Tag: household

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

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: Marriage

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV

Brothers, today I am praying for our marriages. God ordained marriage (Gen. 1:27-28). His creation started with a marriage (Gen. 2:18, 21-25) and its redemption is a model of marriage (Eph. 5:22-33) and culminates in a marriage (Rev. 19:6-16). The first attack of Satan was to divide the husband and wife (Gen. 3:1-3, 5-20). And today in America the State has pretended to take authority over marriage from God. We need to pray for our marriages, our spouses, and for the building up and encouraging of one another for the good of our marriages in our CC community and churches. I pray for courage and joy as God’s ordained marriages come under attack (Matt. 19:4-9, 13-15, Jude 1:4, 7). I pray we disciple our children, by instruction and witness, what marriage is and where it comes from to have no doubt, and may God bless our marriages and our children’s marriages and may they “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; [and] have dominion” for God’s glory! Amen!

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV

“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:18, 21-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.2.18-25.NKJV

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said…?” … Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” Genesis 3:1-3, 5-20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.3.1-20.NKJV

“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… And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”” Matthew 19:4-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.4-9.NKJV

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Matthew 19:13-15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.14.NKJV

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.5.25-33.NKJV

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ… as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:4, 7 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.4-7.NKJV

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality… Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:14, 16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.14-16.NKJV

Doctrine of Balaam, Numbers 22-24. “Balaam was a gifted and eloquent prophet. Balac was the king of Moab. Balac feared the Israelites, who were about to cross the Jordon River into the promised land… Three times, he tried to curse Israel, but God restrained him. When Balaam concluded that he could not curse them, he proposed to corrupt them. He suggested that the Moabite girls should seduce the men of Israel by inviting them to participate in their idolatrous and immoral feasts… The church that is popular with the world today is not the spiritually strong church; rather, it is the church that mixes with the world and which welcomes the unconverted worldling into its fold.” https://www.choctawnation.com/biskinik/doctrine-of-balaam/

““I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts… And I will give to each one of you according to your works. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” Revelation 2:19-23, 26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.26.NKJV

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ”
And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:6-16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.19.6-16.NKJV

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.24-25.NKJV

Building Up The Next Generation https://youtu.be/DiAWsF69LKc?t=2353

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: 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 9/1/20

Praying for our homeschool and Classical Conversations community.

A vision for homeschool 2020-2021

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.