Christian Education in the Home

The following is a quote from the introduction to a wonderful book, Celebrate the Feasts of the Old Testament in Your Own Home or Church, by Martha Zimmerman. I thought it was very good…

“Hey, Mom! You’re right! Habakkuk is in the Bible.”

Sure that I was hearing things, I called back to our twelve-year-old son, “What did you say?” His response was a surprise.

“Well, the other day I heard you talking about some book in the Bible called Habakkuk, and I just found it.”

My response still shocks me; the words are burned into my memory! “Richard, haven’t ‘they’ taught you the books of the Bible yet in Sunday School?”

God prepares us in amazing ways for His new lessons. His timing is perfect. I had just finished writing a paper for one of my seminary courses on Deuteronomy 6:1-9 which says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children….”

I knew it didn’t say “Sunday school teachers” or “fellowship leaders” or “the great staff at our church” (all of those people are glad to help)—but the command is to parents. You shall teach them. If God gives us something to do, He will enable us to do it!

At that moment I didn’t know where the next step would take us; but I knew from experience that when His instructions are followed, the end for which they are given will be accomplished. The results are God’s business. He was calling me to be faithful.

Many questions followed, such as: How? When? Are you sure?—Me, God? We talked about it as a family. The children’s suggestions were helpful and encouraging. It was obvious they were eager and ready to begin a new adventure.

When I started looking for materials to teach “Christian Education in the Home,” my search led to the best possible source! Since God said “do it” in the Bible, I reasoned the Bible would tell us what to do. And it did!

[Celebrate the Feasts] has been growing ever since. We have learned a lot, known God’s blessing, and had many fun and funny times together! We want to share our adventures, not as a model to copy but as guidelines to encourage you in creatively teaching the marvelous truths of the Old Testament with New Testament understanding….

Habakkuk is in the Bible. So is Leviticus. Chapter 23 is where we started. It was our outline for the family times presented on the following pages….

She goes on to explain how celebrating each of the biblical feasts listed in Leviticus 23 dramatically changed her children’s understanding and love of Scripture—but it changed her heart, too. This book was the first one I ever read about feasts like Passover. I highly recommend this book!