CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION
(Part
1)
INTRODUCTION:
Christian education has been the channel by which God is bringing His own
children (the redeemed people) from the state of immaturity unto maturity.
(Gen.4:1-2).
It has
been the method by which God remould, reshape, trimmed and trained His own
children, before starting to commit kingdom work into their hands.
This
training become necessary so as to properly educate the pilgrims on things to
do on this journey, manner of life, kingdom lifestyle, how to comport
themselves in the way of the Lord, foundation for Christian living, acceptable
service, proper Christian worship, correct marriage, understand God’s call,
understanding the concept of ministry, total obedience, consecration,
conduction the ordinances in a proper way, the great commission, correct prayer
life, how to raise an alter for God, how to deny self and live for God alone,
carrying our cross and having a correct relationship with God. We need to be
properly educated on these and lots more.
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DEFINITIONS:
1.
Christian education can be define
as the intellectual, moral and spiritual training giving to the saints, who are
on their journey to the kingdom of God (Lk.10:30-35)
2.
Christian education is a
systematic training and proper Biblical instructions giving to the believers to
fine-tune their heart and focus on the kingdom of heaven. (Prov.22:6)
Christian
education has been in existence since the time of the fathers of faith in the
Old Testament. Examples are as follows:
1. Abraham taught
his household, the way of the Lord. Gen.17:8-10,Gen.18:19.
2. God commanded
Moses to teach the children of Israel, the word of God and that they also
should teach their children from generation to generation. Deut.6:4-15.
3. The mother of
Lemuel the king taught his son. Prov.31:1-9.
4. David also
taught Solomon. 1King.2:1-4.
5. Noah also
taught his Children. Gen.7:13, 9:1-28, 2 Pet.2:5
CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1.
Jesus Christ taught His disciples
and the people. Mk.2:1-2, 13, Mk.4:1-2, Lk.8:1-10, John.8:1-2.
2.
The Disciple also taught the
members of God’s family. Act.6:1-12, Acts.21:39, 22:1-21.
3.
Paul also taught the people in
the Synagogue. Acts.19:8-12, Act.21:39-22:1-21
4.
Timothy was commanded to teach
the Ephessians. 2Tim.4:1-5, 2Tim.3:10-15, 1Tim.4:11
5.
Titus also was commanded to teach
the Cretaian. Titus.1:5, Titus. 2:1-10.
There are
places set aside for the Christian Education in the Bible. The children of
Israel, after their exodus from the land of Egypt, received many instructions
in the wilderness, the disciples of Jesus received some instruction on the way
side. But is comes to time when some special places are dedicated for the purpose
of receiving the word of God:
1.
TEMPLE:
A temple is a consecrated place where the sacred things are kept. It is a
place-dedicated for worship and service unto
the living God. It is a building used by the priest to teach the people
of God. Acts.4:1-4, Acts.3:1-10, Matt.21:12-14, 1Cor.3:10-17, 1Cor.6:19-20,
2Cor.6:14-16.
2.
SYNAGOGUE: A
synagogue is a small building consecrated for teaching the word of God. It is a
place that cannot contain much people. it is the Rabbi that leads in the
synagogue and assisted by some helper. In the synagogue of today, the Pastors,
Deacons and layman are there to conduct service. Acts.19:8-12
THE WORSHIP
SERVICE
This
worship service began with the Apostles. They have the similar pattern to that
of the synagogue, because their priority is the ministry of the word and
prayers; through they cared for the widows and the fatherless. Act.6:1-4
TYPES OF WORSHIP SERVICES
About
100 years after Christ, the church started to have different services, which is
different from that of synagogue. By the second century, it was as different
service entirely:
The service were divided into two, they are as
follow:
1.
Missa Catechumenus
2.
Missa fidelium
The
teacher that is been used there is called “Catechist”
who do teach people “didiacy” which
is the teaching of the Apostles.
Moreover,
Missa catechumenus is meant for the Baptismal students of the new convert
students, and after their baptism, they become full member and hearer of the
doctrines. The teachings of the Apostles are meant for the Missa Fidelium, the
faithful ones. 1Cor.14:26-35
The two services mentioned were practised in this ways:
a.
Both the new comers and the old
members will have their service together, and after the grace, the new comers
will be released.
b.
The faithful ones will later
wait, these are the Missa Fidelium. They are the one who will then conduct the
Holy Communion service. 2Cor.6:17-18.
Their services were divided into two because the
Apostle wanted the church to be holy, pure, blameless, harmless and spotless
without contamination.
Therefore anyone who will be allowed to join the
workers must meet the pre-requisite through the training.
The Tithes and offering could only be received
from the faithful ones. Deut.23:17-18.
1.
SALVATION
2.
FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING
3.
CORRRECT CHRISTIAN GROWTH
4.
CONSERCATION FOR SERVICE
5.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S CALL
6.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF THE
MINISTRY
7.
LIVING A CORRECT FULFILLED LIFE.
1.
It helps to know what is expected
of him/her.
2.
It guides the curriculum planner
to know what content to be included or excluded.
3.
It helps the teachers (especially
Sunday Bible teacher or Bible study teacher) to decide on how to properly
organize their teaching with the method to use.
4.
It provides the basis for
evaluation.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION
1.
It honour Christ’s command.
Matt..28:19-20
2.
It provides opportunity for
evangelistic programme. 2Tim.2:1-2
3.
It strengthens the believers.
Hos.4:6, 1Cor.2:1-6
4.
It grooms the believer and the
leaders. 1Pet.2:2
5.
It affirms the church to the
belief of the Bible. Josh.1:8
6.
It provides opportunity for
parental guardians. Gal.4:19-20, Eph.6:4, Eph.3:21. Both physically and
spiritually. Gen.18:19.
7.
It preserves church heritage: by
it the young ones, who are the hope of the future, will hold on to the doctrine
from generation to generation. Deut4:40
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOARD
This is a body of church leaders that are
prayerfully selected for co-ordinating and to be guiding the church educational
programmes always. Exod.18:13-26
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL
BOARD
1.
It provides guardians and planning.
2.
It helps the church members to be
assured and be confident in having leadership.
3.
It reduces the loads or
responsibilities on the Pastors. Ex.18:22-23
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL BOARD
1.
To train men who will become leaders of tomorrow.
2.
To approve the education curriculum
3.
To survey church education needs.
4.
To provides adequate facilities and equipments
5.
To establish and clarify the goals and objectives
of Christian education.
6.
To evaluate and improve educational result.
7.
To co-ordinate and extend Christian education
work.
8.
To fertilize spiritual impacts.
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Before a person could be selected as a member of
the educational board members, he must meet-up with the qualifications, such as
follows:
a) Spiritual qualifications
b) Mental qualification
OFFICERS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOARD
A. Pastor
or General Overseer.
B.
Director of Studies.
C.
Supervisors of Tutors.
D. Secretary
of the board etc.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Pastor/ General Overseer
Director of Studies
THE ORIGIN OF SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL
INTORDUCTION: One of
the priorities of heaven over every Christian today is to really understand and
experience the truth of God’s word. It is the delight of God for every believer
to have a deep knowledge of the word of God. This is the only way out of error
and deceit. 2Tim.4:6-13, 1Tim.1:3-11
As the
clergy men were trained in the Bible schools seminaries, likewise the Sunday
Bible School is the elementary school whereby Christians can be trained or
taught to become useful vessel in the hand of God.
BACKGROUND: As the
name implies, it is a school that runs on Sunday morning, while people are in
the presence of God.
THE
PURPOSE: Just
because Saturday and Sunday have been declared the resting days and off days
from secular work and thus the days have been dedicated into the Almighty God.
OBJECTIVES: Deut.31:12-13.
The main objective is to teach everyone to know, to read and write. To observe
the word and the law of God, that people may fear the Lord their God.
SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL ORIGINATOR
The
Sunday Bible School was originated by “ROBERT
RAIKES” a journalist who lived in
England. He is the one who started the Sunday Bible School programme in “July
1780 A.D” and the programme started in a woman’s house called “MERED TH” with some little children,
with the aims of training the main subject of mathematics and how to read and
write.
He
(Robert Raikes) announced from one house to another and gathered the children
for training. He provided for their food. Clothing care for them and also
taught them the word of God. Because the Lord was with him, his goal was
achieved.
Between 1800 and 1900, this Sunday Bible School
teaching has grown to a level and it become part of church programmes, having
seen the need for their own children to be taught on Christian education rather
than secular education only. Deut.31:12-13
In 1881, almost every denomination then began to
organize Sunday Bible School programmes. Later it developed to the standard of
adult, and later reached the level of camp-meeting, retreat, seminars and conferences,
etc.
PEOPLE
THAT WERE MOTIVATED THROUGH ROBERT RAIKES
A. The
founder of Methodist Church (commanded all their church branches to start it
immediately).
B.
The founder of Apostolic Faith
(till it extended to our country Nigeria).
C.
Assemblies of God Church (Worldwide)
etc.
OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL
A. Co-ordinator
or Superintendent
B.
Teachers
C.
Assistants Teachers
D. Class
Secretary
VARIOUS METHODS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
i.
Sunday Bible School.
ii.
Vacation Bible School.
iii.
Church Camping Programme.
iv.
Home Bible Class (a)
House cell group. (b) House caring fellowship
v.
Christian Youth Programme
vi.
Seminaries and Conference
vii.
Retreat Programme.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (Part 2)
INTRODUCTION: Pedagogy is part of
Christian education, and it is an important subject in Christian family. The
word “Pedagogy” comes from two Greek
word which were later joined together.
PAIS = A Boy
AGOGOS = Leading
When the
two words joined together. It is called “PAISAGOGOS”
which means “A boy leading or a leading boy”. Therefore, pedagogy means a
boy or man who leads someone step by step till such person has a good
understanding or knowledge of what he/she had been taught, even to the point
that he/she could teach others in return.
DEFINITIONS
1. Pedagogy
is the art and science of teaching.
2.
Pedagogy is the elementary
principle of teaching applied until proper understanding is acquired by the
hearers and able to pass it on to other. Isa.28:9-11, Matt.28:19-20, Isa28:26.
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PURPOSE OF PEDAGOGY
The
purpose of this principle of teaching are as follows.
1.
It offers adequate preparation
that deals with theory and practical aspect of teaching according to the individuals.
Heb.5:12-13
2.
It helps to lead and develop the
people of God gradually unto maturity. Heb.6:1.
3.
It helps to know and learn the
four basic principles of teaching. Acts.8:35.
4.
It helps the teacher to apply
what he/she had received into the life of adult and children. (Application).
5.
It helps the teacher to teach
both theory and practical effectively.
N.B:
Two people are so crucial in teaching (i) Teacher (ii) Students.
Therefore, the teacher should prepare very well
and pray always for his students because no teacher without the students.
The
pedagogical principle is a universal (general) law for every teacher, but the
method may be personal. WHY? It is
personal because of sense of differences, such as:
a)
Education background
b)
Cultural background (Culture)
c)
Environment.
d)
Community.
e)
Thoughts.
Therefore, each teacher must/ should endeavour to
develop and get themselves equipped and even be original for the work.
FOUR MAJOR PRINCIPLE OF PEDAGOGY
1.
Starting from know to unknown.
Acts. 31-35
2.
Proceed from general to
particular. Mk.10:19-21
3.
Concrete to abstract
4.
Simple to complex
METHOD ON TEACHING TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF METHOD
These
following methods that will be given are not exhaustible, but we will discuss
few that can help a good teacher to convey the students from the place of
ignorance to the shore of understanding the word of God.
A. THE LECTURE METHOD:
This is a channel by which the teacher addresses or talks to the learners or
reading his note to the students without much explanation. It is the teacher that dominates the teaching in
this method.
B.
THE
PLAY METHOD: This
method can be used to teach all subjects. It suits the purpose of children more
than the adults. Learners usually learn with ease whenever and wherever this
method is use, peradventure it is used by experienced teacher.
C.
REMEDIAL
MEHTOD: This is the means that teacher used to remove the
common weakness among the slow and weak students (By providing help).
D. THE METHOD OF LEARNING
BY DOING: This very method is useful among the kindergarten
or juvenile classes. These children learn faster by doing things as it is done
in their environment.
E.
THE
PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD: This is a method whereby
problems are given to learners to solve; it sometimes leads to a new fact
discovery.
F.
CO-OPERATIVE
METHOD: It is the method of bearing the interest of the
weak student in mind. Sometimes, their colleagues help them but a good teacher
should do by calling them to repeat the last statement of the teacher; to state
some points that were taught in that very lesson.
G. THE FINDING-OUT METHOD: This is
idea of leaving the learners, to find-out the truth, facts and answers
themselves. Under this method, the teacher will only teach the contents/ outline
and ask the student to find out the topic and specifically what the lecture
teaches. Though it is a very time consuming method but very good.
H. THE SOCRATIC METHOD:
It is a method which the world attributes to the Greek Philosopher “Soractes” who died 339BC. This is a dialogue system of teaching
which the procedure is by question and answers.
I.
THE
PROJECT METHOD: This is used to enable the learner to embark
on certain activities/assignments of various forms before they can arrive at a
logical conclusion or find-out some hidden facts. (In a secular education, it
may be rearing of an animal or poultry or planting of crops.)
J.
THE
DALTON METHOD: It is otherwise called group or laboratory
method. This is grouping the learners for the sake of easy learning or for the
learners to conveniently share knowledge together. At times, it is done when
books or specimen are not enough for the learners.
K.
TEACHING
METHOD: It is a system of talking with students/ learners
and not talking to them as in lecturing. This involves thorough explanation
from the tutor. The tutor must carry the learners along by involving them in
the discussion.
HINT OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING
We have
discuss on how to teach but why and what do we teach? We teach in order to
impact knowledge of the word of God into the learners, after which certain
changes will be expected of them.
Teachers
should bear it in mind that they will succeed in influencing the students to
make the desire responses if:
1.
You understand the condition in
which the students learn
2.
You understand each student.
3.
You understand condition under
which learners/students live.
4.
You have correct understanding of
the word of God.
5.
You maintain a correct and
cordial relationship with God
6.
You spend time alone with God, to
receive the divine and fresh revelation on daily basis.
7.
You spend much time in the place
of prayer.
May the Lord grant increase to His word in
our heart in Jesus name. God bless you!
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