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Search Results for: creation blessing

Teaching Civics to Your Children

November 17, 2016 by Ben

On weekends, two or three different trucks cruise slowly through our neighborhood with music blasting loud enough to be heard for blocks. Inevitably, as soon as my little ones are old enough to know what the music means, they want to go out and get some ice cream.

“No” is always the answer in our family.

“Why not?”

“Ice cream trucks are the most expensive place to buy ice cream.”

One day, my four-year-old daughter asked, “Why don’t they just give it to the children?”

She didn’t realize that that question would get her a free civics lecture instead of free ice cream!

Why nothing is ever really “free” (and other principles of civics) may seem obvious to us as adults. But a recent study shows that even many high school graduates know little about civics. So as Christian parents, we must take seriously our God-given responsibility to train our children to participate skillfully in our communities. Homeschooling allows us the opportunity to teach them to do this in the fear of the Lord.

page from BJU Press Heritage Studies 2

Covering Civics

Our children need to know where communities came from. Next they’re ready to learn what communities are and how they allow their members to specialize and rule efficiently. Children need  a basic understanding of civics so they can answer questions such as:

  • What are the differences between urban, suburban, and rural communities?
  • What are needs and wants?
  • Who are consumers, producers, and service providers?
  • What are local governments, and how do they get money?
  • How does voting work?
  • What role does income play in families and communities?

It’s important for children to learn early on about these facets of our communities so they don’t think that something is free or easy to provide. They need to understand that God’s Creation Mandate gives humanity a bent towards community but that some communities are formed based on harmful values such as violence or hedonism. Yet people in communities should be working together meeting each other’s needs so they can serve God.

Covering History + Civics

One of the main goals of history education is healthy civic engagement, and history is the most natural place to cover these topics with your children. I’ve been thrilled with how BJU Press Heritage Studies curriculum introduces civics concepts on the first-grade level and spirals back to those concepts in each grade until twelfth grade, when an entire year is devoted to American government and economics. Textbook writers at BJU Press have carefully created plans for their coverage of civics so there aren’t any gaps in my children’s understanding. History and civics are taught together from a biblical worldview so that children can make connections to their past and to their current participation in the community.

When my daughter asked about why ice cream isn’t free, I had the opportunity to teach her a civics lesson. But if I relied solely on spontaneous moments to teach my children critical life skills, I might leave critical gaps in their knowledge. I also want to be careful to teach them with the Bible as the central authority. That’s why I chose a curriculum that teaches civics skills alongside history.

Take a “Look Inside the Book” at Heritage Studies 1 to see how civics and history are taught together.

Filed Under: Successful Learning Tagged With: Christian Homeschooling, civics, economics, history, homeschool curriculum

The Role of a Lifetime: Dignity Reclaimed

May 9, 2016 by Cosette

I asked myself when I first picked up The Role of a Lifetime if an author dealing with gender issues could be both frank and encouraging at the same time. Can a writer be really truthful and still communicate encouragement and gentle solace? Claudia Barba proved to me that it’s possible. This Bible study succeeds in telling it like it is and how beautiful it can be, “it” being life as a woman, and─yes─that in today’s world.

BJU Press book cover of The Role of a Lifetime: The Script God Wrote for Women by Claudia BarbaThe curtain rises in The Role  of a Lifetime at Creation. Then comes . . . the Fall. What begins as exquisitely harmonious becomes devastatingly divided. Our Creator establishes something special for us, which, when severed from the Divine, ends up twisted, marred, and spoiled beyond recognition from what was meant to be. Barba is frank here and refreshingly real. We all experience the consequences of the Fall every day, and knowing the devil’s game is exceedingly helpful.

After highlighting the promise given in Genesis that the woman would crush her enemy’s head, Barba comes to the New Testament. A woman conceives her Savior, and a glorious hope is born. He is there in the beauty of meekness for us to behold. From manger to tomb, the Lord Jesus loves to Himself a colorful variety of women from a smorgasbord of backgrounds and circumstances. Barba shows that His instructions are always appropriate, His manner always gracious. And He always, always opens the women’s eyes to His beauty, so they can in turn see their own.

The Role  of a Lifetime goes beyond just dealing with gender-role dos and don’ts. It’s for the woman who wants to dig and to use what she learns in fruitful service.  For women married or single, it sets the stage for a rich and compelling study of Scripture and vividly sets forth God’s plan of salvation for us.

Download the free study guide for group use.

Filed Under: JourneyForth Tagged With: battles, Christian living, gender, Role of a Lifetime

Sharing God’s Good Works

March 8, 2016 by Megan

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 78:4, especially the last phrase.

WP-Thankful-1-2016

Let’s face it—it’s easy to overlook the blessings in our lives. Sometimes the Lord blesses us in very obvious ways. He gives a new baby, miraculously provides finances for a specific need, or grants healing after an accident or serious illness. But He blesses us in other ways too. He allows our cars to start so we can go get groceries. He gives us hot water for showers. He gives us strength to feed our children even when we’re so sick we can hardly get out of bed.

My children need to know about all of God’s wonderful works. They need to know He gives only good gifts because this truth is foundational to their development of a biblical worldview. They need to know that God is faithful in small things as well as big things.  It is part of how their faith will grow.

So here’s my list of blessings for today:

  • Cuddles with my toddler
  • The willingness of older men and women to share their wisdom about childrearing
  • Libraries
  • Hot drinks
  • Naps
  • Technology such as cell phones and email that allow me to stay in touch with far-away friends and family members
  • A great deal on a new coat for my middle daughter
  • Supper that’s already made and simmering in the slow cooker
  • Sunshine after more than a week of rain
  • Taking a walk with my children and enjoying God’s creation
  • Observing my children learn new skills—my toddler can now climb a ladder
  • Strangers in the grocery store who graciously allowed me to get in front of them in line
  • Watching the relationships among my children grow stronger
  • The ability to read God’s Word for myself

God has given us so many good gifts. Let’s continually praise God to our children.

Filed Under: Simplified Homeschool Tagged With: blessings, children, praise, thankful

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