Blog

As we were sitting in the Cleveland Clinic waiting room, I received a text recording sent by a young mother in our church. I tapped the arrow and heard this sweet reminder spoken by her twelve-year-old daughter, "Hi Mrs. Michael and Miss Kristi. We prayed for you. God's eye is watching and His hand is working to uphold and govern all His creation to fulfill all His purposes." ... More

November 11th is Veterans Day (Armistice Day) in the United States. It is a federal holiday for honoring our military veterans. To honor means to show reverence and respect, hold in high esteem, pay homage to, etc. Unfortunately, the whole concept of “honor” has become increasingly absent in our culture. It has been replaced with flippancy at best, and utter disdain and denigration at worst. ... More

One of the things that brings a smile to my face every Sunday morning is the presence of little children—even some 2-year–olds—sitting with their parents in the corporate worship service. They are not all perfectly behaved, and sometimes their parents look a little frazzled by the end of the service. A few children won’t make it all the way to the end and will be taken out by a parent. And, once in a while, a child who should be taken out is left in the service. But these are very minor inconveniences compared to the wonderful benefits of having children in the corporate worship service. ... More

It is amazing to me how many times—especially in life’s most difficult situations—the words of great hymns come to mind to guide my thoughts and emotions. …though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet…Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.—This is My Father’s World  …The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him—His rage we can endure, For lo his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.—A Mighty Fortress  …Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love: Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.—Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing ... More

What if you were to ask your children and the children in your church this simple question today: What’s special about today? What do we celebrate and why? Would the historic event of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door to the door of a Roman Catholic Church in Wittenberg, Germany in the year 1517 come to mind—an event that sparked the great Protestant Reformation? Why does this 502-year-old event even matter? Why should we teach our children about it and celebrate it? ... More

We fill words with meaning. The more important the word and what it relates to, the more essential to “fill it” and interpret it with the intended meaning. When it comes to our children’s and students' response to the gospel, two words require careful attention: repent and believe. ... More

On the long drive home from our Louisville conference, the Truth78 team listened to “One Generation Shall Praise Your Works to Another,” a  sermon by John Piper during the early years of David and Sally Michael’s ministry to families and children at Bethlehem Baptist Church. This message by John beautifully communicates the heart and soul of the vision and mission of Truth78. ... More

Parents, when your child disobeys, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What do you say in response to your child? Do you lead your child to see his disobedience in light of God’s authority and commands? Do you use this moment as an opportunity to point to the gospel? ... More

The new school year is well underway and, if your children are like most kids, their schedules are increasingly packed with tasks and activities—homework, sports practice, music lessons, church programs, friends, family, and more.  But what about Bible reading? Are you helping them to prioritize reading the Bible as a daily, beneficial habit? ... More

What might happen in our classrooms if we took these words by David Wells to heart:

Until we recognize afresh the centrality of God’s holiness, until it once again enters into the innermost fibers of evangelical faith, our virtue will lack seriousness, our belief will lack poignancy, our practice will lack moral pungency, our worship will lack joyful seriousness, our preaching [and teaching] will lack the mordancy of grace, and the church will be just one more special interest pleading for hearing in a world of competing enterprises. ... More