Parent Prep

How can parents prepare their children to think with a biblical worldview in a culture filled with opposing ideas and beliefs? And as high school students approach adulthood, how can their families help them choose an educational path that will continue strengthening the foundation they've built at home?

In a conversation with Heidi St. John, Rachel Kimble of Cedarville University shares how her family approached homeschooling, biblical worldview formation, and the transition to college.

Drawing from her experience, Rachel encourages parents to not just focus on what their children know but teach them how to think clearly and biblically.

Watch the conversation with Rachel Kimble and Heidi St. John on YouTube.

Timestamps

• 1:04 – Raising Children to Think Biblically
• 3:39 – Why Rachel Kimble Chose Homeschooling
• 6:18 – Deuteronomy 6 and Biblical Discipleship at Home
• 8:13 – “You Can’t Pass On What You Don’t Possess”
• 13:04 – Making Biblical Conversations Part of Everyday Life
• 15:28 – Creating a Home Where Kids Can Ask Hard Questions
• 19:58 – Teaching Children Discernment and Critical Thinking
• 24:09 – Using Great Books to Shape Your Student’s Thinking
• 28:49 – Is Christian Higher Education Still Worth It?
• 31:14 – What to Look for in a Truly Christian University
• 36:35 – Dual Enrollment: Benefits for High School Students
• 43:12 – Final Encouragement: Formation, Not Just Information

Make Biblical Thinking Part of Everyday Life

For Rachel, Deuteronomy 6 provides an important model for discipleship: God's truth isn't reserved for a particular lesson or specific part of the day. Instead, it should shape the everyday conversations parents have with their children.

But that begins with the parents themselves.

As Rachel and Heidi emphasize, you can't pass on what you don't already possess. Parents who want their children to develop a biblical worldview need to know and love God's Word themselves so that it shows up in all areas of their lives.

From there, discipleship becomes an ongoing conversation. Family Bible reading, meals, books, movies, current events, and everyday questions can all become opportunities to help children assess ideas through the lens of Scripture.

Create Space for Important Conversations

Teaching children discernment requires time and relationship.

Rachel encourages families to protect enough margin in their schedules for conversations. As children grow older and encounter increasingly complicated ideas, they need to know they can bring their difficult questions to Mom and Dad.

Not every conversation will be perfect, but it's more important to establish a pattern in which questions are welcome and parents and children can wrestle with ideas together.

These conversations should continue into college. Rachel has seen that firsthand as her college-aged daughter comes home or reaches out to process ideas she's encountered in class.

Teach Your Student to Ask Good Questions

Discernment involves more than recognizing something obviously wrong. Students also need to be able to evaluate the ideas that sound convincing but may not withstand closer examination.

Rachel suggests making questions part of your family's normal conversations:

• Who said that?
• Why do you think that?
• What does that word actually mean?
• What assumptions are behind this argument?
• How does this idea compare with Scripture?

Writing, logic, debate, good literature, and thoughtful conversations about books and movies can all help students examine ideas rather than simply absorb them.

Don't Underestimate the Value of Good Books

Rachel and Heidi also discuss the importance of introducing students to literature that requires deeper thought.

Classic books also give families an opportunity to discuss character, wisdom, consequences, beauty, goodness, and the decisions people make. Rachel encourages parents not to avoid books simply because they're challenging.

Reading hard books gets easier with practice — and learning to engage deeply with a text exercises the mind in ways that easier forms of entertainment may not.

Evaluate College Through a Biblical Worldview

As high school graduation approaches, worldview formation becomes an important part of the college decision.

Rachel encourages parents to look deeper than the surface when a college calls itself Christian. What does the institution actually believe? What are the professors teaching? How intentionally is Scripture brought into academics?

At Cedarville, faculty members affirm the University's doctrinal commitments, and biblical worldview integration extends throughout the curriculum. The goal is to help students understand how biblical truth applies to every area of life.

Parents should also consider the practical side of the decision. What careers can your student pursue with the education they are considering? What will the cost be? Are there ways to reduce the cost while still receiving a high-quality education?

Consider Dual Enrollment

One option Rachel recommends is for students to take dual enrollment courses.

Dual enrollment is a way for high school students to take college classes for both high school and college credit. Depending on the student's plans, those credits may help them:

• Complete general education courses early
• Explore a potential major
• Reduce their future college course load
• Create room for a second major or minor
• Potentially graduate sooner

Rachel's own children have used Cedarville's Dual Enrollment program, and she highlights another benefit: Students learn from Cedarville professors in courses taught from the same biblical worldview they'll encounter on campus.

Learn more about Cedarville's Dual Enrollment program and discover how your high school student can get a head start on college.

Continue Guiding Your Student Into Adulthood

A student's high school graduation doesn't mean the parent's role disappears.

Rachel describes parenting as moving gradually from greater control when children are young toward greater influence as they mature. Ideally, those years of conversations have established a relationship in which young adults still value their parents' wisdom as they make decisions about college, careers, finances, and faith.

Whether your student pursues college, a trade, or another path, you can help them develop a thoughtful plan. Encourage them to work hard and glorify God through their vocation.

Ultimately, preparing students for life after high school isn't simply about giving them information. It's about formation — raising young men and women who know God's Word and think carefully about the ideas they encounter.