laying the foundation - 7thdayhomechurch.org

True Education—

Laying the Foundation

True Education - slide 2

Education, n.The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation

of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to

enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them

for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is

indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.


The word “instruction” is used a total of 33 times in the Bible, and 25 of those times it is found in the book of Proverbs. That is 75% of

the time.


Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge . . .”


This fear is not some nameless or unreasonable dread, such as a phobia (e.g. claustrophobia or the fear of confined spaces), but it is the dread of causing God’s displeasure; or said in another

way, it is the fear of doing that of which God disapproves.


Proverbs 8:13“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the

evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”


“The fear of the Lord” = hatred for evil, or love for good.


Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing [Heb. the beginning]; therefore get

wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”


What then is understanding?


Proverbs 9:10“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the

knowledge of the holy [holiness] is understanding.”


Where do we learn the fear of the Lord?


Deuteronomy 4:10“Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in

Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that

they may teach their children.”


Deuteronomy 8:6“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy

God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”


Deuteronomy 10:12“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy

soul.”


True education does not ignore the value of scientific knowledge or literary acquirements; but above information it values power; above

power, goodness; above intellectual acquirements, character. The world does not so

much need men of great intellect as of noble character. It needs men in whom ability is

controlled by steadfast principle.- Education, p. 225.1 -

What True Education Is Not


. . . True education is the preparation of the physical, mental, and moral powers for the

performance of every duty; it is the training of body, mind, and soul for divine service. This is

the education that will endure unto eternal life.- Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 330.3 -

What True Education Is


. . . True education means more than the colleges can give. While the study of the sciences is not to be

neglected, there is a higher training to be obtained through a vital connection with God. Let every student take his Bible and place himself in communion with the

great Teacher. Let the mind be trained and disciplined to wrestle with hard problems in the search for divine

truth.- Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 334.2 -

What True Education Means


. . . The great work of life is character-building; and a knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education. To impart this knowledge, and

to mould the character in harmony with it, should be the object of the teacher’s work. The law of God is a reflection of his character. Hence the psalmist says, “All thy commandments are righteousness;” [Psalm 119:172.] and “through

thy precepts I get understanding.” [Psalm 119:104.] God has revealed himself to us in his

word and in the works of creation. Through the volume of inspiration and the book of nature, we

are to obtain a knowledge of God.- Christian Education, pp. 64-65 -

The Object of True Education


It is a law of the mind that it gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is trained to dwell. If occupied with commonplace matters only, it will become dwarfed and enfeebled. If

never required to grapple with difficult problems, it will after a time almost lose the

power of growth. As an educating power, the Bible is without a rival. In the word of God the

mind finds subject for the deepest thought, the loftiest aspiration. The Bible is the most instructive history that men possess. . . .

- Christian Education, pp. 64-65 -

True Education & The Mind


In His prayer to the Father, Christ gave to the world a lesson which should be graven on mind

and soul. “This is life eternal,” He said, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and

Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. This is true education. It imparts power. The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus

Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God.

- continued on next slide -

“This is true education”


It gives to man the mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the

mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion

with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasures of the universe.

- continued on next slide -



This is the knowledge which is obtained by searching the word of God. And this treasure

may be found by every soul who will give all to obtain it.

“If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her

as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of

the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5.

- Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 114 -



The End

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