INTRODUCTION:
A. As parents, we are concerned about sending our children
into a school environment that is diametrically against what we
have taught them.
1. They have to associate with some who will do drugs, engage
in promiscuity and profanity. We wonder, "How will my child
survive?"
a. I want to give a Biblical answer on how young people can survive
and bring glory to God in the midst of a perverse and crooked
generation.
I. THE IDEAL EDUCATION
A. THE COMMAND (Deut. 6:l-3. 24)
1. Moses told them to pass these teachings on to their sons and
grandsons so that a fear of the Lord would be cultivated within
them.
a. If they obeyed God in the rearing of their families, God would
greatly bless them (w.3, 24)
B. THE CONSTANCY (6:4- 7)
1. Fathers, we can't impart to our children what we don't possess.
If deeply implanted in our hearts, then we can teach them "diligently'
to our children.
a. How shall we do it? (v.7) Sometimes fathers are so busy earning
a living that they neglect this duty toward their children.
C. THE COMPLICATIONS
1. "Our schools have historically been built upon Christian
principles that depend upon the support of a godly home that no
longer can be depended upon."
a. The ideal God set up is to make teaching a thing of the life
& inculcate into the teaching the marvels of Biblical truth.
(1) But the ideal education God intended is more difficult today
because of the society in which we live & so our children
are placed in an environment so different from the home
b.Can our children survive in such an incompatible environment
to the home?
(1) I want to notice three individuals who left the ideal &
yet still survived, in spite of the ungodly environment into which
they were placed.
II. THE INCOMPATIBLE EDUCATORS
A. CHILDHOOD YEARS: SAMUEL (1 SAM. l-2)
1. Hannah was barren, prayed for a son & promised to give
him to the Lord (1:10-11, 20).
a. The day came when she had to take him away from home &
give him to Eli (1:24-28) Was he put in a godly environment? (2:12-17,
22) No, but the marvel is the way v.21 concludes. How did he do
it?
B.THE CHANGING YEARS: DANIEL (DAN. 1)
1. Circumstances, rather than his parents, made the decision for
Daniel to go to Nebuchadnezzar's school (I: 1-5)
a. This education was to change them from their monotheistic lifestyle
to a broader, Chaldean lifestyle needed in the king's service.
(1) This brainwashing process included changing their names (v.7)
and giving them a new diet (v.8)
b. Daniel was schooled apart from the home but he made it - how?
C. COLLEGE YEARS: MOSES (EXODUS 2; AC. 7:21-22)
1. Moses was hidden by his parents for three months, then put
in a basket & placed in the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found
him, the biological mother nurtures him but then she had to give
up her son (2:9-11)
a. What kind of education did he receive? (Ac.7:21-22a) What kind
of a student was he? (v.22b)
(1) And yet, he was godly in spite of his pagan schooling? How?
What's the secret?
III. THE INTEGRITY OF THE EDUCATED
A. SAMUEL
1. The Influence Of A Godly Parent (2:19)
a. Hannah's continual influence - her visits, her prayers.
2. The Impact On Others (2:26)
a. Rather than self-pity, determined to live godly & impact
others.
3. The Invigorated Spirituality
a. When the nation fell, when they requested a king, he remained
faithful.
B. DANIEL
1. Inflexible Convictions (1:8)
a. "Made up his mind" = he faced temptations with pre-established
convictions.
2. Inoffensive
a. Whether with the king's servant or Nebuchadnezzar himself,
he was gracious, had good manners, was Courteous.
3. Intelligent (1:17, 19-20; 2:28, 30)
C. MOSES
1.Instilled Faith
a.The deposit made by his parents into his life yielded the benefits
later when he was in college.
2. Insistent Faith (Heb.11:24, 27-29)
a."By faith" - his priorities determined his decisions.
3. Invincible Faith
a. How did he endure ill-treatment, reproach & wrath of king?
(v.27)