Friday on the Links

Do you really know your pastor? Here are two posts (part 1 and part 2) that are incredibly accurate regarding the issues your pastor probably faces.

Here is a great reminder that saying NO is an act of love to your child.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy worshiping with God's family this Sunday!

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Robert Chapman -- an Apostle of Love

Robert Chapman lived from 1803 to 1902 in England. He was known for living a remarkable life of Christian love (a life he would say was entirely unremarkable).

Here a few choice quotes from his biography (Robert Chapman: A Biography)

"My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall love me."

"There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ. My great aim is to live Christ." (p.29)

"Men's books full oft with chaff are stored, God's naught but golden grain afford." (p.142)

"The great cause of neglecting the Scriptures is not want of time, but want of heart, some idol taking the place of Christ." (p.168)

Friday on the Links

Here is a great series of posts on the 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do. It is well worth your time. Make sure you click on the individual links within the post to go to the more detailed posts. The series is still in progress at this time. You might need to use this link to get the most recent posts, but they will be ordered from newest to oldest.

Here is a great article about why we should love the church and not abandon Jesus' bride.

For any of you who wonder why church discipline is important, or if it really works, read this, part 1, part 2, and part 3 about one man being restored to the faith 15 years after the church exercised church discipline.

Children in Church Wrap-Up

Here is a summary of my posts regarding children in church:

Post 1: Where are the Children?

Post 2: Should Children Stay in Church?

Post 3: Preparing Children to Stay in Church

Preparing Children to Stay in Church

If you have decided to keep your children in church here a few suggestions regarding how to go about it. These are things I have picked up from others and ideas I am trying with my own family.

First, make a commitment. Decide to do it and then do it. Explain to your child that you expect them to sit in church with you and then train them to do it.

Second, use your family worship time to train and prepare them to sit and listen. Over the next few weeks, I plan to have my daughter sit and listen to her Word and Song Bible as she follows along with the pictures.

Third, when you stay in church sit strategically. Early on, you may need to sit in the back so you can quietly leave, administer discipline and then return. By the way, make sure you return. Don't let your child learn that they can get out of the rest of the service by disobeying. Later, you might want to move to the front so they can see and participate better.

Fourth, set them up for success. Read the sermon passage before church and explain what is going on. Ask them to listen for specific words and keep track on a piece of paper. Ask them to draw the sermon. Find ways that are appropriate to your child's age to involve them in worship.

Fifth, teach them the songs your church sings frequently. Young children usually love to sing.

Sixth, praise every success. Your children need to hear what they are doing right, not just what they are doing wrong.

Seventh, be patient. This is a process and will take time. There probably will be difficult Sundays. It may be hard for you to worship at first. Persevere and think of the joy of raising a child that loves the Lord and loves the church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. Here are some suggestions from John and Noel Piper, who have already walked this road. "The Family: Together in God's Presence"


The Word & Song Bible

Should the Children Stay in Church?

Yesterday, I posted some reflections on children in church.

Today, I would like to consider the question why should children stay in church?

Here are just a few reasons I think that children should remain in church:

1. In the Old Testament, God expected them to be part of His gathered people (Deut 31:12-13; Joel 2:12-17; see yesterday's post)
2. God specifically included them so that they could hear the Law and learn to fear the Lord (Dt 31:12-13). Children today still need to hear God's Word and learn to fear Him.
3. Children need to learn to worship and sit under the authority of God's Word -- even if they don't yet fully understand or are bored. They need to learn from their parent's example. They need to learn that church is not about them, but God.
   
4. Keeping the children in church allows for intergenerational interaction. There are natural opportunities for the older to teach the younger and the younger to inspire and encourage the older.
5. Keeping the children in church keeps families together and gives Dad a natural opportunity to teach them about God and the gospel -- based on their questions (Dt 6:1-25)
   
6. Pragmatically, it ends some of the staffing difficulties that are always present in running a children's ministry.

I realize that there is no direct New Testament command to keep children in the gathered worship service with adults. But, for all these reasons and the ones mentioned yesterday, it seems wise.

That is why, by God's grace, I am moving towards keeping my children in church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. This is an issue that should not divide us as Christians. There is no clear cut command. Each of us will have to come to our own conviction and live it out. Which ever conclusion we come to, we must not judge each other in this matter (Romans 14:4). But, I would encourage you to think on these matters.