Run With Horses

Are your Goals for your Children hindering their Spiritual Growth?

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What do you want for your children? Are your goals hindering spiritual growth?
 
Many people have goals for themselves and for their children that fall short of God’s plan and purpose for their lives. Where do you stand?
Where do you get your goals for your children? Do you have clear goals for your children?
 
At the National Disciple Makers Forum ,#NDMF2023, Renae Sprouls talked about the culture problem facing the church. As she and her husband mentor young parents, they often hear variations on the same themes when they ask about goals for children:
“We want them to think for themselves. We want them to be successful. We want them to question authority. We want them to be happy.”
While those are not all awful things, they are built on a few dangerous assumptions:
1. There is no authority outside of self.
2. Self is the moral authority.
 
There is no longer a general knowledge and acceptance of the Bible as an authority for life.
 
Renae challenged parents to keep two things in mind if they want to be raising children who are not swept along with the winds of culture.
 
1. Be really clear about Jesus.
* Jesus had a high view of Scripture
* Jesus came to fulfill the law
* The Bible is God’s Word; there is no higher authority.
* Man shall not live by bread alone. The spiritual life matters. Scripture is the foundation.
 
2. Teach your children to feed themselves.
* Parents are responsible for teaching life skills. Handling God’s Word is an important one!
* Many people don’t know where to start with the Bible. Encourage and teach everyone – you can and must feed yourself from God’s Word. Give them freedom and confidence to try.
*Children can do it too! Learn to eat like an adult! What is modeled and expected becomes normal.
- TV, movies, music, SM, are all like junk food; they kill our taste for real truth.
- Teach your kids, “If you don’t like it, keep trying it.” You will learn to appreciate your vegetables and your Bible as you grow up. If you find truth you don’t like, don’t ask what is wrong with the truth, but what is wrong with me that I don’t like the truth. God changes us over time as we grow in Him.

Family Discipleship 101

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Family Discipleship 101
What?
There is a family discipleship crisis! How do we know? Look at the church culture and compare it to the world culture. Do you see a difference? No? There is a family discipleship crisis!
Parents are often overwhelmed with their own spiritual issues and have trouble finding the time and spiritual energy to help their children navigate life biblically.
So what is family discipleship? It is simply parents taking responsibility for their own and their children’s spiritual growth. Instead of leaving it up to the church to disciple your children, it is taking initiative to know and grow your kids! And it all starts with your personal walk with Jesus.
 
Why?
First, it is your role a parent. It is in the job description! Deut. 6.
My understanding is that in the past, maybe even through the 1960’s, parents were much more involved and aware of the need to be involved in their kids’ lives. Today, many expect the church and Christian schools to do it and even choose a church based on what is available for their kids!
Second, you are in the best place to work with your kids throughout the formative years of their life. You are with them most often and should be in a place to know them best.
Third, no one but God loves them more than you do!
 
 
How-To?
Keep it simple and build a foundation you can add to as they grow.
My personal belief is that all disciple making is relational, and this is even more important with your kids. Really get to know them, not just tell them what to do.
 
Two keys are time and communication.
 
Talk about spiritual things with your children as you face things. You might not be able to share everything, but you can share general thoughts about where you are and the struggle and victories in your spiritual life. As you go through life, help your kids see God at work around you and in your family. Point out the blessings and teach them to be thankful. Having this as a goal is a great challenge for those of us who might not be naturally as thankful as we should be. Knowing your kids are watching you helps motivate you to be intentional about giving thanks!
 
Encourage your children to read the bible themselves and learn to look for God at work. Help them see what obedience looks like.
 
Keep your children engaged with the church family and help them learn to see God at work in the greater church family.
 
Take baby steps and build on the foundation you make! It is worth the effort so keep going! You can do it!

Are you a Single Christian Parent? – Tips for Spiritually Supporting Your Children

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Single Christian Parent – Tips for Spiritually Supporting Your Children
 
Things not to do –
--Don’t badmouth the unsaved parent or the divorced parent. “Don’t listen to your mom.” Better way to approach that. “What does God say?” You can pray together for the unbelieving person.
--Don’t give in to depression, hopelessness, fear over ruining the kid because it’s just you. Don’t give up!
 
1. Trust God – He will do His part
Though it’s not ideal for both parents not to be Christians, God can work in spite of that.
Example: Timothy (with solid faith of mom and grandma)
Not ideal to be raised by one parent, God does amazing things there too!
 
2. You do your part – Be intentional
Work to build the relationship.
Be honest about your own limitations (time, work hours, expectations). God will provide.
Help child to learn to trust God as you trust Him, too.
Spend time in the Word of God together. Take child to church (if can).
Share your own spiritual testimony with them, apply Bible truths to daily life, pray together, etc. Make sure your spiritual life is open to your children, invite them into your relationship with God.
Try to provide good alternatives for your child if you have to be working and gone. -- library, creative outlets. Not just leaving them to video games, movies, etc.
Your attitude is so important! Don’t let regrets, past mistakes, etc. weigh you down and color how you move forward.
You, as the parent, can do a lot to encourage spiritual growth
 
 
3. Look for and Rely on the Christians around you
-- Christians in your own family (role models)
-- Christian role models in your church family
Connect your child with those who can assist in the gaps of your own parenting.
Pull in your church family – If you have no Christian wife, look for Christian women in your church who could meet some of those needs, be a good role model for your daughter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Look for the man who can be a dad to your son or the woman who can be a mom to your daughter. Encourage those relationships with healthy couples. Encourage friendships with girls (or boys if sons) who have healthy relationships with their parents.
 
4. Expect and trust your child to do his/her part, too. They must choose and respond.
Sometimes we feel bad for our kids, so we as parents try to overprotect them. It’s difficult, but God uses difficulties to grow people, too!
 
 
It is difficult. It’s not what you chose necessarily, but God can still do great things in you and your children!
Be patient over time, do the best you can, be open with your kids, understand that God is at work. Be in it for the long haul.
 
It is one day at a time. God is doing His part, you do yours and trust Him with the results!
 

What is a self-feeding Christian?

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What is a self-feeding Christian?
 
What is it?
A self-feeding Christian is a believer who can open God’s Word himself, read it, understand the context sufficiently, and be able to apply principles to his own life. He doesn’t need someone else to explain everything to him, being “spoon-fed” like a newborn.
 
Why is this important?
1. You need to eat at least once or twice a day, but you go to church only once or twice a week. How will you be fed spiritually if you can’t feed yourself? If you wait to be fed by the pastor, you will become malnourished.
2. If you can’t read the Bible for yourself, you must rely on others to interpret and explain it to you, causing you to run into the possibility of being deceived by those who misinterpret the Bible. How will you know if they are leading you accurately?
3. Our goal is to become a disciple-maker. If you can’t feed yourself, how can you help someone else?
4. The Bible is written for the common person to be able to learn and grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Anyone can read and do this! It is a huge joy to discover truths for yourself! God wants to reveal Himself to you, and He wants you to grow by reading His Word and sharing it with others.
 
How do I become a self-feeding Christian?
1. Start reading the Bible every day! You can follow a Bible reading plan, or simply read through a book of the Bible at a time.
2. You can begin by reading a short devotional and observing how someone else reads and interprets the Bible, applying it to everyday life.
3. You can read the Bible together with a friend.
4. Attend church weekly, pay specific attention to the Bible being shared. Do you agree? If not, why not? Know your Bible!
5. Memorize Scripture. Even when you can’t read, the Bible can speak to you.

What do you expect from church?

What do you expect from church?
 
What are your expectations of other people in the church? Are they different than what you expect from yourself?
 
(https://research.lifeway.com/2019/10/14/8-unrealistic-expectations-of-church-leaders-and-how-to-navigate-them/) By Joe McKeever
 
Some unrealistic expectations of leaders and church members adapted from Lifeway Research:
1. Every sermon will be a winner.
2. Every church member will be happy and kind all the time.
3. Every doctrinal question will be answered in the sermons.
4. Every church program or event will be successful.
5. Every worship service will meet everyone's needs, felt and actual.
6. The church is solely responsible for all children's spiritual development.
7. The pastor should be available to everyone at all times.
8. Every church leader should be superhuman, never tired, grumpy, needing a raise, etc.
 
The answer as presented in the article is pretty good.
1. Get people praying. Particularly about real spiritual heart change and the spiritual condition of the church and community.
2. Address issues in small groups. Perfectionism, the role of the church in life and ministry, the mission of Jesus and every Believers responsibility are good topics for small group study and discussion.
3. Focus on discipleship. If every Believer is dedicated to intentionally applying efforts to growing in the character of Jesus and making real intentional efforts to be engaged in the mission of Jesus to the world, real spiritual growth and heart change results.
 
I would add to that, encourage and develop a church culture that is pro Scripture. Encourage reading daily, not just a verse or two but multiple chapters. Share good audio Bibles, and encourage listening to Scripture. Develop a church culture that is hungry for God's Word and mature enough to be directly engaged in reading and studying it themselves , not just relying on pastors and teachers in the church for their spiritual growth. Hear, Obey and Share.

Prayer, fasting and discipleship

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Prayer, Fasting and Disciple Making - PT. 2
One clear point that struck me as important. In DMM around the world, there is a clear focus on prayer and fasting over leadership and strategy.
Biblical foundations are the goals but churches and groups can use the Bible to justify drastically different methodologies.
This conference focused on Scripture and DM. The churches I have been a part of my whole life also focus on Scripture but seem more concerned with correct teaching than obedience. Not that a call to obedience isn't there, it just isn't support well in the church structure and systems. Heart issues aren't addressed to the extent that truth is taught.
Is that just my experience or would you agree?
We rely more on a better program or event, really focusing on doing it well, instead of really focusing on relying on God to do the work. At least a lack of prayer would seem to indicate our focus.
"Be obedient, good luck, there will be a lesson on the work of the HS as it relates to the justification of the Saints next week. See you then." I am asking if we can do better at supporting a life of obedience without leaving Biblical doctrine behind. I think the answer is yes.
Jesus seems to have spent consistent regular time in prayer. He was marked by it to the point that His disciples, who would have been familiar with prayer in their culture as Jews, asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They saw a difference in His prayers and the prayers of the spiritual leaders in the temple.

Prayer and Fasting in Disciple Making - Pt.1

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Prayer, Fasting and Disciple Making - PT. 1
Just returned from National Disciple Makers Forum 2023 in Indianapolis, IN.
Today, we want to give an overview of Prayer and Fasting from the conference and add some of our thoughts and experiences. 
Shodankeh Johnson - West Africa - God's Word can Change a CountryAlthough the focus of the conference was on God's Word, Prayer was a parallel theme over the two days."We talk prayer, without praying". Shodankeh  Ouch.In the Disciple Making Movement in Africa, they teach people to pray as they walk as they sit down and as they stand up. From Deut 6:7 but applied to the prayer life of the church.
Prayer in America: A Detailed Analysis of the Various Dimensions of Prayerby Paul Froese, Jeremy E. Uecker(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jssr.12810)
Does prayer with others matter?Does time in prayer matter?
#NDMF2023

Why is community so important?

Why is Community so Important? (in the life of a follower of Jesus)
We aren't meant to walk through this life alone.  From beginning to end you see humanity living in a close relationship with others.
Genesis 2:18 - It isn't good that man should be alone. True for all of us!
Why?1.We all have a tendency to put ourselves at the center of the universe. Being around other people causes us to see that we are NOT the center. Arguments and fights in society are usually caused or made worse by the selfish nature of all people.Philippians 2:3 Galatians 6:2Romans 12:18 We learn about ourselves because we are forced to learn to get along with other people!
2.We will all need help at some time or another.Ecclesiastes 4:12 Ephesians 4:11-16 The church is uniquely equipped to build up each other!
3.In some little ways we learn about forgiveness. It makes what God did more understandable and awesome! It is difficult for us to forgive little things.Ephesians 4:32 
4.God has chosen to use as the vehicles for His message of reconciliation to the world.2 Corinthians 5:20It is crazy to know that God invites us in to be a part of His mission to the world.
ConclusionSo what do we do with the knowledge that God has called us to be in the world but not of the world? Light bringers united in His marvelous body, the Church?Ephesians 4:1 

The Untouchables. . .Who are they in your life?

The Untouchables. . .Who are they in your life?
Everyone sins. Sorry if this is news to you, but it's true. What is sin you ask? Sin is defined as missing the mark.From Merriam-Webster sin is an offense against religious or moral law or an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible. Good old Merriam-Webster let us down on this one!A more Biblical definition would agree with th at definition and add that sin is a missing of a standard, mark, or goal; or the breach of a relationship, rebellion.
Dart board - bullseye is not sin, everything else is. Sin is not always bad stuff!For example?
But that isn't our topic today! Today I want to think about our attitude toward sin.  Particularly someone else's sin.If people struggle with a sin you don't, how do you view them?
Do you look down on people who sin in a way you don't think you would? 
What kind of person do you look at and want to run the other way? Ignore, look down on, judge, criticize, shun, attack even.What are the sins you find especially reprehensible? The ones you don't think you would ever do? Do you believe those sins are somehow worse than your own?
Is there ever a person we should intentionally stay away from?
The idea that sometimes we are so against a particular sin (lifestyle) that we forget that this is not their biggest problem. What IS their biggest problem?
Jesus' interactions with "untouchables"-- Samaritan woman-- Woman who wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. "If you knew what kind of woman this is..."-- Zaccheus-- Matthew, the tax collector-- Lepers -- the unclean-- Woman caught in adultery Jn. 8
Behavior versus Heart issues (similar with child rearing. You shouldn't merely address the behavior, but the motives behind it, the heart sin.)
What was Jesus' attitude toward these? He was kind, truthful about sin, but compassionate. He calls ALL to come to Him. Did Jesus die only for good people?
How do you develop and maintain Jesus' view? That is the hard part! To see people as God does!
How do you develop and maintain relationships with the untouchables? What does that mean? What does it look like? What doesn't it look like?
Why is it important?
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What is the ”work of the ministry”?

What is the "work of the ministry"?
If I asked you to tell me what ministry is, what would you say? Who does it? If it is "work" does it only count if you get paid to do it?Just what is the work of the ministry and who is responsible for it?
Where do we typically get our image of what the work of the ministry is?
What does the Bible say?
Eph.4:11-16 
If you've grown up in the church, you may have the tendency to view ministry as doing certain, pre-decided ministries within the church (pastor, deacon, nursery worker, Sunday school teacher, usher). Breaking away from considering ministry as ONLY these can be tough!
Ministry is all of that and more! Ministry is lived out in the relationships of every follower of Jesus.Ministry can also be reaching out to those who are around you, when you see a need you can fill, a person you could invest in, a relationship you could build.
Life phases -- changes personal ministry. What you once did may need to change.
What is most important when all is said and done? Where is the value? Where do we see God at work, lives impacted, eternal fruit realized?
How do we evaluate where to best use our time, efforts, and spiritual gifts?
How to break out of the BOX other Christians (or you yourself) try to put you in... Ministry equals ...WHAT? 
It's not merely what makes me feel good about myself! I can feel productive without doing anything of eternal value. 
Ministry is found whenever I submit my will to God's and surrender my life to be used by Him in the lives of others.
If you think about the "one anothers," how does that affect your view of the ministry? Where do we live out the one anothers throughout the week? Are we fulfilling these in practical ways?
Homework: Write down a list of people you'd like to build relationships with in order to invest in their lives. Then choose the top three. Reach out to each of these; put out "feelers" to see if they respond to you and your invitation to interact with each other (meet regularly, talk spiritually, grow together)