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Christian Living

Sep 18
Love0

A Growth Cycle for Those Who Lead

By Christian Living, Church Life, Leadership

As I have been writing and thinking about leadership, it caused me to think about how I have sought to grow over the years. Without realizing it, I have regularly practiced the following cycle. If I had time I would picture these components in a complete circle. For the sake of writing, though, I will lay them out in a linear fashion.  Let me start with a foundation. I believe an effective Christian leader will be convinced of two things: 1. The Lord wants to continually teach me. The Lord is continually bringing circumstances into my life to make me…

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Sep 14
Love0

Gospel Secrets That Parents Can Forget

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast
On this episode, I share my personal experience as a homeschool parent, reflecting on the importance of not losing sight of the big picture in the day-to-day of parenting. We’ll look at some key gospel principles that we may have forgotten in the midst of the busyness of raising our children. I highlight the importance of making discipleship the true goal of homeschooling and of finding our identity and significance in Christ. Even if you don't homeschool, but you're in the middle of your parenting years, I think that you will find this information immediately applicable.   Episode Transcript I'm...
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Jul 31
Love0

Loving and Leading Your Children Can Teach You Patience and Persistence

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

The following is from a section the current book I am working on. In it, I argue that learning to care for your children teaches you how to care for the church. Let me know your thoughts. – Chap “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord has compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14 “I thought I was a patient person—until I had children. Then I learned how impatient I really was.” I have lost count of the number of men who have said…

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Jun 03
Love0

A Mature Leader Knows He or She Needs Wisdom

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership

A mature leader will know he needs wisdom to honor the Lord and not hurt people. As mentioned in the introduction, knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the art of skillful living. It is living in line with God and the way he has made the world work. It is weighing all the biblical information and knowing which principle to apply now given the current situation.  Leading well, whether in the church or home, requires wisdom. As Solomon began his reign, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and invited him to request anything. Solomon asked, “Give your servant therefore an…

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May 30
Love0

Made to Rule and Reign

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. You know those names well. They are, of course, the children from C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. In Narnia the wicked witch has made it always winter but never Christmas. The four of them, as Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, are meant to rule and reign in Narnia, to bring the rule of Aslan back to a cursed land. This quest involves bravery, battle, faithfulness, and, of course, growth in their character. Who are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy meant to represent? You and me!  You and I are meant to bring the…

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Apr 17
Love0

The Godly Quality of Active Learning

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

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. Luke 2:46 Jesus is our perfect Savior and Sacrifice. He is perfect God and perfect man. There are many aspects of his life that are not meant to be repeated. However, there are some that serve as an example for us. In the verse above, Luke records a moment in Jesus’ life at 12 that should serve as an example for both adults and teens. In this well-known story, Jesus had been brought to Jerusalem for the Passover. But as his family left…

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Apr 05
Love0

Chris Martin – How the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership, Podcast
In today's episode, we will be thinking about social media. We know our devices go with us everywhere. We also know that one specific application, social media, influences us and everyone around us—including our children. So what are we to do? In this interview, we talk with Chris Martin about his new book, The Wolf in Their Pocket, 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead. We cover a variety of different topics surrounding social media. ----- We want to help you raise strong disciples of Jesus Christ, who can stand strong in today's culture, and you can...
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Apr 03
Love0

Why are Christians so Judgmental?

By Christian Living, Church Life, Family Discipleship

“Everyone in our church is so judgmental.” So said one of my children when returning home from their sophomore year of college. “What are you talking about? Our church certainly has made many faults, but I would have never put some of the members of the church in the judgmental category. Help me understand where this is coming from. Can you give me some examples you have seen or heard that I may not be aware of?” As that child went on to try and explain the reason they said that, their real heart condition became clear to me and eventually them….

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Mar 15
Love0

Glimpses of the Believer’s Glory

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Leadership, Podcast
Have you thought biblically and clearly about your coming glory? That's right. Your glory. Does that sound heretical to you? Then, you'll want to listen to this episode. In this episode, you'll be surprised at the findings that we, as believers, are headed for a glorious existence that we can't even imagine and will receive rewards or glory from Christ that will shock us. This is the third episode in a three-part series on glory. ----- We want to help you raise strong disciples of Jesus Christ, who can stand strong in today's culture, and you can get the audiobook...
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Mar 06
Love0

Glory: Understanding a Confusing Religious Word

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship

At different times, I have been asked, “Why do you write?” One reason is when something is bothering my brain. I feel like I have to figure it out and get it clear in my head. I hate fuzzy thinking! That is part of the motivation behind this three-part series that I am posting on the podcast. I became increasingly bothered by our regular use of the word glory. What do we mean when we speak of God’s glory and our glorifying him? I ended up preaching a series of three short messages on Sunday night at my church. The first is entitled Glimpses…

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