1. Be a good spiritual role model and encourage your spouse to do the same.
As we all know, our kids listen to us and watch us, so if the Lord’s important to us, then it’s much more likely that the Lord will be important to them as well. No hypocrisy allowed!
2. Attend church each Sunday.
This is so basic and yet can be elusive for busy families. Yes sporting events are important, and yes vacations and other extra-curricular events are important, but isn’t the spiritual health of our kids important? If it is, being at church each Sunday has to be a high priority for us as parents and grandparents.
3. Establish a daily routine of family Bible reading and prayer.
In my strong opinion this is a must-do. It’s absolutely critical that we make the Lord part of our everyday lives. The daily routine should include Bible reading, discussion and prayer. And it’s a good idea to do it the same time each day so it becomes a part of the daily routine.
4. Memorize one Bible verse each week and practice it daily.
This is a good one. Even little kids can get involved on this one. And the beauty of this suggestion is that you can pick and choose what to memorize. For instance, if a child has trouble telling the truth have him or her memorize a verse that says lying is sinful. And if the child’s a teenage boy who’s just discovered girls have him memorize a verse about sexual immorality.
5. Check out children’s Bibles from the library.
While our temptation might be to buy one or two to keep at home, don’t forget that the library has literally dozens of children’s bibles for all ages. Best of all, they’re free to anybody who has a library card! The readers in your family will have a blast reading them all.
6. Take advantage of teachable moments in everyday life.
This suggestion is huge, but it means we have to keep our eyes and ears open. For instance, let’s pretend the family’s eating out at McDonald’s and we witness an angry man complaining that he asked for a cheeseburger but got a hamburger instead. That would be a great time to ask your child what Jesus says about loving our neighbors. And we can follow that up by asking if the customer was treating the worker in a loving way, and then ask our child how the man could have made his point without being unkind or rude. Talk about practical application of biblical truths!
7. Encourage your children to listen to "Christian music."
When they’re smaller you can have them listen to age-appropriate music about God such as "Jesus loves me." Then when they’re older, why not encourage them to listen to contemporary Christian music instead of secular rock or rap? Take it from a former father of teenagers, there’s lots of good music out there for kids to listen to without all the offensive and immoral lyrics.
8. Make sure your middle-school and high-school students are actively involved in a local youth group.
This is extremely important when your kids are teenagers. They need a fun alternative to some of the rotten choices that are out there. This way they can be with kids their own age, have fun and still learn about the Lord. Every parent worth his or her salt knows that kids can be influenced either in a positive way or a negative way. Being involved in a youth group can help prevent them from doing something foolish.
9. Enroll your child in Christian camp in the summer.
Spending one or more days at a Christian camp is great way to make sure your children have fun and learn about the Lord. In addition to swimming and doing all of the other fun activities, your child will be exposed to biblical teaching and worship experiences.
10. Go to http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting.aspx and check out all the free parenting resources at your disposal.
Take it from me, this is a goldmine of good stuff. I spent about a half-hour looking through what’s available. There’s everything from how-to articles to actual devotions and age-appropriate study materials. Really good stuff and it’s all free!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
40 days--from resurrection to ascension
SUNDAY MORNING
1. An angel rolled away the stone from Jesus’ tomb before sunrise (Matthew 28:2-4).
2. Women who followed Jesus visited Jesus’ tomb and discovered Him missing (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1).
3. Mary Magdalene left to tell Peter and John (John 20:1-2).
4. The other women, remaining at the tomb, saw two angels who told them about the Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-8).
5. Peter and John visited Jesus’ tomb (Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10).
6. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb and Jesus appeared to her alone in the garden (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18): His first appearance.
7. Jesus appeared to the other women (Mary, mother of James, Salome, and Joanna) (Matthew 28:8-10): His second appearance.
8. Those who guarded Jesus’ tomb reported to the religious rulers how the angel rolled away the stone. They were then bribed (Matthew 28:11-15)
9. Jesus appeared to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5): His third appearance.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
10. Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32): His fourth appearance
SUNDAY EVENING
11. The two disciples from Emmaus told others they saw Jesus (Luke 24:33-35).
12. Jesus appeared to 10 apostles, with Thomas absent, in the Upper Room (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25: His fifth appearance.
THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY
13. Jesus appeared to the 11 Apostles, including Thomas, and Thomas believed (John 20:26-28): His sixth appearance.
THE FOLLOWING 32 DAYS
14. Jesus appeared to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee and performed a miracle of fish (John 21:1-14): His seventh appearance.
15. Jesus appeared to 500 (including the Eleven) at a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6): His eighth appearance.
16. Jesus appeared to His half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7): His ninth appearance.
17. At Jerusalem Jesus appeared again to His disciples (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8): His 10th appearance.
18. On the Mount of Olives Jesus ascended into heaven while the disciples watched (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12)
Source: The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, p 91.
Friday, April 22, 2011
my morning
simple pleasures
that are simply wonderful
horses grazing in a pasture
the roar of a swollen creek
a train whistle blows in the distance…
…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest
a tree shaped like a pregnant woman
the cardinal calls for a mate
a squirrel eats corn on the cob in a tree…
…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest
freshly mowed grass that’s greener than green
more horses grazing in a pasture
a symphony of praise in my head…
…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest
a dilapidated barn full of surprises for the curious
dozens of newly-planted trees
songbirds singing their goodbyes…
…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest
simple pleasures
that are simply wonderful
Sunday, April 17, 2011
christ's crucifixion
1. Jesus arrives at Golgatha (Matt 27:33; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17).
2. He refuses the offer of wine mixed with gall (Matt 27:34; Mark 15:23).
3. He is nailed to the cross between two robbers (Matt 27:35-38; Mark 15:24-28; Luke 23:33-38; John 19:18).
4. He gives His first cry from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
5. The soldiers take Jesus’ garments, leaving Him naked on the cross (Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23).
6. The Jews mocks Jesus (Matt 27:39-43; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-37).
7. He converses with the two robbers (Luke 23:39-43).
8. He gives His second cry from the cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
9. He speaks the third time, “Dear woman, here is your son” (John 19:26-27).
10. Darkness comes from noon to 3 pm (Matt 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44).
11. He gives His fourth cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46-47; Mark 15:34-36).
12. His fifth cry was, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).
13. He drank “wine vinegar” (John 19:29).
14. His sixth cry is, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
15. He drinks wine vinegar from a sponge (Matt 27:48; Mark 15:36).
16. He cries a seventh time, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
17. He dismisses His spirit by an act of His own will (Matt 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:30).
18. The temple curtain is torn in two (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).
19. Roman soldiers admit,” Surely he was the Son of God” (Matt 27:54; Mark 15:39).
Sources: The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, p 88; and NIV Application Commentary, The: Matthew, Michael J. Wilkins, p 894-895.
the sinlessness of christ
Jesus was found guilty and sentenced to be crucified. After reading these verses, we conclude that the only thing Christ was guilty of was being innocent.
Isa 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Matt 27:4 "I (Judas) have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
Matt 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
Matt 27:23 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
Luke 23:4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
Luke 23:13-14 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.
Luke 23:41 We (thieves on crosses next to Jesus) are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Luke 23:47 The centurion, seeing what had happened (upon Jesus’ death), praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."
John 8:46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?
John 18:38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.
Heb 7:26-27 Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
1 Peter 2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
1 John 3:5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Monday, April 4, 2011
my calling confirmed
After reading that 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month (each month!),1 I decided to pray about and re-affirm my own calling. I was pleased (and not suprised) to come away with a familiar and clear picture of what God wants me to do with my life: Minister in a local church.
My conclusion was reinforced the next day when I got an email from a pastor in Pakistan. This is what it said:
“I am working in Pakistan, but like your Web (site). It is so good for pastor Bible studies. My prayer for you and your ministry:
“The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
“God bless you.”
How cool is that? I’ve been on cloud nine ever since I read it. The Web site he was referring to was Window to the Word. I encourage you to check it out if you’re not familiar with it. The site has full manuscripts and audio files of sermons, as well as a link to my YouTube channel.
1 The Just One Challenge, http://justonechallenge.org/resources/category/sermon-resources/.
12 ways to get serious about your faith
1. Love God by obeying Him in all things.
2. Love God by worshipping Him each week at church.
3. Love others by serving them and meeting their needs.
4. Love others by telling them about Jesus and inviting them to church.
5. Read the Bible and pray for at least 15-20 minutes every day.
6. Give regularly and sacrificially to the Lord’s work.
7. Discover your spiritual gifts (http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1) and use those gifts by serving Christ at church and/or in another ministry.
8. Memorize your favorite Bible verses.
9. Attend a group Bible study on a regular basis.
10. Listen to the Bible and/or sermons on your MP3 player or CD-ROM.
11. Love God some more.
12. Love others some more.
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