The church as God’s agency on earth has a two-fold ministry which is focused externally. Its first ministry is to itself, the equipping of the saints. Its second ministry is to the lost world, making disciples of all nations. It must first successfully equip the saints before it can successfully make disciples of the nations. During the safety announcements at the beginning of a commercial airlines flight, a flight attendant warns passengers that “Should the cabin suddenly lose pressure during flight, oxygen masks will drop from a compartment directly above you…if you are traveling with a young child or someone needing assistance, be sure to secure your own mask first before offering assistance to anyone else.” This is just common sense. In His sermon of the Mount, Jesus warned the hypocrites to be careful to get the log out of their own eye before they attempted to get the speck out of their brother’s eye. Scripture is the supreme authority for all church doctrine and practice. For the church to be effective in either of its ministry objectives (equipping and evangelizing), it must first and foremost have a high view of Scripture which is expressed in a commitment to Christian Education.
The church as God’s family on earth has a third ministry, which is focused internally. This ministry is the development of Christ-likeness among its members, which is the ultimate aim of all Christian Education. Christ loved, worshipped and obeyed God. The highest form of expression of love toward and worship of God is obedience to His Word. Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commands.” Paul wrote to the Romans that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (obedience through denial of the flesh) is our spiritual service of worship. For the church to reach the highest ideals of love and worship of God through obedience to His Word, the church must be taught God’s Word.
The Word of God informs every area of ministry and Christian life and shapes the believer into the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Christian Education is critical to the total ministry of the church.
