There is a difference between a Christian home and a religious home. A religious home focuses upon the requirements of being a Christian, whereas a Christian home focuses on the relationship with God. Here are some of the characteristics of a Christian home:
(c) Copyright 2007 by Ken Sapp
Broken, incomplete,
shattered, rough edges,
cutting, scattered.
Different shapes,
reflecting different colors.
But the Master takes them,
fits them together according to His pattern and vision,
and from the broken pieces,
creates a masterpiece of color and light.
And when the Son shines through,
the colors reflect on the faces,
of those inside.
Bound …
“Courage is the power to do well when the air is turbulent and the going gets tough. It is having the character to do well when things are tempting, when things are painful.
It is easy to be a mother when a baby is cooing and gurgling over breakfast; it takes courage to be a mother when the child suffers …
Dear Heavenly Father, Make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer all their questions kindly.
Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.
Give me the courage …
Introduction
Freedom of worship is not available in many nations. In fact, like the early church there are many places where the church is persecuted and Christians are not allowed to meet together publicly. Sometimes called “Communist church”, I prefer to call it persecuted church because communist countries are not the only places where the church is persecuted!
Game Description…
Many churches are beginning a new education year and recruiting new Sunday School Teachers and youth workers. As such I have had requests for a simple Sunday School teacher’s covenant. Here is one that I have used in the past: (just replace the parts in brackets with your church name, ministry position or department as appropriate)
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ …
“This blessed life is not an attainment, but an obtainment. The soul must fully recognize it is God’s gift in Christ Jesus and cannot be gained by any efforts or works on our own. God can bestow the gift only upon the fully consecrated soul, to be received by faith and great thankfulness.
I once tried to explain consecration to …
Introduction
This Icebreaker is an excuse to have a little violence and learn the names of others in the group. There’s no application to it, but it is fun none-the-less.
Game Description
Sitting in a circle, names are called and the person in the center of the circle tries to “whack” them with a rolled up newspaper before they can …
1. Add Social Time
Start your meetings ten minutes earlier than usual with a fun icebreaker*!
2. Keep It Moving
Change gears every twenty minutes – Every 20 minutes change something! Activity, presentation style, take a break, change the sitting arrangement, change partners or groups, have a team presentations, exercise, game, quiz, etc. You can even throw a related icebreaker* …
How can you “break the ice” with a youth who is a total stranger and guide the discussion from an awkward silence into a meaningful conversation?
Jesus often got people talking with his first question and then was able to guide the discussion so that it developed into a meaningful conversation about a life-changing topic!
He met people where they …