If I taught a Bible College Class..or 3

A complete study of Proverbs 31 - .
I think that too many studies try and "force fit" a "virtuous" woman profile and ignore the relationship implied and directly stated between a husband and wife. In addition to the Proverb I would explore other well known marriage scriptures, discuss the Ancient Jewish, Historic Jewish, and Greek concepts of marriage and spousal roles, and we would explore the relationship between mother and son.

1. The first classes would be spent on identifying the origin of the proverb, the purpose of proverbs and the reliability of their wisdom. We would also take a cursory look at the first proverbs and Genesis - to properly identify the original role of God, man and woman. We will also discuss what has happened to humanity and the Jewish people up to this point. And we will explore how the proverbs were used in OT and how we use them today.
2. The origins of the proverb will center on two main theories: 1. Bathsheba writing to Solomon (Lemuel being 1 of the many names ascribed to Solomon) 2. King Muel of Massa (a northern Jewish/Arabic territory: And we will explore how the unknown answer is great because we can then get multiple nuggets of wisdom from a variety of perspectives.
3. We will spend the remainder of classes looking at Explicit and Implicit relationships and wisdom contained within the proverb.
4. If the class is done right then the student will have an deeper appreciation for NT scriptures which talk about submission, gender roles, and marriage.

Basis for the Bible: .
The course is meant to be highly metaphysical and ontological - only briefly touching on the historicity of the book. The course will lay an apologetic framework that believers can use in their discussions with non-believers. We will begin with a discussion on Truth and the moral perspective of Truth. Each student will be challenged to define their own belief in what is True and what is Truth and they will be expected to demonstrate growth in their ability to discern between the two. The concepts of Infallibility and Inerrant will be explored. We will explore why the modern evangelical movement has grappled with these concepts and ask the question "Is it Biblical to believe the Bible is in fact infallible and inerrant?" We will then take this discussion and revisit True versus Truth. Some time will be spent on Original Authorship versus Translation Texts. The second half of the class will be spent looking at the Resolution (purpose for) and the Relevance (current practical need of) the Bible. We will look at the main contentions of the Bible's Purpose (this is not purposed to look at secular reasons for the Bible, but rather pursue "God's" Purpose for the Bible). We will also explore the relevance of the Bible today and how to demonstrate that relevance to a non- Christian.

1. The class will rely highly on logic and critical thinking.
2. An assumption that the student is saved and that their desire for the class is to enhance their ability to share the gospel with others
3. The student is expected to be able to bring their own testimony to the table and must be willing to share.
4. THIS CLASS WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A NON-BELIEVER or someone who is not deeply rooted in their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and his word.
5. A cursory understanding of atheism, Islam, and secular agnosticism would be helpful (but not needed).

Spiritual Masochism:.
Looking at the lives of Adam, Jacob, Daniel, Jesus, and Paul we will attempt to bring balance to the Christian life. Our focus will be on exploring the real balance between persecution and perseverance. In reviewing the lives of the Patriarchs, Jesus, and the Apostles we will build a basis for what it means today. Our attempt will be to balance the need for "Law" with a healthy understanding of Grace, Joy, and "right mindedness". The key scripture will be "My yolk is easy and my burden is light" - we are going to put this to the test and compare this one scripture to advice given by Paul and the experiences of Jesus and the Apostles. It will be my personal goal to

1. Demonstrate that the level of your personal adversity IS NOT equivalent to your level of spiritual sanctification
2. Identify the sources of adversity and enlighten the student that not all adversity comes from demonic/satanic sources, but also our personal sin, God's glory, and other sources.
3. Abolish the idea that a full life in Christ means that the individual must not have any material or emotional Joy

Parents and Children

by John Coblentz © Copyright 1992, Christian Light Publications

Honoring Parents

God's expectations for the family are based solidly upon Scriptural principles. We have already observed some of those principles in relation to heritage, but there is another basic principle which has suffered such neglect and abuse in Western society that we must pick it up here and consider it carefully. That is the principle of honoring parents.

Among the commands God gave to His people was one specifically related to families. "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). Paul, writing to the Ephesians, notes that this is the only command of the ten to which a promise is attached. The promise has to do with well-being and long life. Inasmuch as life is a social existence, and inasmuch as the family is the basic social unit, it follows that our obedience or disobedience to a basic family principle will directly affect our lives.

What does it mean to honor our parents? Do Westerners generally honor their parents? Do Western Christians honor their parents? These are questions we must honestly face.

The Hebrew word for honor literally has the idea of heaviness. In verb form it means to give weight to, or to hold as significant or worthy in contrast to something light or frivolous. The practical outworking of such a high regard for parents is invariably associated with such things as obedience, helpfulness, and deference. Children do what their parents instruct them to do, help their parents with work and responsibility, and where there are differences of opinion about plans or desires, they yield to their parents.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that parents are to be honorable. That is, they are to be venerable, loving, and wise. The truth, however, is that all parents have faults and fall short of the ideal, and that some parents are actually unloving, foolish, and contemptible. Does a parent need to be honorable to be honored?

The direction God gives for children to honor their parents makes no exception for parents who are not honorable. In another authority relationship where God calls for honor, He says specifically, "not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward [unreasonable]" (1 Peter 2:18). Young children do not grapple with whether they should obey or not. They tend to respond as their nature dictates. Older children and youths, however, begin to analyze their parents' performance as well as their own reasons for or against obeying. Those with Christian teaching struggle with this command of God in view of their imperfect parents. Three things must be kept in focus for those whose parents may not be honorable:

1. One must honor the position of a parent even when the parent does not seem deserving of honor. All authority rests in God. The position of parenthood with its responsibilities was given by God, and where parents are unfaithful in their responsibilities, they are unfaithful not simply to their children, but to God. By honoring the position of parents, children can leave in God's hands the task of rebuking, chastening, and correcting. With this view, one can say, "Even though my mother screams at me, she is still my mother. And I will try by God's grace to do cheerfully what she says."

2. The giving of honor is more dependent on the heart of the one honoring than the life of the one being honored. To honor parents, one must have an honoring heart, that is, a heart with the qualities suited to honoring. Such qualities include submission, love, faithfulness, meekness, wisdom, etc. Without these qualities, one would find it impossible to find a parent he could honor. With these qualities, one will find grace to honor the parents God has given.

3. Since God commands honor to parents, and God is perfectly honorable, obedience and honor can be given to imperfect parents as obedience unto God. As long as we focus on the imperfections of earthly parents, honor will be difficult. But when we focus on the glory and perfection of our heavenly Father, we have no reasonable option but to honor Him. Since He told us to honor our parents, our honor and obedience to them can be viewed as honor and obedience to Him.

Many Christian young people struggle with practical questions about honoring their parents. They wonder HOW? Here are some specific suggestions for teens who are serious about giving honor:

1. Develop a conscious habit of expressing gratitude to your parents. When you begin to consider, you realize your parents have done, and continue to do for you, far more than you can ever calculate.

2. Discuss with your parents plans you are making. Share both short-range plans for the week and any long-range plans you may have for the next year, several years, or your life. Failure to communicate is one of the most common problems between teens and their parents.

3. Ask for advice. Even if you think you know what your parents will say, ask them what they think. Many teens complain about overrestrictive parents, but probably the biggest cause of overrestriction in parents is underaccountability in teens. Initial advice from parents may not be intended to be the final word on an issue. If you have other thoughts, their advice provides a basis for you to discuss your view point with them. When it comes down to the final decision, of course, you will need to honor them. But even if this means you do not do what you had wanted to do, you will have gained respect and the benefit of further openness with them.

4. Value evenings at home. This will mean, especially in some communities, that you will not go to every activity available to you. Discuss with your parents a suitable schedule and then ask for advice when faced with schedule conflicts. Believe it or not, there will come a time (and shortly) when you will think back to evenings at home as a teen and wish that you could roll back time and just for one evening return.

5. Look for opportunities to do what is not asked. It is hard to describe all that happens when a task is done voluntarily as a gesture of kindness. The work becomes lighter, the worker is changed, and the one for whom it is done is affected. Parents find immeasurable joy in those who honor them in this way.

6. Honor your parents when away from them. Those young people who are really serious about honoring their parents will find that their actions do not change when they are removed from their parents. Neither do their words. Neither does their appearance.

7. Involve your parents on any steps you take on acquiring a life companion. This is not saying we should return to the oriental custom of parents arranging totally for the marriages of their children. It is to say, however, that the notion that only "I" can ultimately tell who is best for me is a false notion in the other extreme. More specific guidelines for this will be given in Chapter 3.

The principle of honoring parents is a lifetime principle. Certainly roles change as a person moves from childhood to teenage to adulthood to old age. But all through life there are ways to show respect and honor to one's parents. As a person moves out of his parents' home, one of the foremost ways to show honor is to seek counsel. As one's parents move into old age and frailty, honor is shown by caring for them. Some of the difficulties associated with that care are discussed more fully in Chapter 8. Here we will simply note that the benefits which come from honoring parents in this way more than offset the difficulties. Furthermore, the practice of sending old folks off to care centers has left a vacancy in the family which convenience cannot replace. The separation and loneliness experienced by many aged parents is a tragedy they should not be required to endure.