“The Shepherd’s Crook” March 30, 2014 Sherwin Christian Church PO Box 123 6155 NW Sandpiper Lane Columbus, Kansas 66725 “In Touch” by Charles Stanley “A Mother’s Greatest Gift” 2 Timothy 1:1-7 A. Introduction: Mothers are givers by nature, so throughout life, they offer their sons and daughters all kinds of blessings. But the most important thing a godly mom can give her children is the motivation to believe in God and know Him intimately (Deut. 6:1-3, 5-7). B. Conflict affected the first Christians. 1. Principles: If you want your children to survive the secular society in which we live, teach them biblical principles. Most important is, “Obey God, and leave all the consequences to Him.” Teach children the truth, and they will recognize lies. 2. Pattern: Children must see you consistently live out your faith, or they will think you are a hypocrite. Children often follow in their parents’ footsteps (e.g., Eve and Cain, Rebekah and Jacob, and Jochebed and Moses). 3. Persistence: Even if kids don’t “get it” the first time, keep teaching, disciplining, and exemplifying trust and obedience. When your family faces hard times, use adversity as an opportunity to demonstrate faith by praying together. It’s through difficulties that kids learn how to live out Christianity. 4. Participation: Get involved in your kids’ daily lives by doing the things you want them to do. (e.g., Dr. Stanley’s friends’ parents didn’t go to church with their children, which sent a message that it wasn’t important.) 5. Praise: Encouragement is more effective than condemnation. (e.g., Dr. Stanley’s mother never shamed him for bad grades if he had done his best.) 6. Prayer: Children need to hear you pray for them, call their names before God, and make specific requests for them. Nothing you do for your children is more powerful than prayer. Also, be sure to pray with them. 7. Planning: If you want to pass your faith on to the next generation, you must set aside time to read the Bible as a family and talk about spiritual truths. C. Closing: Parents, it’s your responsibility to raise godly children. Thankfully, you are not alone. The Father sends the Holy Spirit to enable, strengthen, and encourage believers. Copyright 2014 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only. “Up Words” by Max Lucado “So Many Hurts” If hurts were hairs—we’d all look like grizzlies! So many hurts. When teachers ignore your work, their neglect hurts. When your girlfriend drops you, when your husband abandons you, when the company fires you, it hurts. Rejection always hurts. People bring pain. Sometimes deliberately. Sometimes randomly. So where do you turn? Hitman? Jim Beam and friends? Pity Party Catering Service? Retaliation has its appeal, but Jesus has a better idea! Grace is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But Grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more. Hebrews 12:15 urges us, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows. Forgiveness may not happen all at once. But it can happen with you. From GRACE “In The Middle of the Storm” In the middle of the storm, I felt God smile All my fears faded, if only for a while Though it was dark and stormy, the tempest winds flew In that darkest moment, I knew Id make it through. I felt that peaceful smile, shine down from above All in an instant, I was flooded with His love The storm was not yet over, had a fight ahead I had to take hold of, the Bible words Id read. Remember that He loves you, He shall never leave Cast your cares upon Him, and in His name believe Hes the breath that I breathe, the Rock of Salvation Hes the Lord Almighty, God of all creation. So when your tempest hits, and darkness is around Know that God is with you, and feel His peace deep down Know that you can make it, that God will keep you strong The darkness will fade and the Light will come along. Author Unknown Dwayne Savaya’s e-mail Ministry
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:10:29 +0000
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