When we think about the discipleship of children and youth, most of us first picture the home and the church—and rightly so. Scripture makes clear that these are God’s intentional design for generational discipleship. Yet, in today’s world, another institution holds enormous influence over the hearts and minds of young people: the school. For nearly 40 hours a week—16,000 hours from kindergarten to graduation—children sit under the instruction of teachers, absorb ideas, and form their worldview. The question, then, is not whether schools will disciple children—it’s what kind of discipleship they will provide. There is no such thing as a neutral education.
Education Is Discipleship
Every subject—math, science, literature, history—is taught from some perspective of truth, and that perspective either aligns with God’s Word or it does not.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
Schools are not merely academic institutions; they are powerful discipleship centers. They shape how students view God, themselves, morality, and the world around them. That is why Kingdom Education insists that schooling must be intentionally grounded in God’s Word—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.
Kingdom Education: More Than a Buzz Phrase
Kingdom Education is not just a trendy phrase to sprinkle into mission statements. It is a comprehensive philosophy rooted in the conviction that all education must be biblical, Christ-centered, and kingdom-directed. The 14 principles and the 4 domains emphasize that:
● Parents are the primary disciplers of children, and schools must serve to support—not replace—the parents or the church.
● All truth is God’s truth, and every academic subject must be taught in light of Scripture.
● The ultimate goal of education is discipleship—forming students who love God and live for His glory.
If Kingdom Education is not intentionally trained, implemented, and evaluated, schools risk drifting into the world’s patterns—producing students who excel academically, prepared for the next step of education, but who lack a biblical worldview. Our responsibility as Kingdom Educators is not to prepare students in kindergarten for first grade, or eighth graders for ninth grade, but to create Purposes With A Name—individuals carrying out their Kingdom assignment on earth, all while bringing God glory.
The Impact of Schools
Research affirms the significance of schools in discipleship. Barna has found that children develop their moral and spiritual foundations by age 13, and that the majority of their worldview is formed by then. Considering that children spend more waking hours in school than anywhere else outside the home, the influence of the classroom cannot be underestimated.
A school that embraces Kingdom Education has the opportunity to:
● Reinforce what parents teach at home.
● Provide biblical formation in every subject.
● Surround children with mentors who model Christlikeness.
● Create an environment where discipleship is central, not secondary.
A Call to Be Intentional
Parents, church leaders, and educators must recognize that the school is a frontline in the battle for discipleship. Choosing a school is not merely about academics or co-curricular activities—it is about who will help shape your child’s soul.
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3
This sacred trust demands that schools be places where discipleship is intentional, consistent, and Kingdom-driven.
The home and church remain God’s primary design for discipleship, but schools are an undeniable force in shaping the next generation. Kingdom Education ensures that schools partner with parents and churches to create a unified, biblical foundation for children and youth.
Kingdom Education is not a buzz phrase. It is a biblical mandate that must be trained, lived out, and implemented with urgency. When schools embrace their discipleship role, they not only teach students how to think critically, but how to live faithfully—bringing God glory in all they do.