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Once upon a time, Christian parents asked their children after church, “What did you learn about God?” Today, the question is often, “Did you have fun?”

Not too long ago, churches offered Bible training for all ages—wanting to fully equip children to serve Christ. Today, many churches offer high-energy, entertainment-based programs—wanting to keep kids happy and to make recruiting easy. Children rarely use their Bibles. Read the rest of this entry »

Free Easter Resource:

The Fragrance of Easter
by Mark Steiner

Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus. She is one of only a few who ministered to Jesus directly. In a moving gesture that demonstrated her deep devotion and gratitude, Mary opened her alabaster jar and … Click Here For An Immediate Download

Once upon a time, Christian parents asked their children after church, “What did you learn about God?” Today, the question is often, “Did you have fun?”

Where are today’s Christian kids?

Not too long ago, churches offered Bible training for all ages—wanting to fully equip children to serve Christ. Today, many churches offer high-energy, entertainment-based programs—wanting to keep kids happy and to make recruiting easy. Children rarely use their Bibles. As a result, children today:

• know more about video games than they know about God
• love peer approval more than they love Jesus
• serve themselves before they consider the needs of others.

In this generation as never before, cultural gravity relentlessly pulls Christian children down—and they are drowning. Statistics warn us that eight out of every ten Christian kids are drinking in the world’s value system. Nearly 80% of our children leave the church by the time they complete high school. Read the rest of this entry »

Ray Stedman, noted pastor and Biblical expositor said, “Forgiveness, of course, is the virtue we most enjoy, and least employ, in our Christian experience. We all love to be forgiven – we expect it, and want it. But we find it a struggle to forgive; we resist it, and refuse oftentimes to do it.”

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust, said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you.”

Forgiveness is a foundational Bible truth. Why is forgiveness important? The best answer is because Jesus commanded us to forgive others. Scripture clearly communicates that if we don’t forgive, we won’t be forgiven: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-16). Read the rest of this entry »

The National Study of Youth and Religion recently released the results of an important research project. It represents one of the most ambitious and comprehensive studies of U.S. youth ever undertaken.

After reviewing the findings, we could not help but think about the connection between what is taught in the pre-teen years and how that influences teen attitudes and behaviors. As such, here are four key elements that can help your kids become devoted followers of Jesus for life. Read the rest of this entry »