What are The Consequences of Fatherlessness?
What are The Consequences of Fatherlessness?
Courtney reads our Train to Reign program devotional for the day.
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. http://ow.ly/l5SU30oS5pQ
Scripture
Malachi 4:5-6 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Master comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 Children, obey your parents in the Master, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.
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Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Are You Contending for Your Children’s Faith?
Here is a great article by Jennifer DeFrates. The source is: Are You Contending for Your Children’s Faith? ~ Heaven not Harvard
Contending for your children’s faith can sound daunting. If you’re a Christian parent, you want to raise your children to know and love the Lord, but there is no one sure-fired 100% way to parent that brings kids to Jesus.
With 161 million search results on Christian parenting, it’s hard to know where to begin. We want to be the kind of parents who lead our children to Jesus, but how to do that is more complicated than just taking them to church anymore.
First, we can’t make our children love God.
We can’t force them to have a real relationship with Jesus. God has to call them and direct them and build a desire in them to seek Him. All we can do is point the way.
But we can’t point somewhere we’re not going.
“A leader leads from in front, by the power of example.” Edward Abbey
If you want to lead them in faith, you need to be walking in faith in front of them. Make sure they see you reading your Bible. Show them how you use Godly wisdom to make decisions and deal with your own sin. Teach them how to study the Bible and what a relationship with God looks like.
Yesterday, my daughter and I read James 1 together. We talked about how James thought his brother Jesus was crazy, but following the crucifixion became an ardent follower after seeing Him alive, even calling himself a bondservant or slave of Christ. We read a few different translations and talked about not reading tricky verses alone, but making sure we read in context.
How it fed my heart to have those moments with her. But I know I can’t secure her salvation, only God can.
But there are some ways you can be contending for your children’s faith.
Be constant in prayer. Praying for your children with intentionality and focus is probably the most crucial step you can take that requires no special knowledge or training. Just pray.
If you need some practical ideas about how to pray, what to pray, how to remember to pray, I have this resource for you.
Pray with your children for their futures. Pray with your spouse. Ask friends and family to join you in prayer for your children.
Give them a firm foundation in the faith.
A few years ago, someone close to me came out of the closet as an atheist. After listening to logical, well-reasoned arguments against Christianity, I went through a crisis of faith. I wasn’t sure what was true.
That crisis led me to discover apologetics for myself.
Apologetics might sound like some mysteriously difficult subject, but really just means to give a defense for what we believe.
I had to know – is there evidence for our faith or is the Bible full of fairy tales, myths, and legends?
I got tears in my eyes as I listened to J. Warner Wallace of Cold Case Christianity and Gary Habermas’s Minimal Facts Approach.
If I had known all that I do now, I don’t think I would have walked away from the faith as a young adult. I wouldn’t have struggled alone to survive the traumas I endured.
And, I want my daughter to have the kind of faith I do now, only better. I don’t want her to face the years of doubt and fear that I did.
Now, I’m constantly studying apologetics and believe more and more strongly that there is powerful evidence for a creator and for the resurrection of Christ, but there is so much to know and learn. You can focus on evangelizing Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. or study the cosmological arguments for creation by God or the historicity of the scripture, etc.
But there is so much information, it’s hard to know where to begin. You need a basic grasp of a lot of ideas, a firm understanding of God’s views, and the way the world is trying to twist reality, and how to combat those false narratives as a Christian while being able to defend your Biblical worldview.
Does that sound crazy intimidating?? It doesn’t have to be!
I have found an excellent resource for all Christians, Mama Bear Apologetics. While the title is directed at moms, the book itself is such a great resource any Christian (every Christian) should read it to know what we believe and why. They also have a podcast and website to further equip Christian parents.
If you want to raise children with a firm foundation for their faith, START here! It’s still on sale and is the #1 New Release in Christian Apologetics!
This book is a cheat sheet to defending the Christian faith. (read my full review here*)
Mama Bear Apologetics™: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies
By Hillary Morgan Ferrer (Paperback – Jun 4, 2019)
Mama Bear Apologetics was written by a group of talented women with conversational writing styles. The authors have organized and fleshed out all the important apologetics ideas in ways that are easy to digest and discuss.
They start with ‘why care about apologetics’ when my kid has a cheerio up his nose. Because let’s face it, we’re busy. Adding one more thing isn’t going to happen. But, then they follow up with why it matters so much, the youth exodus.
“Most studies indicate between 45-88% of youth leave the Christian faith after their freshman year in college and never return.” – Julie Loos
We can’t make them believe, but we can help our children build a faith that lasts on the foundation of truth.
Mama Bear Apologetics is Really a MUST-READ for all Christian parents in this post-truth culture!
There are so many great resources that I couldn’t possibly list them all. But if you want to get serious about contending for your children’s faith, Mama Bear Apologetics is a great place to start.
By chapter 4, you’ll be wondering why you hadn’t found it sooner, even if you’ve never considered apologetics before. I thought it was a few simple facts about creation. I had no idea how much better I understand the character of God and the Bible because I’ve learned how to read and study it.
I’d also highly recommend Cold Case Christianity for Kids, God’s Crime Scene for Kids, and a Case for Christ for Kids.
For younger kids, JD Camorlinga’s series about James and Ruth are excellent. They are picture books that deal with the three main arguments against Christianity and the back of the book has a cheat sheet for parents to explain the concepts in greater complexity.
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World
By Sean McDowell, J. Warner Wallace (Paperback – May 1, 2019)
$12.32 $16.99
Contending for the faith of our children has never been more difficult or more important. Our culture tells them there is no truth, do what feels good, there is no right and wrong.
We have to help them learn how to think for themselves. We need to understand the fundamental concepts that erode a Biblical worldview without being intellectually honest.
Are you ready to answer the call to fight and start contending for your children’s faith?
Source: Are You Contending for Your Children’s Faith? ~ Heaven not Harvard
Correct Discipline
In this message, Larry Pons walks us through Hebrews 12: 3-12 and we see how God, as a good Father, disciplines His children and how we are to follow His example.
WATCH the Full Video HERE.
LISTEN to the Full Audio HERE.
Train to Reign (Update video)
Couples share about their experiences during the Train to Reign Family Program – a two-week course designed to teach practical skills in relationship building and parenting.
To learn more about the Train to Reign Program, click here.
5 Signs of Discipline (part 4)
Larry Pons presents 5 ways to tell when parents should discipline their children. (From Train to Reign Family Program teachings)
For more information about Train to Reign and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 3)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From Train to Reign Family Program teachings)
For more information about Train to Reign and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 10)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From Train to Reign family program teachings)
For more information about Train to Reign and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 2)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
5 Signs of Discipline (part 3)
Larry Pons presents 5 ways to tell when parents should discipline their children. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 6)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
5 Signs of Discipline (part 5)
Larry Pons presents 5 ways to tell when parents should discipline their children. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 4)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
5 Signs of Discipline (part 2)
Larry Pons presents 5 ways to tell when parents should discipline their children. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 9)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
5 Signs of Discipline
Larry Pons presents 5 ways to tell when parents should discipline their children. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (9/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (8/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (7/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (6/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (5/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (4/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (3/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary (2/9)
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Turning the Ordinary into the extraordinary
In this series, CTCI Director Larry Pons gives practical steps and humorous insights into how to raise children in Godliness and maturity, and how take them from the ordinary into the extraordinary life that God has for them.
Defeating Parental Fears
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 8)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 7)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Defeating Parental Fears (part 5)
Larry Pons discusses the challenges and fears that parents often face in raising children and presents practical ways to defeat them. (From INNvision Family Program teachings)
For more information about INNvision and other CTCI programs, visit lifeisrelationships.com.
Other-Centered Children
Parents must make a conscious effort to raise other-centered children since children are naturally self-centered. Self-centeredness is inherent in the sin nature we are born with, so the characteristic of other-centeredness must be taught and cultivated in the family. It comes through example, culture, and through training in rejoicing for others. Celebrations are a great opportunity to develop this habit. At birthday parties a parent can make sure to provide gifts only for the birthday child, and to prep the other children ahead of time that this day is a celebration for that child only. If the other children pout or cry, the parent has an opportunity to develop an other-centered heart within them through discipline and admonition.
Tips For Speaking To Children – Part 3
Here it is, part three of ‘Tips For Working With Children’. I am sure you can add more to this list. I believe that if we follow these tips, we will be effective in our teaching and communication with children, and we can be a part of seeing Biblical truths established in them.