As a Hen Gathers Her Chicks… – Dr. Brenda MacMenamin

Teaching Techniques of Jesus by Herman Harrell Horne is a life changing book for me. I never thought of reading the Bible in terms of studying how Jesus taught. This book makes me want to start in the New Testament and leisurely read from Matthew to Revelation with this idea in mind!

The chapter on “His Attitude Toward Children” should be required reading for every parent and educator, especially those in the Kingdom of God. I agree with his statement, “… the attitude of Jesus toward children is the best we know in education today.” He brought out these scriptures in this chapter:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” ~ Matthew 23:37

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” ~ Luke 13:34

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” ~ Mark 9:42

“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” ~ Mark 9:37

“Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” ~ Mat 18:14

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” ~ Mat 18:10

I’ve always loved how Jesus treats children, in direct opposition to his disciples who remind me of how easy it is to be “Type A” in the Lord’s work and ignore His very heart.

Indeed we see that nurturing and training the next generation is the very essence of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Yet our culture has convinced parents across our nation that they are not “qualified” or anointed for this work. They believe that it takes experts and a Village instead the heart and blessing of Almighty God.

He says in the chapter, “Jesus in Educational History” that “the place of Jesus in educational history is central and greatest, on the basis not of personal loyalty, but objective fact because… He taught the highest moral and spiritual truths: God is father, man is brother, the will is free, the soul is immortal, the ideal social order is to come on earth, women and children are to be honored, the life of sacrificial love is supreme.”

Herman Harrell Horne asks us, in closing one chapter, “In what respects do we commonly fail to exemplify love, truth and freedom in our attitude toward our children?”

I would offer that the way that we would fail the most is to send them to a place where they are separated from His love, truth and freedom, that is, in the public/government schools.

May God Almighty continue to anoint us to rescue parents and children from indoctrination away from Him. Then we can seek Him as to how to restore America’s Biblical heritage. Parents and children can sit at His feet together and say, as His followers of old did, “We know that Thou art a teacher come from God” and “Thou hast the words of eternal life!”

Learning, in Him,

Bren

Renewing our minds is a transforming process which begins right at our commitment to Christ’s salvation and Lordship of our lives. We receive His Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We then begin this wonderful journey to know Him and the power of His resurrection. We grow as we read His Word, begin to understand, know and practice it. What an adventure!

Would you like to join me in a study to do this? This is the first baby step that we guide you into to develop your own Biblical Philosophy of Education.

I hope you join us!