Kingdom education is defined as the lifelong, Bible-based, Christ-centered process of leading a child to Christ, building a child up in Christ, and equipping a child to serve Christ. Kingdom education works to develop children according to their specific abilities so that a child will be empowered to live a life characterized by love, trust, and obedience to Christ. The ultimate goal of Kingdom education is to develop a mature disciple of Jesus Christ whose life glorifies God. Let Kingdom Education burn within the hearts of every member of LCS, and let it take root in each office, class, program, and activity of this ministry.
Our Kingdom education philosophy was pulled from God’s Word. The Bible provides each and every Christian with principles needed to put Kingdom education into practice. In order to achieve Kingdom education, these biblical principles must be studied, understood and practiced in every aspect of life. Below you will find the Kingdom Education principles that we follow at LCS.
Kingdom Education Principles: The education of children and youth…
Is the primary responsibility of parents. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6
- The above passage makes it clear that parents are responsible to God for the education or training of their children. Even if parents delegate some area of their child’s education to others, they are still answerable to God for what and how their children are taught.
Is a 24 hour-a-day, 7 days-per-week process that continues from birth to maturity. "You shall teach them to your children, talking to them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise." - Deuteronomy 11:19
- God tells us that training our children must be a consistent effort. This effort takes place when our children get up each morning, are at home, are away from the house and lie down to go to sleep.
Must have as its primary goals the salvation and discipleship of the next generation. "That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." - Psalm 78:6-7
- Christian parents must never forget that the only goal with true meaning for why we educate our children is for them to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. If our children become National Merit scholars and do not know Christ, what have we achieved of lasting value?
Must be based on God’s Word as absolute truth. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." - Isaiah 40:8
- Life has no meaning apart from truth. God’s word is eternal and, therefore, is man’s only source of truth. This means that everything that man studies must be scrutinized through the lens of scripture. This is the only way we can find true knowledge that will lead us to wisdom. Whatever we teach children and youth must be based on the absolute truth found in God’s Word.
Must hold Christ as preeminent in all of life. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." - Colossians 2:6-7
- Because of the sacrifice on the cross Christ made on behalf of all men and in humble obedience to His Father, His name has been exalted above all other names. In fact, the Bible states that Jesus not only created everything, but everything was created for Him. Christ is to be preeminent in everything--even the education of our children and youth. By doing this, it will lead us to the goal of seeing our children living in a personal intimate love relationship with Jesus.
Must not hinder the spiritual and moral development of the next generation. "Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" - Matthew 19:13-14
- Jesus showed a special love for children throughout His earthly ministry. When the disciples tried to keep children from getting too close to Jesus, He rebuked them very firmly. It was in this context that Jesus made statements about the seriousness of offending a young person.
If and when delegated to others by parents, must be done so with utmost care to ensure that all teachers follow these principles. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." - Proverbs 9:10
- God created the entire universe--including every fact found in every subject one studies. Scripture makes it clear that God reveals His very character and nature to us through our understanding of His created world. The education that we provide our children must not merely give our children knowledge but must lead to true wisdom and understanding by causing children to see the God-intended meaning found in everything they learn.
Results in the formation of a belief system or worldview that will be patterned after the belief systems or worldviews of the person’s teachers. "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." - 1 Samuel 1:27-28
- The task of raising children is awesome. Every parent will in some way delegate some of the responsibility to others to properly educate his/her children. This happens when we take them to church, allow them to go on the Internet, or send them to school. Consider who you are allowing to help you in educating your children.
Must lead to true wisdom by connecting all knowledge to a biblical worldview frame of reference. "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:9
- Every person has a worldview or an underlying belief system that drives his/her attitudes and actions in life. There are two possible worldviews one can hold – a God-centered worldview or a man-centered worldview. One’s worldview is primarily determined by the worldview of one’s teacher(s).
Must have a view of the future that includes the eternal perspective. "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:1-2
- God places a two-fold calling on every child’s life. The first and most important call in a child’s life is an eternal call. It is God’s desire that each child come to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. The second call is a temporal call. This involves God’s call for a person to live a life of service to Christ while here on earth. The education of children and youth must not only prepare them for a life of service here but also to stand before God for eternity.