Family

The Most Important Family to Pastor in Your Church

by

With the numerous needs among the families in your church, the family that often gets neglected is your own. Whether family discipleship is a new concept or an overlooked activity for you, create a renewed plan to lead, encourage, and disciple your spouse and children in your home.

How to Have a Peaceful Family Gathering

by

We are on the verge of one of my favorite times of year – it is the Thanksgiving long weekend. Regardless of your specific traditions, these days are often characterized by food, family, and football, but for many of us, it’s also known for frustration. It’s time to go the second mile in having a peaceful family gathering.

The Parental Pendulum

by

Unfortunately, instead of finding a healthy, biblical balance of parents disciplining their children in love, I often see parents swinging to one of the far sides of the parent pendulum. Most parents tend to be either too harsh or too lenient in disciplining their children.

How to Frustrate Your Child’s Spiritual Growth

by

While parents should be the supportive catalysts for a child’s spiritual growth, sometimes just the opposite is experienced. Have you ever thought that your words, expressions, and actions might be discouraging your child’s personal discipleship?

These Are My Sons [Both of Them]

by

These are my sons. Both of them. I have been asked before, “Are they really your sons?” “Oh, they are both quite real, so then I would suppose they are both really my sons.” They are my sons, and they are brothers. Real brothers. You might think I look at them differently. You are right. I do look at them …

READ MORE

What Hindrance Is Keeping Your Family from Jesus?

by

You want your family to follow Jesus. I’m right there with you. But each person has unique challenges to getting an adequate view. As you think about your family today, what greatest hindrances block their connection to Jesus? Doubt – Maybe your family member has intellectual blockades that oppose the idea that God is with him or her. Guilt – …

READ MORE

Why Dropping Kids Off at Church Isn’t Enough

by

If you are concerned about your child’s spiritual development, you probably seek to place him or her in the best environment out there. What if I told you that the best spiritual environment was none other than your home? Psalm 127 helps guide us to what real parenting should look like. Somewhere between the psalm’s title and the beginning of …

READ MORE

Abandoning Our Families

by

As people who have been loved by a covenant-keeping God, we ought to keep our covenants to one another in marriage. God hates divorce because of what it does and what it will continue to do.  Consider This To the married, don’t fixate on the catastrophes of others’ divorces so much that you overlook the compromises present in your own marriage. To the divorced, there …

READ MORE

My Birthday Gift [To You]

by

I am so thankful to be able to celebrate another birthday today. While I know it is customary to receive gifts, I really wanted to give gifts on this day. I first read about the idea when Bilbo Baggins gave everyone gifts at his birthday party in The Fellowship of the Ring. Seems like a great idea! So my gift …

READ MORE

How to Help Orphans

by

Believers are called to find some way to assist orphans. Learn how your family could help through adoption, foster care, respite care, or financial assistance. Why is adoption important? God eagerly adopted us into His family. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will (Eph. 1:5). To …

READ MORE

For Those Who Dread Father’s Day

by

While numerous cards and gifts are purchased to celebrate Father’s Day, there are many people who dread the holiday altogether. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home.  Whether that absence is due to death, desertion, decision, or detainment, the pain is real. Even in a society …

READ MORE

Why Our Children Are Messed Up

by

Oftentimes, parents want to know what is wrong with their children. Why do they act the way they do? Why do they say the things they say? Every parent has lifted (or thrown) their child upwards towards the skies. While this movement is meant for the child’s delight, it is a symbol of what most parents what for their children …

READ MORE

The Role Model Your Child Desperately Needs

by

As we registered our sons to play Upward Basketball at our church, there was one question lingering at the end of the form.  The question read: “Would you be willing to coach your child’s team?”  It should have included a checkbox for, “Do you want to be a glutton for punishment?” I realized that I had yet to coach my …

READ MORE

The Small Issue in Your Marriage That Will Make a Big Mess

by

Before moving into a house, most people go through a home inspection. Years ago, our inspector caught numerous issues that had to be addressed, but he missed a small one. Honestly, the discrepancy was only a few centimeters. I never even noticed it until we had been in the house for quite some time. The discrepancy was a pipe that …

READ MORE

“Never Trust a Man”

by

It was a Saturday adventure. We just decided to get in the car and drive to downtown Greenville and enjoy the afternoon as a family. As we drew closer, we noticed that traffic seemed busier than normal. Apparently, we had arrived at the Annual Duck Derby. We didn’t even know such a thing existed. As numerous people purchased a rubber …

READ MORE

“There’s Nothing Less Important…”

by

As fans of Clemson Tigers, my family really enjoyed the National Championship game after a great season.  Finishing 15-0, ACC champions, CFP Champions, beating Notre Dame (30-3) in the semifinal, and then beating Alabama (44-16) in the final game was an incredible list of accomplishments. The mid-season had its fair share of uncertainties.  Dabo chose freshman Trevor Lawrence to start …

READ MORE

Start Acting Like a Child

by

In a time when people viewed children as distracting annoyances, Jesus intentionally prioritized them. Not only should we prioritize children, but we should start acting like them when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:13-16 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.14 But when Jesus saw it, he was …

READ MORE

What God Has Joined Together

by

Jesus was questioned regarding the nature of marriage and the opportunity for divorce. When an eternal God puts something together, it should last forever. Let Nothing Separate By determining what issues are worthy of divorce, many people attempt to discover a way out of their marriage. Due to the stubborn nature of people, God provided a civil manner through divorce …

READ MORE

The Most Critical Spiritual Environment (Is the One in Which You Live)

by

LifeWay Research conducted a national survey of 1,200 adults with children under 18 at home.  They attempted to discover what parents defined as “successful parenting.”  Their findings were interesting yet not shocking. 25% of those interviewed would view their jobs as parents as successful if their children were happy as adults. 22% were hoping their children would find success in …

READ MORE

The Stroll Around Seminary That Changed Everything

by

In the summer of 2018, I got the privilege to preach for Fuge Camps at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  It was a part my alumni summer as I spent a week there and a week at North Greenville University in Tigerville, SC.  I received my undergraduate from NGU and my masters and doctorate from Southern.  It …

READ MORE

Rethinking Family Ministry

by

The tide is growing for family ministry in churches all over America.  People see the need for a biblical approach to discipling all ages, but many are unsure of a path and fearful of initiating a change.  Maybe you feel like the building blocks are there, but you don’t have the diagram to tell you where to start. As you …

READ MORE

Run Like a Girl

by

We live in a time that is in desperate need to protect the rights of women. My daughter is committed to doing her part so other girls have their chance as well.

Three Reminders for the Next Generation

by

Parents want the best for their children.  Would you be willing to give the best to your children even if it included getting intentional and personal? Psalm 78:1-8 teaches that each generation needs to be reminded of 3 things: The Faithfulness of God The Frailties of the Past The Focus of the Future The Faithfulness of God The next generation …

READ MORE

When Your Family Hinders Your Discipleship

by

As Jesus’ influence increased, His family attempted to hinder His ministry.  Jesus taught that sometimes doing the will of God will incur the opposition of your physical family and secure the support of your spiritual family.

READ MORE

Discipleship Strategy for Your Family

by

Within the family contains one of the greatest opportunities for discipleship and one of the greatest challenges for consistency. Your family members provide you the greatest opportunity to encourage and to discourage spiritual growth.

READ MORE

God’s Plan for Your Family

by

God’s plan for your family is not complex.  We make it that way, but it is truly simple.  This is the plan:

God wants to reconcile the world to Himself through Christ-following parents who disciple their own children to multiply gospel transformation to all people.     

READ MORE

3 Vital Concepts Regarding Marriage and Money

by

One of the greatest sources of conflict in marriage is finances.  

Money isn’t the root of evil.  The love of money is the root of evil (1 Tim. 6:10).  Money alters the way people think and act.  People think, say, and do unexpected things when it comes to the increasing accumulation of wealth. 

READ MORE

Unpacking the In-Law Baggage

by

Marriage comes with baggage.  In particular, in-law baggage. When you marry a person, you inherit a family.  Whether or not you realized it, your marriage came as a packaged deal.  You just added a slew of people who are now considered as family. The marriage union is distinct from any other relationship.  Once the vows have been spoken, your previous …

READ MORE

13 Ways to Exasperate Your Children

by

Children are a blessing as long as you don’t lead them to be a burden. Part of the role of parents is to shape children to be all that God has called them to be.  That takes time.  Growing weeds doesn’t take effort – growing gardens demands patience and care.  If you want your children to be successful, you have …

READ MORE

Disciples in the Home

by

Colossians 3:18-21 Disciples in the Home Authentic discipleship moves from the church and should eventually change the home.  Disciples obey God’s commands for how families are to treat one another particularly in the relationship between husband and wife and between parent and child. Submissive Wives (Col. 3:18) Since men need significance, God calls wives to submit to their husbands. If …

READ MORE

Marriage Needs Mutual Motivation

by

For a marriage to succeed, a couple must possess mutual motivation.   Determine what is the mutual motivation for your marriage to succeed. What is the desired result? What is the common goal for the marriage? What is the win for the home? If you look to the pages of Scripture, a worthy goal is not to get along peacefully, raise …

READ MORE

14 Questions You Shouldn’t Ask Adoptive Families

by

As an adoptive family, we have more random stories of interactions with strangers than we care to count.  For whatever reason, close associates or random passerbys feel inclined to make conversation regarding your family when they realize a child is adopted. In our situation, it is very obvious that we are an adoptive family, and so we have heard it …

READ MORE

What Is the Family Altar?

by

In a time when few families watch TV together, eat a meal together, or share a Saturday playing together, the thought of worshiping together seems like a far-fetched goal. Our culture bombards us with the notion that children need to be independent and have room to develop on their own. Children use the overstated line that their friends get certain …

READ MORE

What Does It Mean to Bless My Children?

by

Throughout the Bible, parents would bless their children.  Have you ever wondered how a parent is supposed to give what is called a biblical blessing? “As heavenly Father, God set up a pattern of blessing for His people: verbally affirming His acceptance and support of them, painting vivid pictures of their expected future, and investing Himself and His resources to …

READ MORE

Gospel Essentials

by

When we think about having a Gospel Focused Family, we need to first focus upon gospel essentials.  What is essential for your family member to understand in order to respond to the gospel? Your family’s greatest need is the gospel. Concerns You might have concerns about sharing the gospel with your family.  These are common concerns: What if I don’t …

READ MORE

The Danger of Worshiping As a Family

by

While it is great when the entire family worships together, there is danger there as well. What are we teaching our children? Enjoy this video?  Check out the growing collection of Family Alter videos!

Family Worship

by

I was first introduced to Donald Whitney during my time at Southern Seminary.  When I began my doctoral project on family evangelism and discipleship, I picked up a copy of Family Worship.  The concepts were so simple and revolutionary in my life as I read books during the night watching over my six-week-old son in the seminary hotel while my …

READ MORE

Family Dynamics

by

This panel discussion navigates through many of the “foxes” that may attempt to eat away at your family. The pastors give very practical and very biblical advice on how to deal with 12 different areas of family life. This sermon was recorded at the Gathering at North Side Baptist Church on October 6, 2015.

+ MORE POSTS