Why the Church Should Help its Kids go to Bible School
Attending church on Sundays and Wednesdays is one thing, but when it comes to leading the church into the future, some individuals are going to have to undergo serious training for ministry. A forward thinking church will invest into their future.
The Future of the Church Relies on the Biblical Literacy of its Community
The primary role of the church is to be a unified people who reveal God’s character to the world through the way we live. We can’t learn how to do that without deep study of the Scriptures. Thus, an essential component of being the church is to ensure those who are a part of its body are educated in God’s word. These times of studying the Scriptures increases the effectiveness of a body of believers as it unifies them by instilling them with the heart and mind of Christ. While this is often the goal of a typical Sunday service, once a week is not enough for future leaders. So how can we develop the next generation into strong Christian leaders who are biblically literate enough to accurately interpret its message in a way relevant to an ever-changing world? We look to the example God gave us - Jesus.
Jesus lets us know that he is the way. Jesus fulfilled the law and prophets, and in so doing was able to bring about healing and restoration wherever he went. His life is the example, the way in which we are supposed to live out our lives. However, in order to fully understand the how’s and why’s of all he did, we must be able to understand the scriptures in the same manner Jesus did. We cannot bring the health and restoration of God into communities if we act out of line with what is written in his Word. It’s not just about knowing the stories, but knowing how those stories can be interpreted and applied to our modern culture. The future of the church is dependent on biblically literate Christians. This should put biblical education at the forefront of our concern when investing in the next generation.
As one Institute student said, “Here, I’m not just learning about the Bible, I’m learning the Bible — how to read and interpret it for myself.” Learning the Bible is not separate from practical ministry training; it should be the basis for it.
A Good Bible Education is Practical
One of the biggest misconceptions of a Bible education is that it isn't practical. If it is impractical, then the Bible isn’t being taught correctly. Every Bible graduate should be able to read a passage of Scripture, consider it in light of the canon as a whole, understand the historical, cultural, and socio-political context, draw out a principle, and apply it to a modern context. This may look different based on the culture and situations you are in, and thus a Biblical education can never be replaced by mere traditions (Mark 7:8). The same way the sacrificial system did not magically make God closer to Israel, taking communion or attending a Christmas Eve service is not going to bring near the kingdom of God. This is why biblical education is the most practical education, because it gives one eyes to see how God wants things done in the present rather than depending on traditions.
Also, a biblical education does not mean a person’s only skillset is preaching sermons. A biblical education is the foundational wisdom which connects them to the heart and mind of Christ, which will enhance whatever skillset they pursue. People who encourage students to sideline an education in God’s Word to chase careers with higher-paying jobs have either failed to understand the significance it holds for the future of the church, or they have been let down by the way they have seen the Bible taught. An education in God’s word will ignite the critical thinking skills necessary for bringing about the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. By failing to emphasize a biblical education, we are failing to guide the next generation, and should not be surprised when the authority of Scripture is no longer respected. It is how God has revealed himself to us. Without it, we would not have the revelation of the loving, forgiving God who this world needs.
Investing in a church’s future means investing in the biblical education of its young people. Those called into ministry should feel supported, prayed for, and even financially helped by their home church — it’ll be a great return on investment.
How Can a Church Invest in Its Future?
Some churches have a big missions budget to help those on the other side of the world, but they must be careful not to overlook the needs in their own congregation. College typically isn’t cheap, especially if it is at a private institution like a Bible college. But how does one study the Bible without racking up decades worth of debt? Well, churches could be an answer to this. If a church is going to preach about the importance of God’s Word, they shouldn’t be shy to support young people in their congregation by helping them financially attend a Bible college. They could even begin a scholarship program for attendees who feel called by God to undergo ministry training. Someone who grew up in a certain church is far more likely to be faithfully devoted to that body, than someone from the outside who was only hired because they had the right credentials. It's possible no one from that church will get the right credentials if they don’t see its importance or if they cannot afford it. If students move away for college, there’s a chance they may not move back, especially if they don’t feel love and support from the church they came from. Sometimes love needs to be shown in tangible and even financial ways. Churches who offer scholarships are investing into their future.
Obviously, it would need to be done in an appropriate way, but there are a number of methods a church could take in showing economic considerations towards youth who want to pursue a biblical education. Some ideas could be a church work-compensation program to ease the financial hardships students may experience during the years they are studying, scholarships for youth who have consistently volunteered in church programs, offering finance classes that tutor college-bound youth how to manage funds so as to minimize debt, or allowing loans from the church rather than banking institutions with high interest rates. Even assigning church members as accountability and encouragement to their education can make a big difference. However, not all Bible colleges are expensive. There are Bible colleges like the Institute who take into consideration the financial situations of its students by partnering with local reputable businesses to offer flexible work schedules that allow them to study while taking classes. We must all do our part in advancing the kingdom of God, and this means investing into the future leaders by passing on the vocation we have to be the people of God which we learn through the Bible. Investing into individuals who want a Biblical education is investing into the future of the church.