Discipleship Archive
“I can’t take one more ‘why’ question,” Lela lamented to Martin, her husband. Lela’s day had been fraught with frustration. She and the kids had been locked out of the house for an hour; a neighbor finally called Martin who let them back in. Throughout the day, each time Lela had asked her daughter to clean up, to help her brother, or to eat her …
(Part 1 of a Series) In this series, we will delve into two pivotal, yet elusive, topics: God and people. When children know who God really is and what He says about who they really are, they can confidently navigate faith and life. Kids must know both the Lord and themselves intimately—not superficially. “Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God. Nearly all …
“Turn right in 100 feet” chimes the mechanical voice. As I slowly curve into the intersection, the GPS app follows my turn. How did I get anywhere before navigation apps? Prior to the arrival of GPS, we carefully planned our trips with fold-up maps. When we got lost in-route, we asked real-live people for directions! Family vacations required diligent preparation. Even the early days of …
1 —A Nativity Prank One of our family Christmas traditions lasted twelve days! We prepared for Jesus’ birth with a fun “Twelve Days before Christmas” project. Each year we “targeted” one neighborhood family. Starting on December 14, we secretly delivered a single Nativity set figure to that family. At different times during the next twelve days, we hid behind bushes, tiptoed across the porch, and …
Harvest-time deeply satisfies. What started in the spring as a sack of withered seeds—after months of cultivation and care—yields a life-sustaining crop. Now, tender grapes cluster on low-hanging vines, juicy apples weigh down small branches, and fields of golden grain stand tall and proud, waving in the wind. Though fewer people earn their living on farms today, when most of us hear the word “harvest,” …
After a barrage of natural disasters and heartbreaking headlines, Thanksgiving 2017 arrives. How can we help children navigate our currently chaotic world? What are some practical ways kids can respond with compassion and hope? Hurricane Harvey In September, Hurricane Harvey dumped trillions of gallons of water, devastating the Houston area. Our sister church in Houston called Pastor Chris in Colorado and asked, “Would your church …
First Century Parenting Just for fun, put yourself in the sandals of Joseph or Mary, Jesus’ earthly parents. What unique challenges did they face raising a child who never lied, never talked back, never undermined their authority, and always obeyed? A solitary verse summarizes Joseph and Mary’s parenting efforts: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). …
