Monthly Archives: October 2017

Our Children have a Worldview—What will it be?

October 31, 2017

We live in an increasingly postmodern world in which truth is no longer valued to the degree it once was. More often than not, people understand “truth” to be relative and self-defined, meaning that each person defines truth in a way that seems best to him or her. Furthermore, the acceptance of “absolute truth” has become a thing of the past—an old notion that is considered to be the source of intolerance and arrogance. Every day we are bombarded by a secular worldview, which is militant to absolute truth. Standing against this tide of postmodernism is the Truth of God—objective, absolute, universal, unchanging, and made knowable through God’s Word, the Bible. And that truth is not only necessary for salvation; it is also relevant for every aspect of life. In her book Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey recalls the following quote from the late Francis Schaeffer:

Christianity is not a series of truths in the plural, but rather truth spelled with a capital “T.” Truth about total reality, not just about religious things. Biblical Christianity is Truth concerning total reality—the intellectual holding of total Truth and then living in the light of that Truth.

Encouragement Parenting

What About Halloween?

October 30, 2017

Halloween is fast upon us. In the United States, the celebration of Halloween now rivals Christmas in the amount of money spent per household. As a child, I was one of the many excited, costumed children who went through the neighborhood collecting a sack full of candy…I'm not so sure my parents were so excited to have their four kids return home with a year's worth of sugar! But when I became a parent, my husband and I made a major shift in how we view Halloween. We started asking questions like: "How should we view Halloween from a biblical perspective? Are there any practices we should refrain from? Are there ways in which our participation could be a light in a dark world?"

Vision Encouragement Parenting

Spiritual Parenting

October 25, 2017

One of my favorite sermons by Pastor David Michael is titled, “Spiritual Parenting: Pursuing the Greater Joy.” I whole-heartedly believe that it will be a blessing and encouragement to every Christian parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, mentor, teacher, small group leader, children’s and youth minister—every believer.

Teaching Vision Theology

God’s Holiness in the Classroom

October 18, 2017

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.

(God In the Wasteland, © 1994, page 145)

The centrality of God’s holiness…Does it enter into the innermost fibers of our classrooms? If so, how? First of all, we need to define God’s holiness. Here is a helpful summary:

…the word signifies everything about God that sets Him apart from us and makes Him an object of awe, adoration, and dread to us. It covers all aspects of His transcendent greatness and moral perfection, and is characteristic of all His attributes, pointing to the “God-ness” of God at every point. The core of this truth, however, is God’s purity that cannot tolerate any form of sin (Hab. 1:13), and calls sinners to constant self-abasement in His presence (Is. 6:5).

(from The Reformation Study Bible, Ligonier Ministries © 2005, page 168)

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

Helping Children See the Glory of God

Jill Nelson - October 11, 2017

Children Desiring God Blog // Helping Children See the Glory of God

Ponder the words of the psalmist for a minute,

One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. Psalm 145:4-7 ESV

Events News Parenting

Join Us for the Leading With Love Parenting Event

October 05, 2017

Children Desiring God // Leading with Love Parenting Event

Raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord is a noble and supremely challenging task. Children Desiring God is excited to join Crossings Ministries in coming alongside you with resources and encouragement to help you in your parenting endeavors! We want to show you how to stay centered on the Gospel and equip you to use God's word to teach, instruct, discipline, and encourage your children as they learn to navigate the culture and face the challenges of growing up. Join us at one of the two special Leading with Love events on November 4 in Hardin, Ky. or on November 11 in Louisville, Ky. You will hear from featured speakers Chap Bettis, author and director of The Apollos Project; Randy Stinson, professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and our own co-founder, David Michael. Breakout session speakers will also include Children Desiring

Curriculum Vision Theology

Giving Children a Great Vision of God and His Word

October 03, 2017

Children Desiring God Blog // Giving Children a Vision of God and His Word For some, an initial review of our curriculum and resources might evoke the following:

Why use curricula that is so doctrinally weighty for children?

Why such serious and challenging Bible teaching for young minds and hearts?

Here are two short videos from Ligonier Ministries that succinctly clarify what is at stake:

“Do You Have an Inadequate Understanding of God?” by John MacArthur

“Don’t Ever Be Cavalier About the Truth of God” by R.C. Sproul

That is why Children Desiring God is committed to developing resources that present our children and students with a great vision and understanding of God, and a serious study of His Word.