There are many reasons families choose to homeschool. And to be perfectly honest, our reasons have changed over the years. I’ve written about his before in a blog post titled, Building a Foundation for Your Homeschool. In that post, I wrote these words . . .
“God makes it clear in His Word that it is our job as parents to teach and train our children, according to his commandments. This isn’t just about homeschooling — it’s not even about homeschooling — it’s about life. It’s about every day parenting. It’s about discipling our children the same way Jesus discipled his apostles — by being with them every day, talking with them, teaching, training, and setting the example.”
Continuing on with that idea, here are 10 (11 actually) Scripture verses that I feel speak to God’s instructions concerning homeschooling, which for us is synonymous with discipleship.
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” {Genesis 18:19}
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” {Deuteronomy 4:9-10}
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. {Deuteronomy 6:6-9}
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. {Isaiah 54:13}
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. {Psalm 1:1-2}
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. {Romans 12:2}
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. {Proverbs 1:8-9}
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. {Proverbs 22:6 }
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. {Philippians 4:7-9}
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. {2 Timothy 3:16-17}
And one bonus reason . . .
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {Jeremiah 29:11}