Speaking to your children about sex certainly isn’t on your list of most anticipated things to do. But certainly it’s something that should not be avoided. This was the subject of a recent Albert Mohler Radio Program.
Archive for the ‘Education’ Category
Homeschooling Resources
While not reformed [or necessarily Christian for that matter] the Pioneer Woman provides many helpful homeschooling resources. This site has come recommended to me from homeschoolers at my church not only for its homeschooling section, but for all types of helpful tips to benefit a family.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Lessons
Trinity OPC in Franklin, PA has provided a complete set of lessons from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. These lessons are helpful resources for catechetical instruction in the home and at church.
Archibald Alexander on Catechizing
The word “catechizing” seems to elicit a multitude of reactions ranging from scorn to confusion. Whether someone envisages a family whose definition of fun is sitting around quizzing one another on their knowledge of 17th century cultural norms, or whether hearing this word leads them to say, “Cate-what?” there is no doubt that this practice of catechizing is at an all time low due to the ignorance of its nature and importance. Catechetical training is something that everyone does! The questions that should be asked are, ‘What are you catechizing your children in,” and “How are you catechizing them?” The failure to understand the importance of this discipline compelled Archibald Alexander–the first professor of theology at Princeton Theological Seminary–to author the small pamphlet titled, “The Duty of Catechetical Instruction.” In this pamphlet Alexander persuasively explains what catechizing is and why we must be serious about doing it in our homes and churches. “Catechetical instruction,” wrote Alexander, “must have been coeval with the human family. At first all knowledge was communicated orally, and handed down by tradition. The first man delivered a stock of important ideas to his children; and they again to theirs, with different degrees of ability and fidelity.” Read the rest of this entry »
Iguanaman? Try Insurance Salesman
Rodney Trotter may have his facts a little out of place on this post. This elaborate getup was part of a Vacation Bible School lesson involving the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Each lesson for the week was taught by an “eyewitness” who would relay a bible story and teach the children its meaning and importance. When you’re struggling to find an eyewitness for Christ’s temptation, you’re either left with dressing up like Jesus – which from this author’s conviction is a violation of the 2nd and possibly 3rd commandment – or dressing up like Satan. In the case of the latter, you’ll likely scare all the children and/or convince them that everything you’re telling them is a lie.
This particular VBS curriculum decided to introduce a gecko that witnessed the account in the desert thereby skating between two terrible alternatives. The gecko option, however does take a toll on the ego of the church’s intern.
The Importance of Catechesis
Several years before arriving at reformed convictions, I thought catechetical instruction was some peculiar phenomenon that only Roman Catholics and Lutherans did. It seemed to me like a strange pseudo-brainwashing activity that was a holdover from years past. But after becoming reformed I started to see the absolute importance of catechetical instruction. It became evident to me after reflecting upon my college experience.
During my college years I encountered Christians from a wide variety of backgrounds. This experience eventually sent me into doctrinal disarray. I was hearing all sorts of ideas about eschatology, worship, views of Scripture, etc. and was having difficulty squaring each of these claims with what I was taught as a child. Lost in the process of weighing competing claims I did not know where to go in Scripture or my church’s teaching to determine the truth. It was only after college that I saw how catechetical instruction would have prepared me for such an experience. Read the rest of this entry »