Monthly Archives: May 2016

Curriculum Teaching Vision Parenting Theology

24 Things Your Child Should Know about the Bible

May 31, 2016

Suppose you were to ask your 6- or 7-year-old children or students, “What is the Bible?” How do you think they would answer? Sally Michael believes there are at least 24 things children of this age should know about the Bible:

The Bible is a message from God.
The Bible is the most special Book.
The Bible is written by God.
The Bible is true.
God watches over the Bible and works to fulfill His Word.
The Bible is for everyone.
The Bible is full of wonderful verses.
God is the main character in the Bible.
The Bible is powerful.
The Bible is eternal.
God will preserve the Bible.
The Bible is the ultimate authority.
The Bible shows us that our hope is in God.
The Bible protects us from sin.
The Bible is our guide.
The Bible should be obeyed.
The Bible is a priceless treasure.

Memorial Day

May 30, 2016

A time to reflect and remember…“Freedom is not free.”

Vision Encouragement Parenting

A High Impact Resource for Fathers

May 25, 2016

Over the years, I have written about the personal impact that A Father's Guide to Blessing His Children has had in my own family. You can read those testimonies here, here, and here. If I had to make a “Top Ten” list of biblical resources that have impacted my family, A Father's Guide to Blessing His Children would be near the top. And the amazing thing is that it is not overly complicated, time-consuming, or financially costly. The nighttime blessing from their father was the “must-have” routine before my children would go to bed—no matter what had transpired during the day. Listen to the heart of Pastor

Vision Parenting

Children Can Work Hard, Too

May 24, 2016

Children Can Work Hard, Too My son got his first paying job when he was 4 years old. We had a little part-time family cleaning business to earn some extra income. My son’s job was to pull out staples from the carpet of an office we cleaned. He received 1 penny for every staple collected. On a good day he could earn $1.00—a lot of money for a 4-year-old back then. He has been working hard ever since…and so has our daughter. Last week, we bought our 4-year-old grandson his own garden hoe. He spent almost an hour out in the garden with grandpa learning how to use the hoe to turn over the soil. He also has a little wheelbarrow he has used for helping uncle Jake clean the brush from the yard. At 4 years old, he is learning to work hard. This all came to mind as I read Tim Challies’ post this Monday: “3 Priorities for Christian Parents.” It’s

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

Three Ds from Deuteronomy 6

May 23, 2016

Children Desiring God Blog // Three Ds in Deuteronomy

When it comes to understanding and articulating cultural shifts in light of biblical truth, Dr. Albert Mohler is a welcome source of clarity, exhortation, and encouragement. Joe Eaton has written a summary of Dr. Mohler’s message from our National Conference, which pointed to three Ds from Deuteronomy 6 that we, as parents and teachers, can take to heart. (Video of the conference keynote messages will be available later this summer.) The dominant culture tends to replicate itself in each new generation. This is why Paul calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12). The last thing that should surprise us is that our children are going to grow up to look like the culture around them…unless a great work is done. Deuteronomy 6 tells us how we can influence our children biblically to remain steadfast in an ungodly culture.

Encouragement Parenting Theology

20 Basics Young People Should Know

May 17, 2016

Yesterday I recommended some summer reading for elementary-aged children. Today I have a summer challenge for youth—Wayne Grudem’s Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know. Why do I recommend this book for summer reading for your youth (age 16 and above)? Here are a few reasons:

It goes right to the core of Christianity by asking and answering the main questions. Questions like…

What Is the Bible?

What Is God like?

What Is man?

What Is sin?

Who Is Christ?

Encouragement Parenting Theology

Introducing Your Children to the Scope of the Bible

May 16, 2016

When I taught first-grade Sunday school, we always taught the books of the Bible song in order to acquaint the children with the 66 books of the Bible. And, although they mastered the song by the end of the year, the great majority of children didn’t know much about Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai…etc. “What’s a Nahum?” Besides being able to name the books of the Bible, do your children know the scope of the Bible—the main message, key events and people, and historical context of each of its 66 books? That may seem like a tall order, but it is an important goal if we are to teach our children the whole counsel of God. Dr. Bruce Ware emphasized this at our conference in April. For adults, a good study Bible is especially helpful. But what about our children? Here is a resource parents can use with their elementary-aged children that could easily be a 10- to 15-minute daily Bible “enrichment” during the summer by examining

Vision Parenting

The Vitality Magnet

May 11, 2016

As a parent and teacher, I have often struggled with how to encourage my children and students to really “get it” regarding certain biblical truths and a vibrant life of faith. Yes, I fully believe that God is ultimately sovereign. But I also know that He uses means. What are the “means” He uses? Here are some thought-provoking and heart-challenging words from Tedd and Margy Tripp:

The surest way to teach children to apply God’s truth to all of life’s circumstances is to model it for them. Parenting [and teaching] that exhibits a vital relationship with God in all the joys and storms of life is irresistible to children and young people. Conversely, the surest way to harden our children’s hearts to God and his ways is “having the form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5).

Our homes are the laboratory

Vision Encouragement

Practical Ways to Connect Church and Home

May 10, 2016

We say it often because we really want to emphasize it:

We strongly believe that God has ordained parents as the primary teachers and disciplers of their children. The church is to strengthen and assist parents in this mission (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

What this “looks” like in each local church may differ, but at the very least it requires some strategic intentionality and practical assistance on the part of the church. It doesn’t “just happen” by default. What might this entail? In the his seminar “The Parent-Church Connection,” Pastor Ron Rudd provided a list of practical ideas. To get started (and not feel overwhelmed), he encouraged children’s and youth ministry leaders to choose one to implement in the month ahead.

Equipping Parents—Make resources available to our parents to help them be more effective at the daunting task before them...Give your parents

Teaching Vision Parenting

More Important than an ACT or SAT

May 09, 2016

Graduation is just around the corner for many of our young people—whether your own children or students in your church. Many of the high school graduates will soon be off to college armed with their completed ACT or SAT scores. Those tests are the big bridge that must be crossed in order to enter their desired school. Increasingly, parents have devoted a lot of time and effort in preparing their children for these tests. That’s not a bad thing…as long as it is seen within a proper perspective. I wonder if we, as parents, sometimes need to be reminded of these words by President Theodore Roosevelt:

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.

Keep in mind: Theodore Roosevelt DID have a thorough college education. But he acknowledged that there was something more important—a thorough knowledge of the Bible. So here is a question for parents and the church—How do you know if your