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How can you inspire and encourage children to love the church and devote their lives to its flourishing? Learn more about the new midweek curriculum, I Will Build My Church, that will be available in August.
One of the most difficult jobs in children's and youth ministry is recruiting a full staff of volunteers who are not only joyfully motivated, but also adequately trained and equipped. And one of the best ways for pastors and ministry leaders to recruit a team of dedicated, Jesus-loving, God-honoring volunteers during this time is to diligently…
I have spent the past 35 years teaching children. But looking back on the first five years of that time, I now realize that the resources I was given and the training I received were not designed to reach the WHOLE child. Yes, I provided some biblical teaching (i.e., the curriculum included a summarized Bible story to be read), but it didn’t seem as if I was actively instructing their minds with the Bible, engaging their hearts in a meaningful way, or encouraging and challenging them to specific steps of faith-dependent obedience. I grew increasingly frustrated. Something was missing.
How does a dad lead his family in discipleship?
In this interview, we ask Bill Farley about the need for family discipleship, for dads to take the lead as spiritual example and guide, and the challenges dads can expect to face and what to do about them.
The start of summer means that my grandchildren will be outdoors as much as possible, experiencing all sorts of delightful adventures in God’s creation: working in the garden, hiking in the woods, splashing the dogs with the hose, exploring rivers and lakes, watching birds at the feeder, collecting rocks and bugs…just to name a few things. But it’s crucial that we don’t miss the opportunity to point them God-ward in these adventures.
The other day my daughter-in-law sent me a video of my 3-year-old grandson holding a pack of Blessing Cards in one hand while placing his other hand gently on his baby brother’s head. “What are you doing?” his mommy asked. “I am blessing him.” And he proceeded to mumble some words of blessing over his brother. That video brought this grandma to tears – happy, hope-filled tears. This future father (Lord willing) who has already learned to model what he daily experiences from his own daddy… who experienced it from his daddy. A father’s spiritual legacy that, by God’s sovereign grace, is doing far more than we could ever imagine in the lives of the next generation and beyond!
As parents, we pass along many things to our children, both intentionally and unintentionally – physical traits, mannerisms, values, family traditions, hobbies, and more. But are you intentionally and whole-heartedly passing on to them what is MOST important?
With the diminishing practice of honor in the wider culture, it’s imperative for Christian parents and the church to teach children what honor is—what it looks like, sounds like, and involves—and why God is worthy of the highest honor.
What is greatness in God’s sight? Too often I wish for my children, (and even for myself), greatness that is praised in the world’s eyes: high grades, academic accolades, advanced degrees, leadership positions, world-shaping achievements, visible fame, etc. This has been a temptation in every age.
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