God-Centered and Bible-Based Adult Education in the Church

Adult education within the church is not a luxury, an optional add-on, or a mere response to modern expectations. It is a biblical necessity rooted in God’s design for His people to grow in understanding, maturity, and faithfulness. From the earliest days of God’s people, instruction has been central to covenant life. Moses commanded Israel to teach God’s words diligently, not only to children but to the congregation as a whole (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). The New Testament continues this emphasis as the early church devoted itself to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42), a commitment that did not cease once a person was baptized, but rather began in earnest at that point.

A God-centered and Bible-based adult education program recognizes that the purpose of teaching is not mere information transfer, intellectual stimulation, or entertainment. The aim is transformation through truth. Paul reminds us that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). When adult education loses its anchor in Scripture, it may still be busy, popular, or well-attended, but it will lack spiritual depth and eternal value. Conversely, when the Word of God is treated as the supreme authority and central content, true growth can take place, producing discernment, stability, and obedience. There is an inherent hunger within faithful Christians to know God more fully. That desire is not wrong, suspicious, or elitist; it is evidence of spiritual life. Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). The apostle Peter urged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18), while the Hebrew writer rebuked Christians who, by reason of time, ought to have been teachers but were still in need of basic instruction (Hebrews 5:12–14). Growth is expected. Stagnation is not neutral; it is spiritually dangerous.

In discussing this need, Joel Beeke observed,

“The desire to learn more about God and His people on a deeper level is sufficient cause in itself to offer an adult education program, but we need to make sure that such a program is God-centered and Bible-based” (Beeke, 428).

That statement rightly captures an important biblical principle, even while it must be noted that I do not endorse everything this author teaches or believes. Truth must always be weighed by Scripture alone (Acts 17:11), regardless of who states it. Yet the core point stands: adult education must never drift into personality-centered, trend-driven, or opinion-dominated instruction. God, His Word, and His redemptive purposes must remain at the center.

A God-centered adult education program teaches adults not merely what to think, but how to think biblically. It trains Christians to handle the Word accurately (2 Timothy 2:15), to distinguish truth from error (1 John 4:1), and to apply God’s will faithfully in daily life (James 1:22–25). This kind of teaching strengthens homes, equips parents, stabilizes congregations, and prepares saints for works of service (Ephesians 4:11–16). When adults grow, the entire church benefits.Bible-based instruction also honors the sufficiency of God’s revelation. The Scriptures are not incomplete, outdated, or inadequate for modern challenges. God has granted “everything pertaining to life and godliness” through the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1:3). Adult education should reflect confidence in that sufficiency, returning again and again to the text, explaining it in its context, and drawing out its enduring applications. This guards against shallow teaching that relies more on anecdotes, psychology, or cultural commentary than on “Thus says the Lord.”

Equally important is the recognition that participation in these teaching opportunities matters. Attendance in adult classes is not a peripheral issue, nor is it simply a matter of personal preference. Scripture repeatedly links spiritual health to faithful engagement with God’s people and His Word. The instruction of Hebrews 10:24–25 calls believers to assemble, exhort one another, and do so with increasing urgency. Adult Bible classes provide a unique environment for that exhortation, allowing for focused study, thoughtful discussion, and sustained exposure to Scripture that is often not possible in a single sermon setting. Choosing not to attend such classes, when one has the ability to do so, should give serious pause. While circumstances differ, habitual absence can reflect misplaced priorities or a misunderstanding of spiritual responsibility. Older Christians are instructed to teach the younger (Titus 2:1–8), and that teaching presupposes shared times of learning. Paul’s charge to Timothy to entrust the truth to faithful men who will teach others also implies structured, ongoing instruction among mature believers (2 Timothy 2:2). Adult education is one of the primary ways a congregation fulfills that command.

Furthermore, God-centered adult education prepares Christians to face trials, false teaching, and cultural pressure with biblical clarity. In a world increasingly hostile to God’s truth, shallow faith will not endure. Jesus taught that those who hear His words and act upon them are like a house built on the rock (Matthew 7:24–27). Adult Bible study strengthens that foundation, anchoring faith in the unchanging Word rather than shifting societal norms.

Ultimately, adult education in the church is about loving God with all the mind (Matthew 22:37) and glorifying Him through obedient understanding. It is about shaping Christians who know what they believe, why they believe it, and how to live it. When classes are God-centered and Bible-based, they nurture reverence, humility, unity, and faithfulness. When Christians prioritize attendance and active participation, they demonstrate hunger for righteousness and commitment to growth. The church that invests in serious adult education is investing in its future, its present strength, and its faithfulness to God’s will. Such teaching honors the authority of Scripture, nourishes the people of God, and equips them to stand firm “in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

Addition:

Gerald Bilkes provided a model to ensure a God-centered education (same disclaimer as before about the author):

1. A God-Centered Basis: The Word of God

2. A God-Centered Thrust: The Grace of God

3. A God-Centered Context: The Church of God

4. A God-Centered Method: The Directives of God

5. A God-Centered Model: The Christ of God (Who is God Himself)

6. A God-Centered Aim: The Glory of God!

(Beeke, 429)