Using The Bible in School Lessons

Of course every family has a different way of incorporating The Bible into their school lessons. Some prefer to keep The Word more separated, not watered down as it were, by a surrounding math lesson, or grammar notations. Others will find ways to incorporate every lesson taught us by Scripture into every step of daily life. That, imo, is how The Scriptures should be...integrated throughout the daily fiber of everything we do, and provide a direct thread to our focus and goals.

Some lessons in Scripture are more forthcoming than others, their teaching is outward and easily deciphered…the story of obedience as with Noah, Abraham, the Call of Moses. Some lessons, however, are best viewed over a lengthy reading, such as faith, courage, steadfastness as seen through the entire life of Paul.  The Bible can be viewed as individual teachings, grabbing out topics and passages as needed to enhance or direct a specific lesson, but a slow, meaningful approach of reading through story and experience slowly, one at a time, cover to cover simply can’t be beat.  We prefer chronological here, but any method of Old Testament to New Testament will work just as well. There is no secret method that works better or is more thorough than any other. I prefer King James, and that is what we use for reading and teaching here, but there again, it isn’t a matter of version as much as it is a matter of opening your heart and truly taking it all in.

Here are some ideas for teaching character using the stories, experiences and passages of Scripture…
Every child should be taught a few ‘basics’ of Scripture early on:

The Ten Commandments are never outdated. If more Christians would take these commandments truly to heart, there would be a huge change in this world we live in. We have to believe that it is black and white….stealing is stealing, whether outright taking of another’s property, accepting too much change back without correcting the clerk, returning a used item as though it was still new because we have changed our mind, etc. Lying is lying. There are no white lies, no half-truths. To omit something is the same as lying. To teach character to your children, you cannot begin with anything less than the Ten Commandments as your foundation.
The Beatitudes and The Golden Rule. These are the great ‘Yes’ that Jesus shared, where the Commandments were the great ‘No’ of the Old Testament. These are the fulfillment of the law and should be taught early and practiced often. Virtually every religious base has a version of The Golden Rule.
The 23rd Psalm is definitely one to get into the hearts of your children early on. It’s beauty and comfort can bring a great deal of peace in their lives.
The Lord’s Prayer is another must for early memorization and repeated use. Of course, other passages are perfect for prayer and memory, but the 23rd Psalm and Lord’s Prayer should certainly be at the top of the list for not only our children, but ourselves as well.

Some other great passages for memorization include The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37, The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32, The Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7, Isaiah 40:28-31, John 14, John 15, Romans 12, I Corinthians 13, II Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:1-10, Ephesians 6:10-20, Philippians 3:13-21, II Timothy 4:6-8, James 3, Revelation 21:1-4, Revelation 22:1-5, and larger portions such as any Psalms or Proverbs.

Human life is portrayed in the Bible. They are not stories created for educational or interesting reading, but the real experiences of real people. In any given passage or story in the Bible, there is not merely one trait of character illustrated, but several, one blending imperceptibly into another. A single act is often a cross-section of a complete character teaching.

Obedience:

• Noah and The Ark
• Abraham’s Call 
• Abraham and Isaac
• The Call of Moses
• The Boy Samuel
• The Call of Isaiah
• The Parable of Two Sons
• The Call of The Disciples

Helpfulness, The Spirit of Service:

• Abraham and Lot
• Rebekah at the Well
• Jacob and Rachel
• Miriam and Moses
• David and The Mad King Saul
• The Good Widow of Zarephath
• Elisha and the Poor Widow
• Elisha and the Workmen
• Jesus at the Marriage Feast
• The Good Samaritan
• Jesus at the Last Supper

Moral and Physical Courage, Steadfastness:

• Caleb and Joshua
• Joshua
• Deborah
• Gideon
• David and The Bear
• David and Goliath
• Elijah and the Priests of Baal
• Jeremiah’s Bravery
• Daniel and the Lions
• Nehemiah and The Wall
• The Valiant Deeds of The Maccabees
• Brave Queen Esther
• Jesus and His Temptation
• Jesus and His Foes
• The Disciples of Jesus
• The entire life of Paul

Devotion to God and His Church:

• Moses at Mt. Sinai
• The Free Will Offering for the Tabernacle
• Hannah
• The Prayers of David
• David and the Threshing-floor of Araunah
• Solomon and the Temple
• Joash and the Repairing of the Temple
• Hezekiah
• Josiah
• Daniel
• The Boy Jesus

Faith, Trust, Honor:

• Elijah at Carmel
• The Seige of Samaria
• The healing of Jairus’ Daughter
• The Centurion’s Servant
• Thomas

The Spirit of Brotherhood:

• Abraham and Sodom
• The Rescue of the Baby Moses
• The Good Samaritan
• Elisha and the helpless
• The Vision of Peter

Loyalty to God, Patriotism:

• Joseph
• Moses
• Ruth and Naomi
• David and Jonathan
• Jeremiah
• Daniel
• The Hebrew Youths and the Fiery Furnace
• Nehemiah
• The Maccabees
• Esther
• The Disciples

Love and Friendship:

• Ruth and Naomi
• David and Jonathan
• Jesus and His Disciples
• Jesus and the family at Bethany

Gratitude and Appreciation:

• David and the Three Captains
• Elisha and the sick boy
• The Two Debtors
• The Ten Lepers

Forgiveness and Peace:

• Esau and Jacob
• Joseph and His Brothers
• David and Saul
• David and Absalom
• The Prodigal Son
• The Healing of Malchus

Repentance:

• Joseph’s Brothers
• David
• Manasseh
• The Prodigal Son
• The Ninety and Nine
• Peter
• How Paul became a follower of Jesus

Self-Sacrifice:

• Abraham and Isaac
• The Three Brave Captains
• The Widow’s Mite
• The Cross

Honesty and Truthfulness:

• Jacob and Rachel
• Joseph in Egypt
• Nehemiah
• The Talents

Courtesy and Kindness:

• Abraham
• David spares Saul’s Life
• Jethro
• The Widow of Zarephath
• The Rich Woman of Shumen
• Paul at Athens
• Paul before Felix
• Paul before Agrippa

The Disregard of Others:

• Joseph’s Brothers
• Pharaoh the Oppressor
• David and Uriah
• Rehoboam
• Naboth’s Vineyard

Greed:

• The Son’s of Eli
• The Punishment of the Greedy
• Gehazi
• Achan

Dishonesty, Disobedience:

• Jacob and Esau
• The Trick of the Gibeonites
• Achan
• Saul and the Spoil of the Amalekites
• Ananias and Sapphira
• Absalom, lawless and disobedient boy

Intemperance:

• The Prodigal Son
• Elah

Hatred, Intolerance, Jealousy:

• Cain and Abel
• The Twins who hated each other
• Joseph’s Brothers
• Saul and David
• The Enemies of Jesus