Education in a Church
Education in a Church EDUCATION IN A CHURCH
By Alonzo Williams
Introduction
I. Education—A Function of the New Testament Church
1. Teachings of Jesus on education
2. General teachings of the New Testament on education III. Education—A Need in Churches Today
1. Lack of Bible knowledge
2. Lack of a trained membership
III. Suggestions Concerning an Educational Program for a Church
1. Organization
2. Administration
3. Teachers
4. Pupils
5. Objectives
6. Subject-matter
7. Materials
8. Agencies
9. How a church may begin an educational set-up
10. Questions on the lecture
11. Subjects for special study
Education is the general and customary word for schooling. It is used in this study to mean the acts, or processes by which Christian character is produced.
Hence, this study deals primarily with the means of producing Christian character. The processes of edu-cation are teaching and training. Teaching includes all facts to be taught and the methods and means necessary thereto. This process is described by such words as teach, study, learn, instruct, all of which deal with the impartation and acquisition of knowledge. Training, the second element of the educational processes, includes all acts, or development, in the application of the knowledge learned, and is described by these words: discipline, exercise, nurture, growth, service. Teaching and training are not separate and independent processes, but they are interwoven, and run concurrently in the matter of education. People learn to do by doing. The only way to have a Christian life is to grow it.
It is not enough to teach gospel truth. The pupil must be directed in the practice of said truth. When these two processes produce Christian character, or personality, we have education. When a church uses these processes with the result that Christian personality is produced, it has an educational policy.
I
Education—A Function of the New Testament Church.
New Testament churches functioned through edu-cational processes. A study of New Testament churches .justifies this affirmation. But before studying this topic specially, if is enlightening to consider two subjects closely related to this one They are: The teaching of Jesus on education; and the general teaching of the New Testament on education.
First. The teaching of Jesus on education.
Jesus was an educator. He taught and trained people. Consider the magnitude of his great invitation: ‘fCome .... and learn of me” (Matthew 11:28-29). His plan for religious education was packed into that brief statement, for “learn of me” implies (1) teaching, and all of the means necessary thereto, (2) pupils, and their various needs, and (3) lessons, and all of their various applications to pupil needs. So, we have in that passage Jesus the teacher; all of the world as his pupils; and all of the lessons he taught, including his ideals, purposes, attitudes, purity, righteousness and the whole of his personality.
Jesus had a private class of twelve pupils—the twelve apostles. They came from the common walks of life. The Master Teacher taught and developed them into the greatest staff of religious educators this world has known. “Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” said Jesus to four fishermen. After two and one-half years of study, observation and training, Jesus made them efficient teachers. Formal sermons alone did not make them “fishers of men” and courageous exponents of Christianity for which they sacrificed their lives. Jesus taught, nurtured and disciplined until they grew into his likeness. Their faith, courage, devotion and loyalty became stronger than earthly powers. Indeed, “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). In the Great Commission Jesus presented the apostles as religious educators. They were to preach, teach, baptize; then teach those baptized to observe. It was a program of teaching’and se'rviee, both on the part of the apostles and those whom they converted. The apostles understood that their mission was one of teaching and training; because, when they taught and baptized people, they remained to train, direct and develop them in Christian service. Evangelism was only a part of Christ’s plan for Christianizing the world. The evangelized community, or church, was to be developed and directed into Christian services.
Second. General teaching of the New Testament on education.
The New Testament churches functioned through Christian education as is shown from the general emphasis it received in the Epistles. The words “study” and “grow,” on terms of similar purport, are found in the following Scriptures:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
“Abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
“And the things which thou hast learned of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faith-ful men; who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
“Aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that
which is good; that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed’’ (Titus 2:3-6).
“For when by reason of time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for full-grown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 5:12 to Hebrews 6:3).
“Wherefore putting away all filthiness and over-flowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the im-planted word, which is able to save your souls. Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that work- eth, this man shall be blessed in his doing” (James 1:21-26).
“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
“If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast' followed until now: but refuse profane and old wives’ fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:6-8).
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my breth-ren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).
“I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it; nay, not even now are ye able . . . . I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 3:7).
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
These Scriptures are all to the same point, viz., Christian character depends on teaching and growth.
New Testament churches were educational agencies, and functioned according to Jesus’ plan of education. The high spiritual qualities of the Jerusalem church were produced by teaching and training on the part of leaders within that group. Read of those qualities in Acts, chapters 1-9. The member could teach, preach, exhort, and pray. They were generous in the use of their money and were united in heart and soul. Five thousand men were as one man. They converted common people, priests and civil officers. The statement “for neither was there among them any that lacked” shows the church contacted, studied and knew the needs of every member. They loved the Lord, suffered for their faith in him-, sacrificed their
homes and dispersed among heathen nations; but through it all, their loyalties remained. There is only one explanation for their Christ-like qualities: they learned and grew into them. Diligent and systematic effort was necessary on the part of both teachers and students; for knowledge and development can be had in no other way. Concerning that church it is said:
“And with many other words he testified, and ex-horted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation, They then that received his word were baptized; and there were added unto them in that day three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved. Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour” (Acts 2:40 to Acts 3:1).
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common .... For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the prides’ of the thihgS that Were sold, and laid them at the abb's tick’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according' as any one had need” (Acts 4:32; Acts 4:34).
‘‘And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).
“And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were scattered abroad throughout Judiea and Samaria, except the apostles .... They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:1; Acts 8:4). The church in Antioch, Syria, functioned according to Christ’s plan for producing Christian character. Teaching and preaching in that church produced a membership in which every man gave according to his ability. The spirit of generosity is produced that way. With Barnabas and Paul for teachers, it is said:
“And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch .... And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea: which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:26; Acts 11:29-30). The Beroea church conducted a daily study of the Scriptures.
“Now these were more noble than those in Thessa- lonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Consider the church at Ephesus. Paul used the synagogue and the school of Tyrannus for teaching, preaching and admonishing in everything profitable, even in the “whole counsel of God.” Within three years, men who had been heathens learned enough gospel truth and had enough spiritual growth that they were made elders, qualified to tend the “flock” and “feed” the church (Acts 20:17-36). Diligent and systematic teaching and nurture soon qualified them for Christian leadership. Luke wrote of Paul’s work in Ephesus thus:
“And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to things concermng the kingdom of God. Rut when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:8-11).
II. Education—A Need in Churches Today.
Local churches conduct some kind of instructional and training service. The usual set-up is too well known to need explanation. Churches in general feel that their educational set-up is not producing desired results; that it does not adequately teach and train the people. Conditions in most churches justify this feeling of dissatisfaction. The following conditions exist in most congregations, and can be corrected through Christian education in said congregations:
1. Lack of Bible knowledge.
It is a rare, thing to find anyone, with the probable exception of the minister and the Bible teachers, who. has a general knowledge of the Bible. Most peoples’ information of the Bible consists of a few verses of Scripture, or a few chapters and the most familiar Bible characters. Too few people can give an intelligent statement of the plan of salvation. Every church member of average learning ability should have a general knowledge of the Bible after one year of systematic study. The idolatrous Ephesians learned enough truth in less than three years to become teachers and elders in the church at Ephesus. One great trouble is that people do net study the Bible itself. We learn the. Bible by handling, examining and studying the Book itself. Books about the Bible help the pupil, but he can never learn the Bible by studying only books about the Bible. Many people who have studied the Quarterlies for years feel almost lost, or helpless, with only a Bible, and are unable to read the Bible with understanding and interest. Many Bible teachers, in their preparation to teach, are slaves to Bible helps. Their knowledge of the Bible itself is so limited they cannot locate, classify and organize their subject-matter. Of course, after a general knowledge of the Bible has been acquired, anyone may spend a lifetime in special study of it.
2.Lack of a trained membership.
This condition is general. An untrained membership is the cause of incompetent elders, Bible teachers, song leaders and church, workers in general, because leaders are se- lcted from the. membership. Untrained leaders cause poor attendance in Bible classes and church worship; and they rob the church of dignity and good will in the community. An untrained membership causes penuri-ous giving. It causes intelligent people to avoid the church- Xt is self-evidence of a Jack of vision. It is not in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus and the New Testament churches. A well planned and carefully executed program of Christian training and development will remove these hurtful conditions. It is in training that people exercise in godliness, become “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Service develops attitudes, habits; arouses interest and produces spiritual growth. Churches today cannot function Scripturally without a knowledge of the Bible and a trained membership. When the church fails in any essential activity, some movement arises with a substitute. The corrupt and incompetent sons of Samuel who were to be heirs to the judgeship of Israel caused the Hebrews to revolt and demand a king (1 Samuel 8). Poor singing has encouraged the use of instrumental music in Christian worship as an “expediency.” Incompetent elders have encouraged the “pastor system.” Lack of mission work by local churches has contributed to missionary societies. Failure to contribute money Scripturally has caused special collections, begging and various unscriptural methods of raising money for the church. Commercial amusements have supplanted home entertainments. The church is the Lord’s educational agency; it will grow like a mustard seed when it functions as such agency.
III. Suggestions Concerning An Educational Program for a Church.
If a church does not know how to set up a program of Christian education, it should employ someone who does. A church employs a janitor, carpenter, song leader, or'minister; so why not an educator? In this study, only general suggestions are made, leaving the details to be. worked out according to local needs and working facilities. A church must “tailor” its program to fit its size and needs.
Organization. This means order, system, arrangement, or classification. The workers must be classified and their work arranged so that each one will know what he is to do. The personnel includes the elders and all necessary assistants, as: teachers, minister, song leaders.
Administration. This means the direction, or man-agement of the organization. One person should be selected to direct the organization and manage the educational activities. He should be an elder or some-one appointed by the elders.
Teachers. They are an important part of the or-ganization. They may be elders and such other competent persons as may be selected by the director and approved by the elders. They should be selected on the basis of their Christian character, knowledge of the Bible, knowledge of pupil needs and teaching ability.
Pupils. The whole church should be included and as many others as can be reached. Paul taught bishops to feed the “flock.” Jesus commanded Peter to feed both “iambs” and “sheep.” He further said, “they shall all be taught of God.” Jeremiah wrote (Jeremiah 31:34), “They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them.”
Objectives. The ultimate objective of Christian teaching and training is Christian character. Immediate objectives will depend on the physical, mental and spiritual, stage of the student. For example: Children must be taught to obey their parents, but it would be a waste of time to teach the same lesson to aged people. God has arranged for every normal person to pass through three general periods of life:
(1) Childhood—which includes early childhood, or from birth to about six years of age; middle childhood,
or from six to nine; later Childhood, or from nine to twelve.
(2) Youth—which includes early adolescence, or from twelve to fifteen; middle adolescence, or from
fifteen to eighteen; latter adolescence, or from eighteen to twenty-five.
(3) Adulthood—which includes the rest of the natural life.
These different periods of development require different objectives because the pupil’s needs are different. Jesus administered to the body, mind and spirit of man. His truth meets the needs of man throughout the entire life. A church must not be satisfied with anything short of a Christian education for the body, mind and spirit of the individual through the whole span of life.
Subject-matter. The subject-matter to be used de-pends on the pupil’s physical, mental and spiritual need, and on the kind of lesson to be taught. The subject-matter will vary according to the pupil’s growth. God has made available the lesson necessary for each stage of growth. It is our responsibility as Christian servants to find that lesson and apply it to the pupil at the time he needs it. As teachers, we must know where to find and how to serve both “milk” and “meat” of the Word.
Materials. This includes Bibles, books, notebooks, maps, charts, blackboards, pictures, games, sand tables, other tables, or desks, cabinets, adequate seats, and any other class-room equipment necessary to the teaching and development of the pupil.
Agencies. The following activities provide opportunities for a program of Christian education:
(1) Sunday Bible School,
(2) pulpit,
(3) week-day classes at the church plant, or in private homes,
(4) young peoples’ classes,
(5) vacation Bible school,
(6) teachers training class,
(7) young men’s training class,
(8) social and recreational functions,
(9) committees for visitation,
(10) church news writing,
(11) keeping of records and reports,
(12) church announcements,
(13) ushering,
(14) communion and contribution services. To illustrate: In a church where six brethren assist in the communion service, twenty-four different men can be used each month of four Sundays without using the same man twice. In a short time every man in the church may have an opportunity to be in the public service of the church. Four classifications of the male membership according to age level may be made in order to have age-uniformity each Sunday. Too often only a few people perform the many services in the church, whereas, with proper organization, many people could be used.
How may a church begin its set-up for Christian . education ?
(1) The elders should meet and decide what the various needs of the church are and what activities are necessary to
meet those needs.
(2) The elders should call a meeting of the workers of the church and explain to them the needs of the church and the
activities necessary to meet those needs.
(3) The elders should appoint a director, or over-seer, of all educational activities.
(4) Subject to the approval of the elders, the di-rector of education should select teachers for all classes, and leaders
for all other activities in the program of education.
(5) The director, with the elders, teachers of classes and leaders of the various activities should set up the educational
objectives and select the subject-matter and materials necessary to teach and train all students so as to achieve
said objective. A stronger statement of the plan and purpose of education in a local church could not be made than the one Paul gave the church at
Ephesus.
“And, he gave some to be apostles; and some, proph-ets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full- grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-17).
Questions
1. Name the two processes of education and tell what each process includes.
2. When can it be said that a church has an edu-cational policy?
3. Show that Jesus was an educator.
4. The statement “learn of me” implies what three things ?
5. Describe the moral and spiritual character of the apostles. Tell how such qualities were acquired?
6. Show from the language of the Great Commis-sion (Matthew 28:19-20) and from the practice of the apostles
that evangelism was only a part of Christ’s program for Christianizing the world.
7. In the following Scriptures point out the words that suggest teaching, learning, training, growth, exercise,
development, or service: 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3-6; Hebrews 5:12 to Hebrews 6:3; James 1:21-26;
Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 4:6-8; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 3:7; and 2 Peter 3:18.
8. Point out the spiritual qualities of the Jerusalem church.
9. Show by the Scriptures how the Jerusalem church acquired those qualities.
10. How long did Paul and Barnabas teach in the Antioch church and with what results?
11. How did the Beroea church treat the Scriptures ?
12. How long did Paul teach in Ephesus until men were made elders (How many years are usually re-quired to
develop men for the eldership in churches today?)
13. What two conditions in the church can be cor-rected through Christian education?
14. Point out some evils of an untrained church membership.
15. Show that formal sermons are inadequate to teach and train a church.
16. Show the evils that may appear when the church fails in any of its essential activities.
17. When should a church employ an educator?
18. Give the name, meaning and importance of each item in the proposed set-up for Christian education in a church.
19. Explain how a church may use many different men each month in the communion service.
20. Give in order the suggested steps in setting up a program of Christian education.
21. What agencies did the Lord set in the church and for what purposes?
Subjects for Special Study
1. A Practical Program of Christian Education for Rural Churches.
2. A Practical Program cf Christian Education for Urban Churches.
3. The Selection of Scriptures and Materials to be Used in Each Period of Pupil Development.
4. Coordination of Subject-Matter in the Several Classes so as to Have Unified Effort
in Accomplishing Fixed Objectives.