Evangelizing our Children

I just love it when I come across a book that is so good that I feel the need to underline almost everything in it.  Some people can write with such clarity and pointedness!  I came across this little booklet a while back that sounded like something I would like to read.  It was only $2 brand spankin new and I thought, “Hey, it is only $2, I’m gonna buy it and check it out!”  It wasn’t like I would have wasted a lot of money if it turned out to be a not so great book.

This little booklet is SO good!  It is a book on how Christian parents need to be bringing the Gospel of Christ to their children.  The author doesn’t just approach the subject of evangelizing our children as something that is needed but gives practical ways to do so!  It is more than worth the two measly dollars I spent!  For the next few days I will be sharing little excerpts from the booklet for you.  There is so much to glean from it! (All excerpts will be in blockquotes.)

It is entitled Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children: In Dependency on the Spirit byJoel R. Beeke.

Often times we do not fully comprehend scripture or the fine balance contained within it.  I think we are often people of extremes.  It is true that believing in the Gospel is somewhat extreme and the Lord calls us to live in a somewhat extreme way in comparison with the world.  The call of following Christ can seem extreme at times but we must always make sure that we are considering the whole counsel of God in matters and not blowing things out of proportion.  I am chuckling as I write this because I have been told on more than one occasion by other believers that I am extreme in my beliefs.  Maybe I just need a better way of articulating what I mean.  Maybe what it is that I am trying to say is that a belief, conviction, or teaching from the scripture may seem extreme to the world but is the standard that we are called to pursue.  We need to live in obedience but but not to exaggerate the truth to a point where it no longer resembles the truth.  Does that make sense?  A good example is Calvinism verses Hyper-Calvinism.

All of that to say that there needs to be a balance in how we look at teaching and training our children with the Gospel message.  It is our Christian duty to teach and train our children to love the Lord.  It is not our duty to save them, we are unable.  We must not rely to much on our training yet we must not neglect it either.  We must not presume upon the Lord to save our children yet we must not underestimate him in his sovereignty and saving power.

Andrew Bonar said, “If conversion be God’s work, in which the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the soul, surely his work can take place in children as really as in the old.”

Professor Beeke describes two unbalanced views parents often have concerning evangelizing our children.

A biblical view of our covenant children would greatly enhance our attempts to evangelize them properly. Before explaining that, let us first examine two errors that many evangelical parents make today in viewing their covenant children.

He goes on to explain that parents tend to either overestimate or underestimate the covenant relationship in regards to our children.
To overestimate:

The fruits of presumptive regeneration are tragic. Parents who presume that their children are regenerate by virtue of the covenant see no need to tell their children that they must be born again. William Young calls this view “hyper-covenantism,” because the relation of children to the covenant is exaggerated to the point that the covenant relation replaces the need for personal conversion.

For those in non-covenantal churches I have also seen the same destructive results when parents assume that it is the church’s responsibility alone to teach and train their children.  Or where parents see the church as the PRIMARY place of educating their children in the Gospel.

To underestimate:

Many Baptist and some Reformed people reduce the covenant to insignificance. They do this by failing to recognize the importance of the covenantal relationship of children with God. From the New Testament era on, they believe, children of believers have no promise extended to them, and thus by implication have lost their special place of belonging to the covenant of Jehovah.

Beeke says that we must properly estimate the covenant.

The covenant must be viewed neither as a substitute for regeneration and conversion nor as a matter of secondary importance.

Repent, For the Kingdom of God

I am not so sure it is considered in good form or not to repost an entire blog post from somewhere else but I thought that this was definitely worth sharing. It was posted on the Ligonier Ministry Blog today.  That is a great place for solid, toe-stepping yet encouraging Biblical guidance.  This is one I read today that I think everyone should read often.  (I am not thinking of anyone in particular, I was too busy rubbing my own sore toes).  We often take our sin more lightly than we should.  It is easy to point fingers and say we are not as bad as so and so.  That is an easy way to justify our own actions but it is not what we are called to do.  We are called to a higher standard than each other.  We are called to repent.

Lord, forgive me for where I have failed you, for thinking more highly of myself than I ought, for focusing on the apologies I should receive (and may never get) and remember to give the ones I owe.  May I bring honor and glory to your name.  Amen

Now for the article.  Watch your toes!

Repent, For the Kingdom of God

December 4, 2009 @ 6:40 AM | Posted By: Tim Challies
by R.C. Sproul, Jr.

How quick are you to repent? If you're anything like me, you've just this moment added several more things to repent of. First, pride. I suspect that you, if you are like me, think yourself a pretty decent repenter. You likely wish that others would learn from your wonderful example, and do likewise. Indeed, now that I mention it, you can think of several people that owe you an apology, and aren't you the one for being so gracious about it up until now?

Second, lying. I suspect that you, if you are like me, have in thinking all of the above, lied to yourself in an egregious way. You are deluded, your delusions springing forth from your deceitful heart like so many dandelions on a spring day. Third, pride again. Here your pride is less about you and more about Jesus. That is, our failure to understand what failures we are is in turn a reflection on the work of Christ. We diminish His work on our behalf when we diminish the scope of our own sin. Fourth, unrepentance. That is, because you are a bigger sinner, like me, than you are willing to face, you have not repented for your sins like you ought. You have repented lightly for dark sins.

What should you do? You could get mad at me for pointing this all out. Or, you could repent.

You could ask that God would forgive you for thinking too highly of yourself. Ask that He would empower you to be swift to see your own sins, and swift in turn to confess them both to Him and to those that we wrong. You could ask that you might have earned the right to have etched on your gravestone, “He was quick to repent.” And you could thank God for His provision of His Son, so that we can be forgiven. You could ask Him to gently remind you, each time you find yourself unhappy about the sins of your family, your neighbors, your fellow parishioners from your church, your parents, your elders, that such would be a prompt to you to honestly assess your own weaknesses. That we are sinners is a problem solved by the coming of Jesus the Savior. That we don't know we are sinners, that is a problem for the Holy Spirit, who convicts, and sanctifies.

The answer to every problem is simple–repent and believe the gospel.

As frustrating as our own blindness might be, the light has come into the world. As maddening as our weaknesses might be, the Sovereign One has come and dwelt among us. As embarrassing as our pride might be, the one who is poor in Spirit has sent the Spirit to lead us into all truth, including the ugly truth about ourselves.

The coming year is likely to bring political unrest. Were I a betting man, I would guess in turn that it will be a year filled to the brim with economic hardship. We can expect to see more cultural decline. All of which will be for nothing if we do not learn the first lesson, to repent and believe.

Before we take over the levers of power, before we dominion our way back to prosperity, before we press the crown rights of King Jesus over the culture, may we remember the crown of thorns, and repent. And when we have repented, let us repent again for the anemia of our repentance. Then, let us believe that He is at work in us, both to do and to will His good pleasure. And all these things will be added unto us.

via Repent, For the Kingdom of God | Ligonier Ministries.

Patience, An Exercise in Self-Control

Homeschooling brings many ups and downs.  There are the days that are full of joy because your children seem to really grasp the concepts you are teaching and then there are days when you wonder where the children have placed their brains!  The concepts that seemed so easily grasped the day before have overnight turned into what seems to be a foreign language.  There are days when the children seem to have forgotten things that we have been working on for years!  It is easy to get discouraged, frustrated, and angry.  I have found myself in this situation more times than I would like to admit.

I have often been told that I am a patient person.  I beg to differ with those who say that.  In fact, I think it is one of my weakest areas!  I may indeed be more patient than some but it does not necessarily make me a patient person.  It is something that is a constant battle for me.  I want things done the instant I think of them and I want them done correctly.  I want my children to understand and remember everything the first time I teach it.  I do not want them to not understand.  I do not want to struggle to get the point in a manner they understand, I simply want them to understand.

This sounds a bit unrealistic doesn’t it.  This sadly enough is something I struggle with daily.  Today has been no different.  I have a very grumpy little one who just is being difficult.  I have a kindergartner who just cannot seem to remember that the number ten is written with a one and a zero.  I have an older child who is questioning everything I say.  I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Don’t question–just do!”,  “Quit grumping!”, and “One and zero, One and zero, how many times do we have to go over this!”.

I had a moment in the midst of this today where I paused, took a deep breath, and heard the Lord whisper, “Self-Control.”

I did not yell at my children.  I dealt with them calmly and kindly.  I once again nicely said, “Remember one and zero side by side make 10.”, “Please don’t argue, I really just need you to help me out with this.”, “Come here, I think you need a hug and a cuddle.”.  Chaos was once again averted!  Peace dwells in the house.

If you had seen this scene you might say I was a patient person.  I was indeed exercising patience however it was more than that.  Remember what I said the Lord taught me today?  Patience does not happen alone.  Self-control plays a bit part.  I had to conscienceless make the decision to be patient.  I had to control my urge to be impatient and too loose my temper.  Thankfully, today, I exercised self-control.  That unfortunately is not always the case.  Exercise is not always easy, it is hard work.  It can be tiring!  However, the more we exercise the easier things become.  The more I choose to exercise self-control in  this area of patience the easier it is to do it again.

Then it occurred to me.   How many times does God exercise self-control and patience toward me?  How many times has the Lord had to say to me, “Remember………”, “Please don’t argue I need you to obey.”,”Come unto me.”?  More times than again I would like to admit!  I am so thankful that I did not receive the angry, “Don’t argue, quit grumping, how  many times do I have to go over this!!” from my Lord.

God truly is a loving Father who shows us how to deal with our own children.  He teaches me to love, to be kind, to be patient, and to exercise self-control.  I need only to be obedient and turn to him when I am weak!

Thank you Lord for using the struggles of my day to grow me more into your likeness.  Help me each day to exercise self-control to be patient.

Getting our Kids to Jesus Or Not……

Church-of-England-Congregation-Stand-up-to-Sing-a-Hymn-

When visiting a church this past weekend I once again saw the blindness of the people of God.  I wondered if anyone else noticed.  This particular church is pretty laid back.  The service begins with a few songs and a prayer to allow for the late comers.  I have heard this spoken by the greeters that the first 10 minutes of the service is for people to get their coffee and to dwindle in to the service.   After the first 10 minutes (the couple of songs and prayer) the congregation sings one more song and then breaks for greeting time and to send the children to their classrooms.  The children’s Sunday school hour is during the worship service.

This particular Sunday there was a guest speaker.  Just as the congregation was being told to greet one another and the children could be dismissed to their rooms the title of the sermon and the scripture reference were displayed on the power point screen.

Getting our Kids to Jesus

Matthew 19:13-14  Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

My husband and I simply laughed but it was not because it was funny!  Do people not see????  Do they not understand???  Do they just not care???  Do they seek comfort for themselves over the task and calling of raising godly offspring rather than simply passing the baton along???

Just as the message of getting our children to Jesus and the scripture speaking of letting the children come and not being hindered lights the overhead board, there was a mass exodus of parents escorting their children from the worship service and returning with coffee cup in hand and chatting with one another (even after the music to call us back to worship was being played).

Some may be saying, “Well, they were going to learn about Jesus.”   I do not have a big problem with Sunday school classes or the like, but I do, however, take issue with that comment in this context.   Why does a church plan the children’s Sunday school hour during the worship hour?  Why must the children’s lessons conflict with the worship time?  When are the parents to teach their children how to approach the Lord Jesus in corporate worship?  Why is it not important to worship the Lord as a family unit?   This seems to me to be a hindrance in permitting the children to come unto the Lord.

Most importantly, why did everyone seem oblivious to what they were doing?  While looking at the message of  “getting our children to God”, rather than embracing the opportunity to worship the Lord of Lords and King of Kings together with their children they rushed them off and out of their hair so they could have an experience all to themselves.  What does that teach?

Many questions and thoughts to ponder upon.  Anyone else feel the sadness as I do or do you just see me as over reacting?

Reaping the Benefits of the Law

Here is yet another R.C. Sproul devotion for you to ponder upon as you consider the law of God.

Reaping the Benefits of the Law

by R.C. Sproul

Let’s continue the experiment we began in the previous meditation. Study the excerpts from the apostle Paul that accompany this reading. Does this sound like a man who believed the law of God has no place in the Christian life? Read Paul’s writings carefully and you will find a man whose heart longed for the law of God as much as David’s.

The law drives us to the gospel. The gospel saves us from the curse of the law, but in turn directs us back to the law to search its spirit. The law of God is still a lamp to our feet. Without it we stumble and trip and grope in darkness.

For the Christian, the greatest benefit of the law of God is its revelatory character. The law reveals to us the Lawgiver. It teaches us what is pleasing in His sight. We need to seek the law of God–to pant after it–and to delight in it. Anything less is an offense against the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Coram Deo: Pray this prayer: “Thank You for Your law, which is a lamp to my feet. Give me a heart that longs for and delights in Your law.”

Romans 7:8: “But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.”

Romans 7:12: “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”

Romans 7:22: “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.”

Do YOU Long for the Law?

I have on occasion been called legalistic, a pharisee, and even a heretic. I am not; being one who is passionate about the law of the Lord, striving to live a holy lifestyle, and having an expectation that others who claim to be followers of Christ to live according to his WORD does not a legalistic pharisee or heretic make. If you are a Christian, do you love the law of God? Do you long for the law of God? Do you want his governance or your own, or even the governance of the world? These are things to think upon and evaluate.

I want to share this short devotion on the matter………………

Longing for God’s Law
by R.C. Sproul

A survey by George Gallup Jr. revealed a startling trend in our culture. According to Gallup, the evidence seems to indicate that there are no clear behavioral patterns that distinguish Christians from non-Christians in our society. We all seem to be marching to the same drummer, looking to the shifting standards of contemporary culture for the basis of what is acceptable conduct. What everybody else is doing seems to be our only ethical norm.

This pattern can emerge only in a society or a church wherein the law of God is eclipsed. The very word law seems to have an unpleasant ring to it in our evangelical circles.

Let’s try an experiment. Read the passages from Psalm 119 that accompany this devotion. Try to crawl into the skin of the writer and experience empathy. Try to feel what he felt when he wrote these lines thousands of years ago.

Does this sound like a modern Christian? Do we hear people talk about longing passionately for the law of God? Do we hear our friends expressing joy and delight in God’s commandments?

Coram Deo: Do you long passionately for God’s law? Do you express joy and delight in His commandments?

Psalm 119:97: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalm 119:11-12: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!”

Psalm 119:131: “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.”

It is one thing to say we love the word of the Lord but if our lives trend after that of the world our words mean nothing. This evaluation of our life and our longing for the law of God can indeed wane. Sadly enough, I have often found myself saying I love the law of the Lord but finding that my life at the time was not displaying that statement to be true. I must repent and pray for that passionate longing to return! I must be obedient to seek after God, & his word, & his truth.

I want to end this post with one of my favorite hymns. It is one many have not heard and many would cringe when trying to sing.  BUT it is one that I love because it reminds me to long for and to love the law of God.

I have posted this hymn on my blog before but I want to share it once again.

Most Perfect is the Law of God
From Psalm 19:7-11 and Psalm 119:97

Most perfect is the law of God, Restoring those that stray;
His testimony is most sure, Proclaiming wisdom’s way.

O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

The precepts of the Lord are right; With joy they fill the heart;
The Lord’s commandments all are pure, And clearest light impart.

O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

The fear of God is undefiled And ever shall endure;
The statutes of the Lord are truth And righteousness most pure.

O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

They warn from ways of wickedness Displeasing to the Lord,
And in the keeping of his Word There is a great reward.

O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.