Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘teaching’
For Those Who Love Children
“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” The greatest way to impact the future of a nation is to reach another generation of children. More than ever, we need people with a passion to reach and teach children for Christ! My friend, Pastor Mark Fowler, worked with children for many years. Some time ago he compiled for his church a list from the life of Samuel of “What I Wish Every Child Had.” These are wonderful truths from 1 Samuel and I am happy to pass them along to you… Every child should be prayed for (1:10, 11, 20, 26-27). Every child should be given to God (1:11, 22,28). Every child should be taught to live…
Read More7 Truths My Dad Taught Me
Tonight I had the joy of sharing these thoughts with our church family. Perhaps they will be of some help to your family. My dad has been one of my greatest teachers. All fathers teach more than they realize, and more than their children realize until later in life. As a boy I enjoyed asking preachers to sign the flyleaf of my Bible and share their favorite verse. Occasionally I look back through those signatures with fond memories of many who taught me God’s truth. One day it dawned on me that I had never asked my own dad to sign my Bible. He was reluctant to do so but, when he did, he signed it differently than all of…
Read MoreGuest Post: “Reaching Children”
Twenty five years ago I shared a college dormitory with a friend who would become my brother-in-law. Jason Caldwell and his family have committed themselves to reaching and teaching children for Christ. Their work is being blessed of God and I am happy to share with you the following brief article that he has written on children’s ministry. As we approach the holidays when much is done for children we must never forget that our primary work is to bring boys and girls to Christ. May God raise up an army of children’s workers to reach this generation! Eighty-five percent of all people saved today were saved between the ages of four and fourteen. Therefore, this should be our target…
Read MoreA Mother’s Day Meditation: “The Law Of Thy Mother”
Proverbs opens with a father speaking to his son and closes with a mother speaking to her son. Children need the influence and instruction of both dad and mom. In the first chapter of this book of wisdom Solomon wrote, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). I am thinking today of many things that my father has instructed me in. But as we approach Mother’s Day I have returned again to this beautiful phrase, “the law of thy mother.” Mother’s have laws for sure! And they know how to enforce them. Yet the greatest laws are not laid down in words but in actions. Life teaches more than…
Read MoreA Bible Teacher
Most Sunday mornings I am asked to address a combined Sunday School class or spend time with a particular Bible study group. This is always something I enjoy doing and is a little more informal than the preaching services. Recently I began a special meeting on a Sunday morning and the pastor asked if I would be willing to sit in a class with him. “You do not have to speak. I just want you to hear our teacher,” he said. It was one of the most refreshing and encouraging hours I have had in a long time. The Bible teacher had taken an online class with me long ago, but we had never met in person. As I sat…
Read MoreNEW POST: Use A Story!
Everybody loves a good story. Some preachers and teachers are known as story-tellers. This should never be our goal. Our mission is to be truth-tellers. However, learning to tell a story that reveals the truth – that is another matter entirely! THAT is teaching and preaching as Jesus did. Communicators in every field have come to understand the significance of stories. A few days ago I sat down on an American Airlines flight and picked up a copy of their monthly magazine. The editor’s comments were written under the title: “The Power of Story.” My wife came home recently with a book that someone had given her. It was a fictional work and not something that I typically would read,…
Read MoreWill You Join Us On the Journey?
Six years ago this month I began writing on our blog. At the time God led me to call it Enjoying the Journey. (You may read more about why I chose that name here.) Now, on the threshold of a new year, we are taking another step on that journey. We are launching a daily podcast. There is nothing I enjoy more than teaching and preaching the Word of God, and now we have the opportunity to spread that message to many more people. The Enjoying the Journey podcast will be available Monday-Friday. It is a 10 minute Bible message that I am praying the Lord will use. In the first episodes we begin with a study of my favorite book of the Bible,…
Read MoreSpecial Announcement: New Podcast!
As a twelve year old boy the Lord called me to be a preacher of God’s Word. Through the years He has confirmed that call and deepened this conviction in my heart. An old entry in my journal reads… God has confirmed His call on my life. It is not to be an administrator, a manager of things, an organizer. It is to be a preacher of the Word of God. To teach His truths. To declare Him. To call people to the Lord. By God’s grace I want to give my whole life to His purpose alone. I want to be given to Him and His Word without detour or distraction…that I might concentrate on prayer and the ministry…
Read MoreWhen Young People Ask Hard Questions
Questions are opportunities to teach. God gave explicit instructions to Israel about what to say when your children ask (Deuteronomy 6:20-25). And ask they will! All of us who have young people in our homes are well acquainted with the question, “Why?” It is the way we answer that determines the outcome. Recently I allowed the young people in our Academy to submit anonymously questions that have troubled them. I was overwhelmed by the response. Sincere questions and concerns. Some doctrinal, some personal – family, eternity, morality, God, the Bible, and relationships. We have since tried to schedule chapel speakers who could address specific topics that are on their minds. Questions cannot be ignored. In fact, they should be encouraged.…
Read MoreTips for Those Who Teach Teens
One of the great joys of my life is the privilege to speak to young people. Recently I was listening to one of our youth workers at the Temple Baptist Church as he taught the Word of God to teenagers. He was doing a great job and the Lord used him. He is not a preacher, but he is a fine Christian and a faithful teacher. As he spoke, I jotted down several things that the Lord has taught me through the years about teaching young people. The most important thing is: teach the Bible! Not stories. Not your ideas. Not hot topics. The Bible. Do not try to be a youth teacher. Be a Bible teacher, and God will…
Read More
