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Chap Bettis

Sep 29
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Tim Challies – Walking Through Deep Sorrow and Loss

By Christian Living, Church Life, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast

It’s every parent’s nightmare. An unexpected phone call, an unexpected funeral burying your own child. How do we react in the days and months and years ahead? On November 3rd, 2020, Tim Challies received just such a call. He received the shocking news that his son Nick had died. During those days, months, and year of loss, Tim began to write. And the content of that writing is what we’re going to talk about in this episode. We’re going to talk about his most recent book, Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God.    …

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Sep 28
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How Do Children Make Their Faith Their Own?

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Teens and Beyond

A key component of discipling our children is understanding a little bit of what to expect in that journey. Paul said Timothy learned the faith as a young person and then became convinced of it. This pattern holds true for 95% of those who grow up in a Christian home. At a conference I will ask, “How many of you heard the gospel and professed faith at a young age? Now, keep your hand up if there was a later time that your faith became your own.” And 95% of the hands stay up. This is the learning and becoming convinced…

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Sep 27
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How You Can Use The Disciple-Making Parent in Your Church – An Interview with Guy Wilcox

By Church Life, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond

Recently, I sat down with Guy Wilcox to discuss how they seek to equip their parents to disciple their children. Guy serves at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, AR, working with both students and music ministry. I thought I would share how he uses The Disciple-Making Parent in his context and might be an encouragement to get something like this started in your church context. At UBC, he takes men and women through 10-week studies on parenting. You can see the details below. Chap: Why did you choose The Disciple-Making Parent? Guy: It covers a lot of different parenting topics…

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Sep 21
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Ray Van Neste – Reasons a Preacher Should Address the Children

By Church Life, Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast

Could it be that we’re ignoring a large group in our worship service, even when they show up week after week? I planted and pastor to church for 25 years, and I know that everyone has a wonderful idea about what you should be doing with your time. But I would ask you to think about one little section of your sermon. That’s what we’re gonna be talking about in today’s podcast. We’re talking with Dr. Ray Van Neste about his recent blog post entitled: Preacher, Don’t Forget to Speak to the Children. And in that post, he lays out…

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Sep 07
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Deepak Reju -Establishing an Effective and Safe Children’s Ministry

By Church Life, Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast

This Sunday, hundreds of thousands of parents will drop off their children at the children’s ministry of a church. And hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours will have been spent in preparation, but is the ministry safe? And is it effective? We’re going to be talking with Deepak Reju about two of his very helpful books. In the first part of the interview, we will talk about the, his book Build on Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide for Gospel Based Children’s Ministry. In the second half of our conversation, we talk about a second book On Guard: Preventing and Responding to…

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Aug 24
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Chap Bettis – Communication that Creates Community

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast

God cares about our words. Our words are powerful. They can encourage someone made in God’s image or discourage them. Do you need some challenge to honor the Lord with your words? I recently preached on Ephesians 4:29. In that passage, God tells us that we’re not to let any on wholesome or corrupting talk, come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up others according to their needs. All of us need to grow in becoming a godly communicator and I think this sermon might help you in that process.

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Aug 17
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Why Should You Have a Family Ministry Strategy

By Christian Living, Church Life, Family Discipleship, Leadership

I believe every church and leadership team should have a conscious family discipleship strategy. How are we as a church planning to build up the family? Below are six reasons to have a family ministry strategy. Reason #1 Because Leadership Training Begins in the Home Church after church decry their lack of spiritual leaders. Who wouldn’t gladly receive numerous individuals who will shepherd others for their spiritual good? When Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion, he prays for spiritual workers. But how will those spiritual leaders be trained? To begin with, they learn how to shepherd In their homes….

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Aug 10
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28 Communication Inhibitors

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership, Marriage

Let’s take a moment and think about a number of things that inhibit communication. I came across this list in my files. I think it is original but if it isn’t I am happy to give credit. I believe you will find this list of different inhibitors convicting. When we act this way we can confess our sin. And again we also want to train our children in good communication. The Silent Treatment – sulking, withdrawing. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13, Genesis 3:8, 1 John 1:7, Ephesian 4:25 speak truthfully) Using inflammatory words – stupid, etc. (Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 16:24) Using generalizing words – always, never,…

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Aug 03
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Tim Shorey – Respect the Image: How to Communicate Well

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast

Our homes are filled with words. Some of these words are helpful and unfortunately, some are not. What if we had some help thinking biblically about communication? In today’s podcast, we’re going to be talking with my friend, Tim Shorey about his book Respect the Image. In that book, Tim uses the acrostic COMMUNICATE to give us biblical principles of communication. Chill Open Up Make Time Mean What You Say Understand What You Hear Nourish with Grace Initiate Peace Celebrate Others Assume You are Wrong Think the Best Examine Your Heart I think you’ll find our conversation enjoyable and practical…

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Jul 27
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Four Keys to Self-Awareness

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership, Marriage

Part of a good leader’s job is to continually grow. Paul told Timothy, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim 4:15). This growth will often come through self-reflection and self-correction – also called repentance. But how does this occur in real life? Why is it that some individuals keep on doing the same thing over and over again? I propose it is because they have not made a mental habit of self-reflection. I was a computer programmer for a few short years before the internet. When an issue would arise in the middle…

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