What does the Bible Say About Homeschooling
Homeschooling was never supposed to be an option for my family. It was not on our radar when we started having kids. We sent our very little ones off to public school without ever thinking there was another option. It felt wrong to send our little ones barely out diapers away for most of the day but it was just what everyone did. We then watched as our kids struggled in ways that most kids do in school. The sweet innocence and joy drained from them as the years went on. We also wrestled every day with a system that did not have our children’s best interest in mind. It seemed hopeless. It felt like our kids spiritual lives were like water slowly draining out of our cupped hands. We were still losing hold of it no matter how hard we grasped. Then God stepped in and completely changed our plans. He challenged us to think radically differently. It started with questions:
Whose job is it to teach your children, Christian? Who is responsible for teaching them the ways of the Lord? Who will stand before God and answer for this responsibility?
The answer is not the consolidated school system boards. Many of them care little for Jesus. It is you, parent. This is your most important job.
God opening our eyes to this truth in the way He usually does. He used the Bible to enlighten us to the truths we were missing in our agenda for our kids. We wanted the world for them. He wanted them to be trained to seek the Kingdom and His righteousness…then the rest will be added.
For more on why we chose Homeschooling, read Choosing the Weird World of Homeschooling
(Note the title is meant to be ironic. It is not weird at all)
It was one of the best turnarounds we ever did as a family. Homeschooling is great! We are forever grateful for homeschooling. My whole family loves it. It has provided opportunities for all of us to grow as individuals, as students, parents, and most importantly as disciples of Jesus. This is us at our church showing of The Chosen:
Just a regular family enjoying a night watching a Jesus series together. (The Chosen is Amazing btw – The Chosen is Amazing – A Pastor’s Review)
It is not easy. It takes work and commitment. You have to choose to swim against the cultural tide. Yet, everyone can do it. There is a huge amount of resources available to suit your family. You will be blessed by it. It is an amazing experience.
Simple trust in God leads us to see His great works.
For more read Great Works Require Simple Trust
If you are considering Homeschooling for your kids, please reflect on these 27 Encouraging Bible Verses on Homeschooling.
1) Deuteronomy 6:5-9
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This is the verse that God used to convict me. I noted all the “You’s” in the command from God. He commanded me to do my job and teach. I felt this was impossible to do utilizing a traditional school environment. Like Isaiah, I was undone and our path to homeschooling was set from that moment on.
2) Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
I don’t underrate this direction from Jesus. Homeschooling is hard. It requires you to deny yourself every day and not be in the same position as your neighbors with kids in school. You get less time off but the exchange is for your kids. It is so worth it. You do your all to gain the soul of your child and grow in your walk with Jesus in the process.
3) Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
4) Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The world is filled with objections to homeschooling. Fear filled objections may come from your well meaning relatives. The question is “Who are you following? Jesus or the pattern of the world?”
5) 2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Timothy was taught the ways of the Lord from an early age by his mom and grandma. There is no evidence they had any great education or training. He is one of the great Christians of history.
6) Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
7) Proverbs 1:8
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
8) Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
9) Philippians 4:6-19
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
So much in this passage! God tells us not to be anxious. Are you fearful of homeschooling? We were too.
Then He tells us to think on what is good, holy, pure, lovely, praise worthy and excellent. Can your kids do that in school?
10) Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Sitting with scoffers impacts us.
11) Psalm 78:5-8
He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
12) 1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
13) John 17:15
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
14) 1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
15) Proverbs 8:10-11
Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
16) 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
17) Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
18) 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
19) Numbers 16:26
And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.”
20) 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
21) Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
22) Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
23) 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
24) Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
25) Ephesians 1:11-12
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
26) 2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
27) 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
