This month we are approaching Easter Sunday which we often call Resurrection Sunday, for it is a remembrance of that first Easter Sunday on which Jesus Christ our Lord rose from the grave. While it is good and right for us to celebrate Easter each year, perhaps we also need reminding that every Sunday is a resurrection Sunday. Indeed, each Sunday that we gather is a continued celebration of the Risen King and of our expectation of His return to rule and to reign forevermore.
Traditions are a powerful force in the life of a family. They are a needed element as you build the culture and texture of your family by forming and reinforcing what you want your family to believe, do, and be. Their power is in their ability to bring identity, stability, memories, and teach shared values. Learn more about the importance of family traditions in todays #FamilyFriday.
So many times, our family life becomes consumed by our kids and the activities surrounding our kids. We often get lost in the fray of these things because of a good desire to give our kids great lives, memorable experiences, and meaningful gifts. But one of the sure fire ways to destroy our families is to make it all about our kids. Join me today on our #FamilyFriday discussion as we learn that one of the greatest gifts we can give to our kids is a strong and loving marriage to our spouse.
You’re looking at Facebook (or Instagram or Twitter) and all of a sudden you think, “Why isn’t my life like that? Why is their life so perfect? I work hard at loving my spouse, raising my kids, and working my job. I deserve a picture-perfect life too!” Be careful to not judge your life by Facebook. Learn to combat Facebook Jealousy on this #FamilyFriday.
You need to have awkward conversations with your kids...We live in a world where all sexual desire is glamorized, where people are divided and violent over issues of race, where people are told that gender is fluid, and many other confusing issues. Your kids need you to help them think about and respond to these issues.
Ingratitude is the default state of the human heart. So we must fight for gratitude, and we must cultivate it with great care and effort. Find out how you can cultivate gratitude in your family in this #FamilyFriday video.
Saying “No” is hard for us because we live in a “Yes” culture. But our kids need us to say “No” because “No” is ultimately a loving word. I hope that you'll take a few minutes to watch my #FamilyFriday on this topic. Make sure to like the First Baptist Bonham Facebook page to get more content like this! Or return here each week where I'll also post the video.
Here a couple of great articles that I used in preparation for this video:
You’re NOT your child’s savior. The temptation to rescue our children from the pains of this life often feels overwhelming. Take a moment to view my third #FamilyFriday discussion.
Here are two great articles that I used in preparation for this video:
We often feel the pressure to believe that the grander a gesture the more positive its impact on our family and relationships. Take a moment to watch my video to learn about the majesty of the mundane activities of life and how important they are to building strong families. #FamilyFriday
Recently I receive an email that caused me terrible consternation and frustration. The focus of this email was on church “growth” and suggested several quick “steps” that churches could make to achieve nearly instantaneous “growth.” Setting aside for a moment the formulaic approach to church growth (which has many difficulties of its own—perhaps another article on that later), I was immediately drawn to one of the “steps” and its appalling disregard for God’s command to preach (see 2 Tim. 4:1-4!!). Step 4 was, “Stop preaching and start communicating. There's a difference.”
Most of us find ourselves unwittingly taking the Bible out of context or falling for the “popular” conception of a particular passage’s meaning without considering whether the popular view is the correct view. Without doubt, even when we misuse or misunderstand the Word of God unintentionally, it is dangerous. However, what happens when people intentionally take the Word of God and twist it for their own purposes? This is called false teaching. False teachers and their deceptive practices are nothing new to the church.
I originally wrote this for First Baptist Bonham in the Summer of 2015 after the SCOTUS decision that invalidated laws banned homosexual "marriage." With the recent headlines where the Chief Justice of the Alabama issued an order for probate judges not to grant marriage licenses to homosexuals seeking to be married, I thought I would post this to help you think through the issue of gay "marriage" from a biblical perspective. At the end of the article you will find several helpful websites and resources for dealing with this question. Make sure to check them out.
Well, I am finally getting around to publishing a few things on the happenings of last year...Nothing like waiting until the new year to do so huh?! Anyway, I shared these things with First Baptist Bonham a couple months after I returned from Israel last Spring. Below is a few brief highlights of some of the things that I witnessed on my trip to Israel so that you could get a glimpse for yourself into the land and times of the Bible.
The great complaint of pastors during the summer is that people treat church like they treat school. When school is on summer vacation, it seems that people tend to treat church as if it is on vacation too. Of course, we all understand that people go on trips and spend time doing some special activities, but a definite laxity is present in churches. Many times, people simply don’t feel like coming, or they find other things that they would rather do. To combat this temptation to let your participation and investment at church fade during the summer, let me provide you with a few reasons that you should continue to attend your church and invest with your brothers and sisters in Christ as they worship and do some exciting activities.
The season of Easter is upon us once again. This is the time of year that we as believers in Jesus Christ remember and celebrate His death and resurrection on behalf of our sins. However, for most people this time of the year is more about family traditions, the Easter Bunny, and candy. While all of those things may be enjoyable aspects of the Easter season, none of them is what Easter is truly about. This is the struggle of the Christian life often times—letting good things overshadow the best thing. What I want to challenge you with this Easter is to prioritize how you celebrate the Easter season this year. Here are three things that you should do as we approach and celebrate Easter this year.
Biblical morality is black and white. It is not grey. In our world today, almost nothing is obscene or shameful. Perhaps nothing illustrates this more acutely than the recent cultural infatuation with 50 Shades of Grey. The popularity of the book series along with the media celebration of the movie clearly document what Al Mohler has called an “evolution of pornography” which has seen a shift from visually driven male targeted pornography to the preponderance of narrative oriented female targeted pornography. Do not doubt that 50 Shades of Grey is pornography for its purpose is to produce illicit sexual impulses, desires, and acts that occur beyond the context of martial intimacy. Given this situation, I want to address this apparent invasion of pornography on the larger culture and even in the church itself.
A couple of years ago, Kimberly Iverson, a blogger for The Gospel Coalition, wrote a piece called “Mirror, Mirror in My Kid—Reflecting All I Said and Did.” This insightful little piece talked about how our children often show us what is truly in our heart and behavior. In fact, the whole process of parenting seems to be a giant exercise in revealing the glaring flaws in our personal character, patience, and godliness.
