Prayer is a powerful gift given to us so we can hear from and talk with God directly. It’s powerful for so many reasons. Praying with our children consistently is forming in that it shapes our minds and hearts. Prayer with our children affords us the opportunity to pray our heart for our children aloud…
As Christian parents we all desire to see our children walking with Jesus. Part of a vibrant relationship with Christ is joining Him in His global mission. How can we send globally-minded missionaries from our families into adulthood? We have three daughters. Two of them are very young adults living away from home. Both are…
Jesus is sending your family and my family to people who are different from us as an important part of His mission. Love is the proper conduit for the gospel and is best demonstrated through relationships. For many Christians, the mission becomes difficult because Christ is calling us to love people who are different from…
What are God’s purposes? This foundational question sets the course for all Christian families. His purpose is the glory of His name in every nation and in every generation through the redemption of sinful people by His Son, Jesus. Simply, God’s methods for accomplishing this purpose on the earth are threefold. First, that His people…
What are God’s purposes? This foundational question sets the course for all Christian families. His purpose is the glory of His name in every nation and in every generation through the redemption of sinful people by His Son, Jesus. Simply, God’s methods for accomplishing this purpose on the earth are threefold. First, that His people…
Parents who accept the biblical mandate to be the primary faith trainers in the lives of their children often face a common obstacle. How do we impress the glory and complexity of such a great God on the hearts of our children? Can they even understand God's glory? The short answer is yes, in a…
Each year I am privileged to lead a group of about 40 people on an in-depth study tour of the land of Israel. We study the biblical text in context, but not in the usual way. Instead we hike the land from Dan to Beersheva and try to pattern our experience after the ways of…
I have long been a proponent of raising children to see themselves as agents of the gospel ministry in the world. However, at home, I often parent as if our younger children are simply objects of ministry. For some reason I see them changing into agents of ministry as teenagers. My self-assessment is that we…
This past weekend Angela and I had a conversation about our priorities for the coming summer. We have a lot of opportunity during the summer ranging from rest and relaxation to teaching, conferences, and missions. We involved our two oldest daughters in the conversation. What quickly emerged as priority for our family can be summed…
As motivated Christian parents we often think brokenness will never characterize our homes. Many reading this post are likely diligent about investing in their marriages, discipling their children, and leading their families to be missional in everyday life. Despite our best efforts, brokenness can quickly invade our homes. Everyone experiences moments or seasons of brokenness;…