Church Covenant Study Our Church Covenant, Lesson 6
Bethel MBC 12/3/08
Lesson # 6
"We engage…to religiously educate our children;"
Educate: "to develop, improve, or train; either by study or by example, etc."
I. How do we religiously educate our children?
a. More than more Bible reading
b. Demands study
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
c. Requires active, purposeful teaching
Psalm 34:11 "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD."
d. The rod of correction is necessary at times
Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
e. Children learn via what they read, see and hear
GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Monitor TV usage, radio, literature, computer use
What we say and do influences children greatly
II. Why do we religiously educate our children?
a. That they may be brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord at an early age
2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
b. Such training may prevent heartache later
Proverbs 2:6 "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
c. There is great value in youth and the formative years
Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."
d. When is a child well-trained?
When his DOINGS are right!
Proverbs 22:11 "He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend."
III. Where?
a. In the home
1. The first institution upon the earth for mankind
2. The success or failure of the environment / teaching of the home will tremendously affect children’s lives!
3. Parents OWE children a Christian home life!b. The Church
1. Religious training is part of the church’s commission
Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
2. Is the business of preachers / pastors
Ephesians 4:11-14 "11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
3. Each member should take advantage of what the church offers
**Small groups beginning**
IV. Necessity of parents having religious knowledge
Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
We have to KNOW before we can teach!
Do YOU know what you want your children to know??
The church cannot fill that vast void in an hour or two per week!
"We engage…to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances"I. What do we mean by salvation?
a. Where is it?
1. In the Lord
Luke 2:28-30 "28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation."
Psalm 3:8 "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah."
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
b. What is it?
1. Deliverance from bondage
Galatians 5:1 "1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Hebrews 2:14-15 "14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
2. Birth of divine life in us, making us God’s children
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
3. The guarantee of an inheritance
Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
Hebrews 9:15 "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
c. How long does it endure?
1 Peter 1:23 (see previous page)
Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
John 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
Hebrews 9:15 (see previous page)
d. How is it obtained?
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Acts 16:31 "31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
Repentance:
Luke 13:3 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Acts 17:30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."
II. How do we seek the salvation of others?
1. By Christian Living
Matthew 5:16 "16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
2. Preaching
1 Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
3. Witnessing
Luke 24:47-48 "47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 8And ye are witnesses of these things."
4. Any way we can reach them with the gospel
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
III. Our kindred first and our acquaintances also
a. Jesus came unto His kindred and then went to the Gentiles
John 1:11-12 "11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
b. It is the Bible order
John 1:41 "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."
Mark 5:19 "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
IV. A warning if we fail in this, our obligation
Ezekiel 3:18 "18When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
