Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘children’
Why I Believe in Local Church Youth Ministry
For the last twenty years I have had the joy to be involved in youth ministry in some way. It is the passion of my life to point another generation to the Lord Jesus and His truth. I am more convinced than I have ever been that this is a critical ministry of the local church. It is not just the work of youth pastors and “professionals.” It is the mission of every older man and older woman who desires to impart God’s truth to the next generation (Titus 2). Youth ministry is not “ministry light.” There is nothing light about it. This is serious business. It is work and warfare. Youth ministry is at the front lines of Satanic…
Read MoreA Word for Young People About Parents
Like most children, when I was very young, I memorized the Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment says, “Honour thy father and thy mother.” It is repeated eight times in the Bible. As a boy, if my mother said something once I was supposed to listen. If she said it twice, I was definitely supposed to listen. If she had to say it three times, it was too late to listen! When God repeats something it is always for emphasis. This is God’s word to every young person: “Honour thy father and thy mother.” For many years I quoted it without even knowing what it meant. The word honor means to assign value to something, to treat it as a prize. …
Read MoreAcres of Diamonds
When I was thirteen years old an elderly preacher in the mountains of West Virginia gave me a book. It was old and dusty. There were no pictures and at the time it seemed like a good book just to put on the shelf. Several years passed before I actually read its yellowed pages, but after reading them I would never forget them. Russell Conwell was a preacher and educator. He started what is now known as Temple University in Philadelphia. Conwell traveled the world giving a very famous lecture over 5,000 times. Any honorarium that was given to him was in turn given to some young person to help them through college. But the value of his lecture was…
Read MoreAquila and Priscilla: A Biblical Marriage
God’s design is for families to serve Christ together in a New Testament church. As we find our place in the Lord’s work, every member of the family is blessed and the local church is strengthened. Aquila and Priscilla demonstrate what a married couple should be in a New Testament church. We are first introduced to this family during Paul’s ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3). It is clear that Aquila was not a pastor. Tentmakers by trade, this husband and wife lived for Christ in one of the most worldly cities of the Roman empire. As they were faithful to the Lord Jesus, God gave them the opportunity to be a blessing to others. God used this couple to encourage…
Read MoreThe Urgency of Youth
My favorite group of people to speak to is young people. There is something special about their energy, their authenticity. Some time back I was preaching to a fine group of teens and referred to “us” as “young.” After the service my wife lovingly and diplomatically reminded me that I am not young to them anymore! Youth is hard to define. When does it end? Suddenly, without warning it is gone and…where did it go? I still consider myself to be young (at least until I am 40) but in a very real sense I see youth slipping away. I have been flipping through an old poetry book this week. Poetry has never been my favorite thing but one poem…
Read MoreLessons God Is Teaching Me about My Family – Part 2
Home is the greatest classroom on earth…and not just for the children. Every day there is more to learn, and our failures serve to remind us that we have not arrived. In addition to the thoughts I shared in the last post, the Lord is teaching me: 8. Never argue in front of the children. Now, I am sure you are thinking: “We never argue at all.” Then perhaps you are farther along than me! All married couples have “discussions” and some of those should be done in private. Don’t talk about problems in front of your children. Speak in faith and encourage them to face their own problems depending on the Lord. 9. Play good music around the house.…
Read MoreLessons God Is Teaching Me about My Family – Part 1
The kids are growing up so quickly. At the same time I feel like I am getting old so quickly! Life moves along at a rapid pace and God is teaching me many things. I am not the husband or father that I should be. More and more I thank God for the wife that He has given to me and the mother that she is to our three children. Our home is not perfect. No home is. Every day the Holy Spirit is showing me areas that we need to work on. I would like to share a few things that God is teaching me. These are not the words of a teacher. They are the words of a…
Read MoreTeens for Christ
One of the greatest privileges of my life has been the opportunity to work with young people. Youth ministry is not a stepping stone to another ministry. It is the work of a lifetime! D.L. Moody said if he had his whole life to live other he would give it all to working with children. I truly believe that the greatest work on earth is influencing the next generation with the truth of God’s Word and pointing them to Jesus Christ. When I was 12 years old God changed my life at a summer youth camp. I have never been the same. There are more young people alive at this moment than there have ever been. The majority have never…
Read MoreJust for Men
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 In a day of effeminate men I am more grateful than I have ever been for real men who have influenced my life. My grandpa was a real man. He taught me how to get my hands dirty and work harder than I ever thought I could. My dad is a real man. He taught me how to shake hands, how to walk, and how to speak like a man. He also taught me how to treat a lady by the way he treated my mother. Most of all they, along with other godly men, taught me by example what it means to be…
Read MoreLessons My Children Are Teaching Me
Children are often the best teachers…”out of the mouth of babes.” Tammy and I want to teach our kids everything we possibly can, but I realize that often God is using them to teach us. Many lessons have been learned through my own failures as a parent. School is in session every day and the classroom is our home. This list is by no means exhaustive but here are a few of the lessons my children are teaching me… 1. Peer pressure starts early (and never ends!). It is fascinating to observe the influence that older siblings and peers have on young children. Everyone wants to belong, to be accepted. Learning to live for the approval of One is among…
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