Home Discipleship Journal

Christ in the Home

2005-05-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

This short, punchy article is simple, but good. The advice is old-fashioned and soundly biblical. Many of us believe we are operating Christian homes. But is Christ prominent in our conduct and in our speech? Dr. Don Boys challenges us on these issues.

http://cstnews.com/Code/Home1.html

The Worst Nightmare of Christian Parents: Raising Children for the Devil

2005-04-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

This powerful sermon from Sermonaudio.com by Dr. Alan Cairns of Faith Free Presbyterian Church is a wake-up call to all Christian parents. Last night, I attended a talent show at our area's largest Christian high school. I left in grief over what has become of Christian families and their children. The opening act was an imitation of the Four Tops and their song, "My Girl." As the drum music started, the teenagers came dancing out on stage. The next act featured six teenage girls dancing on stage in the gym in skin tight, low-rider jeans and tight t-shirts, writhing and flaunting their bodies to rock music. Worse, they called their act, "When the Spirit Moves", referring to the Holy Spirit. It was blasphemous to attribute their fleshly and sensual conduct to the Holy Spirit. The students in the audience were screaming and cheering and the parents and teachers were loud in their applause. I wanted to weep. All I could think is, "Lord Jesus, what has become of your church?"

Dr. Alan Cairns issues a warning in this sermon.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=4170511333

Words for Young Men

2005-04-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

I have neglected this blog for a very good reason. Our family has undergone a series of difficulties healthwise and my attention has been necessarily diverted to other things.
I am glad to be back providing further articles of interest on the Christian home and
family.

Perhaps no area is so neglected now in our effeminized age as the training and teaching of
young men. The whole idea of manhood has undergone such changes in our culture that a
return to biblical thinking is absolutely essential in our homes and churches. This series by
Rev. J.C. Ryle, a preacher of the late 19th Century, is as fresh today as it was when it was written. The ideas expressed represent sound godly wisdom.

http://www.gracegems.org/BOOKS/thoughts_for_young_men.htm

Great History of the Reformation at a Discount

2005-04-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

We are impoverished if we don't know our own history as a Christian people. These renowned histories have paved the way to understanding the seminal event of the last five centuries, the Protestant Reformation.

http://www.visionforum.com/booksandmedia/productdetail.aspx?productid=76600&categoryid=5

Spurgeon: On the Teaching and Training of Children

2005-04-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

This beautiful book by Charles Spurgeon is available online for free. It needs no introduction.

http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/cyc.htm

Rise Up, O Men of God

2005-04-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

This link below features a number of audio messages from various pastors and leaders who are concerned about what our effeminized culture has done to Christian men. Godly male leadership is in short supply these days. These sermons are powerful calls to biblical manhood.

http://www.cbmw.org/resources/audio.php

Embracing God's Plan for Authority

2005-04-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Several new popular television shows feature out-of-control families in need of a make-over. Families who are chosen to participate demonstrate on national television the breakdown of law and order within the home. Screaming and spitting children, trashed homes and desperate parents are rescued by trained professionals who come in and set things to rights. This article below explains why there is such a breakdown, even within Christian homes. God has a plan for authority. We reject it at our own peril.

http://www.cbmw.org/article.php?id=91

Catechizing and Teaching the Very Young

2005-03-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Here is the complete text of the shorter catechism for very young children. Even three-year-olds can learn the answers to these questions. This lays the foundation for more detailed answers later on. I used to sit in their little rocking chair down at eye level with my two toddlers and reward them with a raisin or cheerio if they got a right answer. They thought this was tremendous fun.

http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=cat_for_young_children.html

The Power of Early Impressions

2005-03-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

John Whitecross, a great servant of Christ, once wrote:

A missionary to the heathen writes thus: 'Some impressions of the importance and necessity of true religion, were made upon my mind at a very early period. The first particular one that I recollect, was, I think, when I was about five years of age. There happened one day a very violent storm of thunder and lightning in our neighbourhood; on which occasion a few Christian friends, who lived near us, terrified by its violence, came into my father's house. When under his roof, in a moment there came a most vivid flash, followed by a dreadful peal of thunder, which much alarmed the whole company, except my father, who, turning toward my mother and our friends, with the greatest composure repeated these lines of Dr Watts—

"The God that rules on high,
And thunders when He please:
That rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas:
This awe-ful God is ours:
Our Father and our love,
He will send down His heavenly powers
To carry us above."

These words, accompanied with such circumstances, sunk deep into my heart. I thought how safe and happy are those who have the great God for their father and friend; but being conscious that I had sinned against Him, I was afraid that He was not my father, and that, instead of loving me, He was angry with me; and this for some time after, continued to distress and grieve my mind.' He then proceeds to say, that these early impressions were succeeded by others, occasioned by parental admonitions, the death of a sister, the conversation of godly friends, and the reading of useful books, which terminated in his conversion.

John Whitecross, from The Illustrated Catechism

The Lord's Prayer: What Does It Mean?

2005-03-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Children and adults alike benefit from a study of the prayer that Jesus himself taught us to pray. Evangelicals and fundamentalists tend to overlook or diminish the importance of this prayer that Christ instructed us to pray. There are rich lessons here.

Below, the Westminster Shorter Catechism gives explanations for each of the petitions of the Lord's prayer. What is meant by "Hallowed be Thy Name", "Lead us not into temptation", and so forth? The Westminster Divines back in the 17th Century provided Biblical answers. (These answers are the same as that used by Charles Spurgeon in his beloved Puritan Catechism...) Share these with your children during Family Altar. It makes for wonderful discussion.

What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us?
Preface with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_100.html
What do we pray for in the first petition?
First petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_101.html
What do we pray for in the second petition?
Second petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_102.html
What do we pray for in the third petition?
Third petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/wsc/wsc_103.html
What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
Fourth petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_104.html
What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
Fifth petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_105.html
What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
Sixth petition with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_106.html
What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer teach us?
Conclusion with illustrations
http://www.shortercatechism.com/resources/whitecross/wsc_wh_107.html

For Heads of Families...

2005-03-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Read how seriously training in the faith was taken by the Puritans. This is from the supporting documents of the Westminster Confession of Faith, in the 17th Century. Where is this spirit today?

To the Christian Reader
Especially Heads of Families

AS we cannot but with grief of soul lament those multitudes of errors, blasphemies, and all kinds of profaneness, which have in this last age, like a mighty deluge, overflown this nation; so, among several other sins which have helped to open the flood-gates of all these impieties, we cannot but esteem the disuse of family instruction one of the greatest. The two great pillars upon which the kingdom of Satan is erected, and by which it is upheld, are ignorance and error; the first step of our manumission from this spiritual thraldom consists in having our eyes opened, and being turned from darkness to light, Acts xxvi. 18. How much the serious endeavours of godly parents and masters might contribute to an early seasoning the tender years of such as are under their inspection, is abundantly evident, not only from their special influence upon them, in respect of their authority over them, interest in them, continual presence with them, and frequent opportunities of being helpful to them; but also from the sad effects which, by woeful experience, we find to be the fruit of the omission of this duty. It were easy to set before you a cloud of witnesses, the language of whose practice hath been not only an eminent commendation of this duty, but also a serious exhortation to it. As Abel, though dead, yet speaks by his example to us for imitation of his faith, &c., Heb. xi. 4; so do the examples of Abraham, of Joshua, of the parents of Solomon, of the grandmother and mother of Timothy, the mother of Augustine, whose care was as well to nurse up the souls as the bodies of their little ones; and as their pains herein was great, so was their success no way unanswerable.

We should scarce imagine it any better than an impertinency, in this noon-day of the gospel, either to inform or persuade in a duty so expressly commanded, so frequently urged, so highly encouraged, and so eminently owned by the Lord in all ages with his blessing, but that our sad experience tells us, this duty is not more needful, than it is of late neglected. For the restoring of this duty to its due observance, give us leave to suggest this double advice.

The first concerns heads of families in respect of themselves; That as the Lord hath set them in place above the rest of their family, they would labour in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to be above them also. It is an uncomely sight to behold men in years babes in knowledge; and how unmeet are they to instruct others, who need themselves to be taught which be the first principles of the oracles of God, Heb. v. 12. Knowledge is an accomplishment so desirable, that the devils themselves knew not a more taking bait by which to tempt our first parents, than by the fruit of the tree of knowledge; So shall you be as gods, knowing good and evil. When Solomon had that favour shewed him of the Lord, that lie was made his own chuser what to ask, he knew no greater mercy to beg than wisdom, 1 Kings iii. 5, 9. The understanding is the guide and pilot of the whole man, that faculty which sits at the stern of the soul: but as the most expert guide may mistake in the dark, so may the understanding, when it wants the light of knowledge: Without knowledge the mind cannot be good, Prov. xix. 2; nor the life good, nor the eternal condition safe, Eph. iv. 18. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos. iv. 6. It is ordinary in scripture to set profaneness, and all kind of miscarriages, upon the score of ignorance. Diseases in the body have many times their rise from distempers in the head, and exorbitancies in practice from errors in judgment: and indeed in every sin there is something both ignorance and error at the bottom: for did sinners truly know what they do in sinning, we might say of every sin what the Apostle speaks concerning that great sin, Had they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; did they truly know that every sin is a provoking the Lord to jealousy, a proclaiming war against Heaven, a crucifying the Lord Jesus afresh, a treasuring up wrath unto themselves against the day of wrath; and that, if ever they be pardoned, it must be at no lower a rate than the price of his blood; it were scarce possible but sin, instead of alluring, should affright, and instead of tempting, scare. It is one of the arch devices and principal methods of Satan to deceive men into sin: thus he prevailed against our first parents, not as a lion, but as a serpent, acting his enmity under a pretence of friendship, and tempting them to evil under an appearance of good; and thus hath he all along carried on his designs of darkness, by transforming himself into an angel of light, making poor deceived men in love with their miseries, and hug their own destruction. A most sovereign antidote against all kind of errors, is to be grounded and settled in the faith: persons unfixed in the true religion, are very receptive of a false; and they who are nothing in spiritual knowledge, are easily made any thing. Clouds without water are driven to and fro with every wind, and ships without ballast liable to the violence of every tempest. But yet the knowledge we especially commend, is riot a brain-knowledge, a. mere speculation; this may be in the worst of men, nay, in the worst of creatures, the devils themselves, and that in such an eminency, as the best of saints cannot attain to in this life of imperfection; but an inward, a savoury, an heart knowledge, such as was in that martyr, who, though she could not dispute for Christ, could die for him. This is that spiritual sense and feeling of divine truths the Apostle speaks of, Heb. v. 1,1, Having your senses exercised, &c.

But, alas, we may say of most men's religion what learned Rivet[1] speaks concerning the errors of the fathers, "They were not so much their own errors, as the errors of the times wherein they lived!' Thus do most men take up their religion upon no better an account than Turks and Papists take up theirs, because it is the religion of the times and places wherein they live; and what they take tip thus slightly, they lay down as easily. Whereas an inward taste and relish of the things of God, is an excellent preservative to keep us settled in the most unsettled times. Corrupt and unsavoury principles have great advantage upon us, above those that are spiritual and sound; the former being suitable to corrupt nature, the latter contrary; the former springing up of themselves, the latter brought forth not without a painful industry. The ground needs no other midwifery in bringing forth weeds than only the neglect of the husbandman's hand to pluck them up; the air needs no other cause of darkness than the absence of the sun; nor water of coldness than its distance from the fire; because these are the genuine products of nature. Were it so with the soul, (as some of the philosophers have vainly imagined,) to come into the world as an abrasa tabula, a mere blank or piece of white paper, on which neither any thing is written, nor any blots, it would then be equally receptive of good and evil, and no more averse to the one than to the other: but how much worse its condition indeed is, were scripture silent, every man's experience does evidently manifest. For who is there that knows any thing of his own heart, and knows not thus much, that the suggestions of Satan have so easy and free admittance into our hearts, that our utmost watchfulness is too little to guard us from them? whereas the motions of God's Spirit are so unacceptable to us, that our utmost diligence is too little to get our hearts open to entertain them. Let therefore the excellency, necessity, difficulty of true wisdom stir up endeavours in you somewhat proportionable to such an accomplishment; Above all getting, get understanding, Prov. iv. 7; and search for wisdom as for hidden treasures, Prov. ii. 4. It much concerns you in respect of yourselves.

Our second advice concerns heads of families, in respect of their families. Whatever hath been said already, though it concerns every private Christian that hath a soul to look after; yet, upon a double account, it concerns parents and masters, as having themselves and others to look after: some there are, who, because of their ignorance, cannot; others, because of their sluggishness, will not mind this duty. To the former we propound the method of Joshua, who first began with himself, and then is careful of his family. To the latter we shall only hint, what a dreadful meeting those parents and masters must have at that great day, with their children and servants, when all that were under their inspection shall not only accuse them, but charge their eternal miscarrying upon their score.

Never did any age of the Church enjoy such choice helps as this of ours. Every age of the gospel bath bad its Creeds, Confessions, Catechisms, and such breviaries and models of divinity as have been singularly useful. Such forms of sound words (however in these days decried) have been in use in the Church ever since God himself wrote the Decalogue, as a summary of things to be done; and Christ taught us that prayer of his, as a directory what to ask. Concerning the usefulness of such compendiary systems, so much hath been said already by a learned divine[2] of this age, as is sufficient to satisfy all who are not resolved to remain unsatisfied.

Concerning the particular excellency of these ensuing treatises, we judge it unneedful to mention those eminent testimonies which have been given them from persons of known worth, in respect of their judgment, learning, and integrity, both at home and abroad, because themselves spake so much their own praise; gold stands not in need of varnish, nor diamonds of painting: give us leave only to tell you, that we cannot but account it an eminent mercy to enjoy such helps as these are. It is ordinary in these days for men to speak evil of things they know not; but if any are possessed with mean thoughts of these treatises, we shall only give the same counsel to them that Philip gives Nathanael, Come and see, John i. 46. It is no small advantage the reader now bath, by the addition of scriptures at large, whereby with little pains he may more profit, because with every truth lie may behold its scripture foundation. And, indeed, considering what a Babel of opinions, what a strange confusion of tongues, there is this day among them who profess they speak the language of Canaan, there is no intelligent person but will conclude that advice of the prophet especially suited to such an age as this, Isa. viii. 20, To the law, and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. If the reverend and learned composers of these ensuing treatises were willing to take the pains of annexing scripture proofs to every truth, that the faith of people might not be built upon the dictates of men, but the authority of God, so some considerable pains bath now been further taken in transcribing those scriptures; partly to prevent that grand inconvenience, (which all former impressions, except the Latin, have abounded with, to the great perplexing and disheartening of the reader,) the misquotation of scripture, the meanest reader being able, by having the words at large, to rectify whatever mistake may be in the printer in citing the particular place; partly, to prevent the trouble of turning to every proof, which could not but be very great; partly, to help the memories of such who are willing to take the pains of turning to every proof, but are unable to retain what they read; and partly, that this may serve as a Bible commonplace, the several passages of scripture, which are scattered up and down in the word, being in this book reduced to their proper head, and thereby giving light each to other. The advantages, you see, in this design, are many and great; the way to spiritual knowledge is hereby made more easy, and the ignorance of this age more inexcusable.

If, therefore, there be any spark in you of love to God, be not content that any of yours should be ignorant of him whom you so much admire, or any haters of him whom you so much love. If there be any compassion to the souls of them who are under your care, if any regard of your being found faithful in the day of Christ, if any respect to future generations, labour to sow these seeds of knowledge, which may grow up in after-times. That you may be faithful herein, is the earnest prayer of,

Henry Wilkinson,
John Fuller.
Edward Perkins.
Richard Kentish.
D.D. A.M.P.
James Nalton.
Ralph Venning.
Alexander Pringle.
Roger Drake.
Thomas Goodwin.
Jeremiah Burwell.
William Wickins.
William Taylor.
Matthew Pool.
Joseph Church.
Thomas Watson.
Samuel Annesley.
William Bates.
Has. Bridges.
John Jackson.
Thomas Gouge.
John Loder.
Samuel Smith.
John Seabrooke.
Charles Offspring.
Francis Raworth.
Samuel Rowles.
John Peachie.
Arthur Jackson.
William Cooper.
John Glascock.
James Jollife.
John Cross.
William Jenkin.
Leo. Cooke.
Obadiah Lee.
Samuel Clerk.
Thomas Manton.
John Sheffield.
Samuel Slater.
Thomas Jacomb.
Matthew Haviland.
William Whitaker.
George Griffiths.
William Blackmore.
[1] Rivet. Crit. Sacr. Rivet. Crit. Sacr.
[2] Dr Tuckney in his Sermon on 2 Tim. i. 13. Dr Tuckney in his Sermon on 2 Tim. i. 13.

Calvary!

2005-03-15T17:14:00.000-08:00

Share this sermon with your family before Easter Sunday. The time leading up to the day when we remember the Resurrection of Jesus can be a rich opportunity for reflection on Christ's substitutionary atonement for our sins. This doctrine is under attack now, like many others. Fuller Theological Seminary had pastors attending the 2004 Pastors' Conference read a new book that challenges the penal atonement of Christ. Apparently, Evangelicals are now retracing the steps of mainline churches. This is all the more reason to teach our children this most essential doctrine of the Christian faith.

This sermon was preached by J.C. Ryle, a 19th Century pastor. The title says it all, "Calvary!"

http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/calvary.htm

Protecting Your Children's Innocence

2005-03-13T15:46:00.000-08:00

This article from No Greater Joy Newsletter points out that even church can be a place where your child needs vigilant parents.

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=25&backPID=2&tt_news=220

Developing a Family Altar

2005-03-09T07:10:00.000-08:00

This article by Al Troester gives parents both the encouragement and help to start a family altar time at home. Time with our children flies by so quickly that every effort must be made to spend quality time in God's Word on a regular basis.

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/famaltar.html

Why Children Should Fly To Christ

2005-03-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

This beautiful sermon for children from Robert Murray McCheyne was first preached many years ago. It still bears reading aloud to children today.

http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bmcheyne.html

Rearing and Educating Children

2005-03-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

This audio sermon by Irish pastor Rev. Ivan Foster shows the importance from God's Word in rearing and educating children in the fear of the Lord.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5568

Tree Hugging in Sunday School?

2005-03-01T04:20:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Group Publishing, young children in Sunday School are being encouraged to hug trees and then talk about how they feel. We've come a long way from Bible memory and Scriptural teaching.

http://www.americanpolicy.org/more/church.htm

A Warning on Church Youth Groups

2005-03-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

This website below documents some of the things going on in evangelical church "youth ministry". Many parents have no idea what their young people are doing at church "lock-ins" or other events. As this article points out, you may want to check.

http://www.spiritualjunkfood.com/outrageous_activiites.htm

Family Read-Aloud Library

2005-02-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Vision Forum offers a wonderful collection of books called the Family Read-Aloud Library. We have many of these books in our home. Your children will love them and so will you!

http://www.visionforum.com/booksandmedia/productdetail.aspx?productid=86754&categoryid=32

An Ancient Hymn of Praise

2005-02-26T17:39:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful hymn to teach your children. We say it as a confession of faith rather than sing it. This hymn dates back to the early 4th century during the Arian controversy. This hymn was sung by early Christians not only as a hymn of praise, but as a statement of faith. Note the creed like tone of this hymn and how thorough it is in declaring the basics of the Christian faith.

Te Deum Laudamus

We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting. To Thee all Angels cry aloud; the heavens and all the powers therein To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim: cry with unceasing voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts.
The heavens and the earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee
The noble army of Martyrs praise thee.
The Holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge Thee:
The Father of an infinite Majesty.
Thine adorable, true and only Son.
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
Thou having overcome the sting of death didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting.
Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Govern them and lift them up forever.
Day by day we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day to keep us without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have hoped in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded!

His the Scepter! His the Throne!

2005-02-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

This Lord's Day Eve I'm thinking about the grand hymns of the Christian faith. Hymnals have been hauled out of churches and thrown in dumpsters all over America. I think the act is symbolic of the contempt we now see for sound Bible doctrine. The truly great hymns of the faith are doctrinal and confessional in nature. They are decidedly different from the pap that comprises the choruses sung in many churches now. Most of these praise choruses could be sung to the anti-christ with no problem due to the sheer ambiguity. "I love you, Lord. Rain down on me, open the eyes of my heart, Lord"....etc. etc.

The words of this hymn below speak of Jesus Christ, not as gentle Jesus, or the babe in the manger, or as the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief. While these things about Jesus are all true, this hymn praises Jesus Christ as the triumphant, risen Savior, our King, our Monarch, our glorious Sovereign who will someday split the skies and return for us, His bride. This hymn is sung to the tune of, "Jesus, What a Friend For Sinners" in case anyone is interested. This hymn is usually only found in English hymnals. As believers we can sing this with fierce joy, even in the face of the apostasy that seeks to remove Jesus from this throne. The Lord God Omnipotent reigns, forever and ever, Amen.

Alleluia! sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him
when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise,“I am with you evermore”?

Alleluia! bread of angels,
Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! Alleluia!Glory Be to God On High!
To the Father, and the Savior,
Who has won the victory
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Fount of Love and Sanctity,
Alleluia! Alleluia! To the Triune Majesty.

Thomas Watson on Catechizing: Training in the Faith is Essential

2005-02-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

The great Puritan, Thomas Watson, lays the groundwork for the catechizing of new believers and children. Reading this excellent piece, it becomes very clear that we are paying the consequences in the Church for failing to train our children in Scripture and failing to teach them to fear the Lord.

http://www.westminstershortercatechism.net/Catechism.html

An Old-Fashioned Home

2005-02-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

This superb article by J. Wilbur Chapman, written many years ago, is as relevant today it was when it was first published. What a difference families like this would make today!

http://www.glenwoodhills.org/etc/printer-friendly.asp?ID=305

Reading Shapes a Child's Character

2005-02-24T04:49:00.000-08:00

This article from Teaching Home Magazine points out that literature shapes the character of our children. I recently saw a book with this title, Gross and Weird Stuff from the Bible. On the cover was a cartoon drawing of John the Baptist, gleefully dipping locusts in honey. The entire book was nothing but biblical gross-out jokes for boys 8-12. This is John the Baptist that John 5:35 calls, "A burning and a shining light." The message the book sends is that the Bible and its heroes can be treated as a huge joke. Giving children books of this sort is to scorn what so many Christian martyrs have suffered to protect and preserve the Word of God for us today. We need to make sure the books we hand our children will instill a respect for holy things in their minds.

http://www.teachinghome.com/supplement/summer00/reading.cfm

2005-02-24T04:43:00.000-08:00

This is me with my two youngest, William and Mary. Mary was adopted from Romania just a few months before this photo was taken. We began teaching the children a verse for every letter of the alphabet at this age, as found in the New England Primer. They loved getting rewarded with a raisin or cheerio for getting it right. Will and Mary are now 8 and 9 and they'd love to quote you all 40 verses of Hebrews 11!

Part of the reason false doctrine is making its way into the church is because we are not training our children in the Scriptures. They simply don't know what the Bible teaches

Rediscovering Catechism

2005-02-24T04:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the old ways really are the best. This excellent book shows how to teach your children the Christian faith in an orderly and systematic fashion.

http://www.booksonthepath.com/detail.aspx?ID=59

Family-Integrated Churches--Back to the Future

2005-02-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

Age-segregated churches have destroyed the ability for the older to teach the younger in the biblically prescribed pattern. The seniors are in one group, the singles, the youth group, the middle-schoolers, the preschoolers, etc. are all in their own groups.

There is a move away from this model and I think it is an encouraging sign. Here's a link to the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches.

http://www.visionforumministries.org/sections/ncfic/default.asp

A Wonderful Source for Books

2005-02-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

In all my years in producing Christian radio programs I have never found a better site than this one:

www.booksonthepath.com

They have truly lovely books on home and family, marriage and child-rearing. The company is run by a Christian homeschooling family. They are doing a great job on behalf of Christ's Church in providing solid, biblical materials.

The Duties of Parents

2005-02-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

This 19th century pastor, JC Ryle has so many important things to say to Christian parents about their duties before God in rearing children. We think that times have changed and somehow that these truths are no longer relevant to our age. Think again. Mankind has never really changed. The issues of sin and rebellion, Salvation and redemption are always relevant. Here available online is Pastor Ryle's The Duties of Parents.

http://www.anglicanlibrary.org/ryle/parents/

It's Easier Than You Think!

2005-02-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

As a busy mother of five, homemaker, employee and wife, I struggle to make sure I am meeting my most important obligations to my family. My husband works a day job, plus is a professional trumpet player who often has to work evenings, so much of the Bible time in our house falls to me. Three of our children are in high school and our youngest two are ages 8 and 9. My husband and I made the decision that I would homeschool our two youngest this year and it has brought several changes in our home. This decision was made in August, just before school started, after months of considering all the angles. While I had homeschooled our oldest two in the past, I had been dissatisfied with certain aspects and had given up. At the last minute this past summer, however, the Lord provided the encouragement to try again through a book by R.C. Sproul, Jr. called When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Home Schooling. The book basically summed up the heart of Christian homeschooling: discipleship. Once I began to understand where I had gone wrong before, I committed to looking at our time at home as a chance for me to spend more time to train William and Mary up in the faith in a way that had been impossible while they were in traditional school. We set out in September and I can't tell you how excited I am to see what has been accomplished through the Lord. I work from home so I am able to be flexible with my time. We spend the first hour of every day in God's Word. First we read from the Scriptures. We are going through the Old Testament and are in Exodus right now. Next, we do our Bible memory. (Since September 7, William and Mary have memorized Hebrews Chapter 11 in its entirety, Psalm 112, Psalm 23 and 24, Hebrews 4:12, II Peter 1:20-21 and we have just started another Psalm.) Bible memory work consists of them reading up to 6 verses over at a brisk pace, about 4 -5 times in a row. By the end of the week, the verses are completely memorized with ease. This method is amazingly successful. After Bible memory, we work on our Westminster Shorter Catechism for a few minutes. One question is taken at a time, one phrase at a time, as necessary. We are on Question 33, "What is Justification?" After a hymn and a morning prayer, we're done. But what progress has been made in this way by being consistent and not giving up! Even if the rest of the day doesn't go well, we've had a good day if we have had Bible. I wanted to give this testimonial about what God can do in the life of your children if you establish a consistent time each day for his Word. When we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, there is great blessing in our homes.

Here is the link to the radio interview I did with RC Sproul, Jr. on his book, When You Rise Up.
http://www.vcyamerica.org/crosstalk/event_popup.cfm?programid=835

Ingrid

Why We Catechize Our Children

2005-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

This article from the Presbyterian Banner says it well. There are solid, Bible-based reasons to train up our children, line upon line, precept upon precept. Either we will, or the world will.

http://public.csusm.edu/public/guests/rsclark/memcat.htm

Wanted: Deliberately Christian Parents

2005-02-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

This excellent article articulates how important it is that we deliberately and faithfully teach our children in the faith.

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%3D153296%26M%3D50018,00.html