels of hell, & make all the hounds of Satan howl at his heels.” Charles Spurgeon

“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

For Further Reading or Viewing:

Really good conversation about A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. We need to pray for our church leaders to re-learn these old and very costly won theologies. https://youtu.be/0cxGEjKbJn0?si=GDDORCCMkN6a7Yq_

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/

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/aVQzfiR

“The Magdeburg Confession: 13th of April 1550 AD by Pastors of Magdeburg” https://a.co/5X7W9us

Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan

By What Standard? God’s World…God’s Rules https://press.founders.org/shop/by-what-standard-gods-world-gods-rules/

The Essential Church https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.aa4a63f3-44a5-499c-8846-06d00c6d0c56&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web more here: https://essentialchurchmovie.com/

Just War / Just Cause Theory https://ministry.family.blog/2020/01/29/just-war-just-cause-theory/

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: 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: Holy Family mission

”Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.“Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.1.24-25.NKJV

“… 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.” The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State, Timothy Decker, https://founders.org/articles/the-creation-of-the-3-spheres-of-family-church-and-state/

Brothers, one of my favorite images of Christmas is the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary, and the infant Lord Jesus. The family, from Adam to our families today are “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.” I pray for the sense of that duty to be our driving force. I pray for the faith and strength to stand firm in the coming days as secular authorities wish to exert control in the government of the family.

The family is God’s smallest battle formation

“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. In that way, we could say that 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. We see God’s creation of the family most clearly in Genesis 1:27–28… The home is further set apart in Genesis 2.“ The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State, Timothy Decker, https://founders.org/articles/the-creation-of-the-3-spheres-of-family-church-and-state/

Home Schooling Growth Draws New Attention, Concern From Establishment

“Those who demand their “secular” worldview be fully accepted by the next generation will exercise their demands and power through the media, entertainment, the economy, and politics in order to squelch a system of education and religious freedom. The battle for America’s children’s minds will be real, and it will be necessary for Christian parents to engage. The time to prepare is now.” Home Schooling Growth Draws New Attention, Concern From Establishment https://illinoisfamily.org/education/home-schooling-growth-draws-new-attention-concern-from-establishment/

“As homeschooling continues to grow, we can expect more resistance and criticism… In what might perhaps be a fourth wave of homeschool scrutiny post-COVID-19, we are beginning to see more negative portrayals of homeschooling—particularly Christian homeschooling—in well-written and highly produced popular publications… This new fourth wave scrutiny from the lofty heights of the popular culture compels homeschoolers to become better at telling our stories; to be more mature in how we tell our stories. The homeschooling community has grown… but our message will never change… That homeschool freedom is good, but not just for its own sake… “HSLDA believes that the homeschool[s]… are all playing a part in creating a vibrant society and an environment of freedom that promotes human flourishing.” To that end, it remains our mission to make homeschooling possible for every parent willing to take up the challenge and the great responsibility to faithfully teach their children.“ We’re Aware of Media Critics, and We’re Still Defending Homeschool Freedom https://go.hslda.org/webmail/795273/1283956902/7f7e315f1d472b5719ee62754370570dff6c6fb86a2a96cbbcbeb2e14dcf743b

”And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”“ Matthew 19:4-6 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.4-6.NKJV

Psalms 22:27-28 (NASB)
[27] All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
[28] For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.

Important resources

Really good conversation about A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. We need to pray for our church leaders to re-learn these old and very costly won theologies. https://youtu.be/0cxGEjKbJn0?si=GDDORCCMkN6a7Yq_

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/

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/aVQzfiR

Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan

By What Standard? God’s World…God’s Rules https://press.founders.org/shop/by-what-standard-gods-world-gods-rules/

The Essential Church https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.aa4a63f3-44a5-499c-8846-06d00c6d0c56&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web more here: https://essentialchurchmovie.com/

Homeschool: an exhorting and encouraging message

I found this to be an exhorting and encouraging message from Pastor Sumpter and wanted to share.

Two big points that stuck out to me:

1 Men must lead. “Christian education is to be ultimately overseen by men/fathers.”
2 We need community. “many responsible households knit tightly together in covenant communities – little platoons, as Edmund Burke called them… Christians need to think of the project of Christian education as something that needs to be done in community. We need community because we need encouragement. We are tempted to get tired, discouraged, and lose perspective. We need community because we need accountability… We need community because it is not good for man to be alone, because two are better than one, because we are a body in Christ, because there is something particularly fruitful and potent about wise divisions of labor… the more Christian education is done in community (strong coops and classical Christian schools) the more it is like a military force, training brigades of soldiers, full of highly competent individual soldiers who have also been prepared to work together, concentrating forces, building institutions, businesses, and cities.” I would add, as Pastor Toby probably assumes is obvious, for the glory of God and the advancement of His gospel kingdom.

If your local church has the explicit or implicit attitude that your Christian education or homeschool/coop is not a ministry of the church, I pray God gives you wisdom.

A Pastoral Word About Homeschooling by Toby Sumpter

In this episode of Having Two Legs, Pastor Toby addresses Fathers, Mothers, and the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling.

Video: https://youtu.be/OGfIis-XDno?si=kbbCNuvdSXjev4os

Blog post here:https://tobyjsumpter.com/a-pastoral-word-about-homeschooling/

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: A Culture of Peace, Joy, and Purpose

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB)
[9] But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

“The difference between the old and the new education being, in a word, the old was a kind of propagation—men transmitting manhood to men; the new is merely propaganda.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

Brothers, the first few weeks getting back into school in our household can be a bit chaotic. I’m praying today for peace, joy, and purpose. I pray that a purposeful, peaceful, and joyful home would bear witness to the hope that is in us, our Savior Jesus Christ! I also pray that peace, joy, and purpose would endure as part of our household, CC community, and church culture. Blessing, brothers.

“We long to see our children walking in a “sincere faith” (2 Tim. 1:5), “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1), and “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17)… Peter called his spiritual children “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9). Families that follow Christ together will be different than the surrounding culture. We will have different priorities, practices, and principles. Embrace those differences and make them part of the family culture. Sunday is great place to start. Make Sunday more than just attending a service—make it an all-day event. Enjoy a sabbath rest together and see how it shapes the rest of your week…” From 5 WAYS TO FOLLOW CHRIST AS A FAMILY
https://www.ltw.org/read/articles/2021/05/5-ways-to-follow-christ-as-a-family

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!

Household Prayer 9/22/2020

There are a few events happening locally and nationally. So lets focus this week on family and national revival.

Pray that a real spiritual and familial revival will take place in our homes, churches, and America even as the nation seeks to redefine God’s plan for the family. Pray for there to be an increased dependence upon God the Father as we lead our children spiritually, emotionally, physically and academically.

Read Ezra’s prayer of repentance, Ezra 9:6-15.

Pray that a real spiritual and familial revival will take place in America even as the nation seeks to redefine God’s plan for the family.

And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.–Ezra 9:8 (NKJV)

The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness. –Is. 38:19
ICHE

Events This Week

40 Days for Life

Tonight, 9/22, is the kick-off for the fall 40 Days for Life prayer vigil!

Peoria campaign details here https://www.40daysforlife.com/peoria

Memorial to the lost children. Peoria 2019

Illinois United in Prayer

This weekend, Saturday September 26, there is a Illinois United in Prayer event in Springfield.
11:00AM – 1:00PM
Lincoln statue on east side of Capitol 301 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL
https://illinoisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/United-in-Prayer_flier.pdf

The Body of Christ in Illinois coming together in prayer, humility, and repentance as we seek spiritual awakening in our land, and revival in the Church of Jesus Christ. Establishing A Oneness in the Body of Christ, through prayer, that releases Kingdom Authority in Illinois.

Prayer March 2020

Pray for America from wherever you are as Franklin Graham leads a nationwide prayer march in Washington, D.C. The 1.8-mile march through the National Mall stops at key locations from the Lincoln Memorial to U.S. Capitol.

Date: September 26
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Starting Location: Lincoln Memorial
Distance: 1.8 miles

Together, let’s seek God’s forgiveness, healing and intervention in our divided nation.

Watch Live: Prayer March 2020 https://prayermarch2020.com/live/

Pray that God does not leave His church sleeping!

We have been told that we people are the chance result of impersonal chaos working its dark magic on the universe… The outcome of such thinking? Humanity is disenchanted…

But this is not the biblical account of man… God, the beautiful one, made the human race as his capstone work, his corporeal masterpiece (Ps 8:3-6; 27:4) … The imago dei marks out humanity as an enchanted race. Tragically, humanity disenchanted itself by following the anti-wisdom of the serpent…

If we have assumed… that our children learned what they needed to know simply by ecclesial and cultural osmosis, let us be clear that we may hold this assumption no longer. Now is not the time to play down our doctrine of mankind; now is the time to teach it with confidence and with joy, seeking to be witnesses to fellow sinners and guides to all God’s flock.
“Reenchanting Humanity: a theology of mankind” by Owen Strachan

Household Prayer 9/8/2020

“When God has something very great to accomplish for his church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of his people.”
Jonathan Edwards – #AwakeAmerica2020

To know God.

This week let’s pray that our families would come to know God in new and profound ways. That our knowledge of God would have an impact on our children’s education and understanding of His creation.

Read Psalm 19.

We have been told that we people are the chance result of impersonal chaos working its dark magic on the universe… The outcome of such thinking? Humanity is disenchanted… But this is not the biblical account of man… God, the beautiful one, made the human race as his capstone work, his corporeal masterpiece (Ps 8:3-6; 27:4) … The imago dei marks out humanity as an enchanted race. Tragically, humanity disenchanted itself by following the anti-wisdom of the serpent… If we have assumed… that our children learned what they needed to know simply by ecclesial and cultural osmosis, let us be clear that we may hold this assumption no longer. Now is not the time to play down our doctrine of mankind; now is the time to teach it with confidence and with joy, seeking to be witnesses to fellow sinners and guides to all God’s flock.
“Reenchanting Humanity: a theology of mankind” by Owen Strachan

Household Prayer 9/1/20

Praying for our homeschool and Classical Conversations community.

This week let’s pray for fathers to develop and communicate a clear vision for education and discipleship in their homes.

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭78:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/psa.78.5-7.esv

And let’s pray for our wives to let go of anxiety in their efforts, and find joy in trusting in God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/pro.3.5-6.esv

Thanks to ICHE for prayer focus ideas.