Celebrate the Win - November 11, 2009

Lessons from NASCAR
Everybody loves a winner!

Christian Families need to "Celebrate the Win" (even before they cross the Finish Line!)

Throughout the Bible God commands His people to celebrate with various feasts, special days and remembrances. The reason Moses gave for why Pharaoh should let Israelites go: "We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD." Exodus 10:9

Celebration is more than just a name: It is an attitude before a gracious God. Celebration broke out in response to the prodigal son being restored by his Father. "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:22-24 We as believers live each day as his children only by His wonderful grace.

Points of Celebration for Families at Church:

• Baby Dedication
• Preschool Blessing
• 3rd Grade Bible
• SMAC for 5th Graders
• Baptism
• Graduation

Establishing Traditions(how you do birthdays, holidays, etc.)

• Rites of Passage
• Celebrating Accomplishments
• God’s Grace to Us List
• Family WorshipHaving Fun Together
• Remembering We Win (because He Wins!)
  

10 Traditions that work great in a family:

1. Outdoors: Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, fishing
2. Read the Christmas story from the family Bible
3. Give away to others – acts of generosity
4. Slow down and make scientific discoveries
5. Family Fun Night – pizza, family video crazy games
6. Game Night – play interactive games
7. Christian Concerts
8. Daddy/Daughter (and Son) dates, activities
9. Passage to purity weekend/Promise Ring Event
10. Memorable Vacations/Trips
    

Being a Winning Christian Family does not mean the course will be easy but the victory is sure."Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Winning Race Team: Households that live out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world.

Pay Now, Play Later - November 4, 2009

Winning Race Teams: Households that live out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world.

NASCAR teaches that to win the race it takes a lot of discipline and hard work to not only get to the track, but also endure and win the race.

“You can either pay now and play later, or you can play now and pay later. But remember if you play now and pay later you will end up paying much more.” John Maxwell

To be successful family team, team members need to know:
>>>You are what you do daily.
>>>You first form your habits; then your habits form you.
>>>Habits of success are as easy as habits of failure.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-25

For the Family Team to Succeed – Everyone Needs to Pay Now
For the Family Team to Succeed – Paying the price is a way of life
For the Family Team to go to the next level – they have to give up to go up

How a Family Team “Pays”
• Personal & Family Sacrifice
• Commit Time to Right Habits
• Never Stop Growing as members and a family
• Humility/Unselfishness is the rule not the exception

Train yourself toward godliness, keeping yourself spiritually fit. 1 Timothy 4:7 Amplified

Disciple’s Cross: Having the right habits to to succeed as a Christian Family requires understanding how to have balance in what each member does and what the family does. Avery Willis gave us a diagram called the Disciple's Cross in his study called MasterLife.

Drivng Out Distractions - October 28, 2009

Driving and Distractions are a Bad Mix

Our goal has been to see Winning Race Teams: Households that live out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world. We can learn some lessons from NASCAR. This funny video shows how just how distracting it can be for a driver:

Distractions

Distraction is the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distractions come from both external sources (physical stimuli through the five senses), or internal sources. Divided attention, as in multi-tasking could also be considered as distraction in situations requiring full attention on a single object (e.g. sports, academic tests, performance). Distraction is a major cause of procrastination, though it is possible to be diligent and still diverted from what is valuable.

Driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash! According to the NHTSA and VTTI study, the principal actions that cause distracted driving and lead to vehicle crashes are:

• Cell phone use (hand-held or hands-free phone)
• Things inside the vehicle (food, children, book, friends, loose pets, in-vehicle navigation system, radio surfing, blackberries, and other portable devices)
• Things outside of the vehicle (an accident, a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement, construction work, a billboard advertisement, a scenic view, street names and addresses )
• Applying makeup

Driving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to events happening on the roads around you. Driving involves constant and complex coordination between your mind and body. Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely are distractions. There are three types of distractions and they are anything that takes your: 1. eyes off the road (visual). 2. mind off the road (cognitive). 3. hands off the steering wheel (manual).

When you are driving, the condition of the roadway you are on and the behavior of other drivers can change abruptly, leaving you little or no time to react. When you are driving, follow these rules: Stay focused. Pay attention. Expect the unexpected.Drive safe and stay alive. Keep your mind on your driving, keep your eyes on the road, and your hands on the wheel!

Distractions will keep your family from winning the race

Distraction is our Enemy"Among the enemies to devotion none is so harmful as distractions. Whatever excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs the interests or shifts our life focus from the kingdom of God within us to the world around us--that is a distraction; and the world is full of them. Our science-based civilization has given us many benefits but it has multiplied our distractions and so taken away far more than it has given. One thing is certain, however: we cannot turn the clock back to quieter times, neither can we hide from the persistent clamor of the 20th century. We must learn to live in such a world as this and be victorious over it."A.W. Tozer

Distractions must be conquered or they will conquer us.
Why we should strive to eliminate distractions: It prevents giving full attention to God and the ones He has entrusted you with. It takes attention from God’s plan ultimately delaying or aborting it, missing God’s perfect timing concerning people, things, and events.

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. –Matthew 6:6

How do you deal with distractions?

You make tough choices on how to drop "entangling ones" - AVOIDANCE MANEUVER "While the grace of God will enable us to overcome inevitable distractions, we dare not presume upon God's aid and throw ourselves open to unnecessary ones. The roving imagination, an inquisitive interest in other people's business, preoccupation with external affairs beyond what is absolutely necessary: these are certain to lead us into serious trouble sooner or later. The heart is like a garden and must be kept free from weeds and insects. To expect the fruits and flowers of Paradise to grow in an untended heart is to misunderstand completely the processes of grace and the ways of God with men. Only grief and disappointment can result from continued violation of the divine principles that underlie the spiritual life."A.W. Tozer

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

How do you deal with distractions? Cultivate simplicity - let us want fewer things
Technology has become the tool in which our society has become mesmerized with. We own electronic devices so lifelike that they seem almost as real as being there. Televisions, stereos, Ipods, Mp3 players, cars, boats, planes, motor-homes, motorcycles, computers, computer games, mini-computers, etc. are such a large part of our lives that no longer do we need to interact with others, we can simply spend all of our time with our ‘toys’. We have sports teams all over the planet. Our minds are so filled up with ‘things to do’ that we have lost track of the ‘things that we should be doing’. All of these things train us to look in the world for ways to spend our time. We all seek fulfillment, but all of the worldly things do not offer true fulfillment, they are distracters that callously steal our valuable time. An emptiness develops within us as we look to the world to fill the void we feel.

How do you deal with distractions? Walk in the Spirit, Fill your minds with the Word of God, Fill your hearts with thanksgiving and praise.

How do you deal with distractions? Remain Christ-centered

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Race Strategy to Cross the Finish Line - October 21, 2009

Race Strategy to Stay on the Track and Cross the Finish Line

Some of the Top 10 Nascar Crashes:

Race car drivers have to be top notch athletes. They train on the track and in the gym to get their bodies in peak physical condition. Because of the intense speeds, high heat, and crushing forces, it's one of the most rigorous, stressful sports:

• Learned to stay calm under pressure instead of panicking
• Be alert and aware at all times knowing distraction for just a split second can have disastrous results when driving a car that is rocketing the length of a football field per second
• Deal with temperatures that can reach 150 degrees in heavy protective clothing, a driver can loose up to 8 pounds of water in a single race
• Experience g forces of about five times Earth's gravity--greater than those felt by astronauts during shuttle liftoff

Sign up for AAA - Awake, Alert & Alive: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.”

Keep your focus - Remain Christ-centered
· Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Clear Communication - Pray, Pray, Pray
· Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

Reduce Stress - Simpify
· Matthew 6:31-34 “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
· Luke 8:14 “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. “

Handle the Heat - Trials
· 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
· Hebrews 12:3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
· James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Resist the G-Forces - Temptations/Sin
· Ephesians 6:10-17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
· Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
· Hinderances: pride, unforgiveness, greed, impatience, hot/quick temper, jealousy, private sins, lust, procrastination, etc.

Physically Fit - Personal Disciplines
· 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
· 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
· Common Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Study, Prayer, Solitude & Silence, Fasting, Serving, Worship, etc.

Maintance/ Pit Crew excellence - Family Devotion
· Deuteronomy 6:5-8 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
· Family Time Devotions, scripture memory, family mission projects, etc.

Roles on a Winning Family Team - October 14, 2009

Family FX 400 Race
· Warmup/Qualifying Laps: Meet, Greet & Share your Parent's names
· Laps 1-100 Share Roles of Your Parents
· Laps 101-200 Ephesians 5/6
· Laps 201-300 Roles Defined
· Laps 301-400 Roles Applied

Victory Lap When a husband, wife and children all fulfill their God-appointed roles in the family, when they have all committed their lives to Christ and to His service, then peace and harmony will reign in the home.


Blueprints found in Ephesians 5:15-6:4


^{15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.}

²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²²Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰for we are members of his body. ³¹"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." ³²This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 6
¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." ⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.



Original Design for the Family
· Designer: God
· Design: Lifetime commitment before God of one man and one woman, and their offspring or adopted children
· Roles: Husband/Father, Wife/Mother & Children
· Extended Design: Household includes relatives by blood or marriage such as grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
· Modified Design: Due to the reality of divorce or death, many households are led by a Single Parent, Step Parents, Grandparents or some other guardian. Although faced with great challenges, these households can discover God's best for them and follow His ways. Our culture readily accepts the idea of divorce, but we know God hates it (Malachi 2:16) and knows better than we the fallout from it.

All:
· Family Team members (as they come of age) to be Christians, having a true relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
· Both men and women are equally valued in God’s eyes and both are created in His image and likeness. However, men and women have unique roles in family life.
· All team members need to discover God’s will for their individual lives in the context of the family He has place them in.

Husband:
· Loves his wife as Christ loved the church—sacrificial giving of self for her to be all God made her to be
· “Leaves and cleaves” clean break with family of origin; fully invested and focused on his wife and kids
· Be the spiritual leader in the home (takes the initiative). Instructing and teaching both his wife and their offspring scriptural values, leading the family into biblical truth.
· Provides for his family - if he does not, he “denies the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
· Protects his family from physical, mental and spiritual harm.

Wife:
· Respect her husband and willingly submit to his leadership in the family
· Being her husband’s helper (Genesis 2:18-20)
· Having children and raising, nurturing them as a compliment to her husband’s fathering.
· Support the family with her organization and industry (Proverbs 31).

Children:
· Obeying their parents until they are adults on their own
· Honor their parents for their lifetime

Winning Race Teams - October 7, 2009

Everybody loves to WIN! No matter what sport, everybody loves to win and hates to lose. And that is certainly true in NASCAR racing. For this series we will be looking at what makes a Christian home a winning household. Winning Race Teams: Households that live out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world. Along the way we will hear from Nascar driver Kyle Petty and what God has taught him and his family.

LESSONS FROM NASCAR RACE TEAMS:

1. No One Wins Alone - For every victor who crosses the finish line there is a host of others who make it happen. From the owner to the pit crew, everyone has an important role to play. In the Disney movie "Cars," Lighting McQueen learned the hard way that he did need others to truly succeed. God has designed the family to accomplish His purposes in the world, and it takes each working together.

2. Everyone Knows Their Role - Each on the Race Team must do their unique role to make it all work together to win the race. The family is also made by God to have roles. As each learns and lives out their role they can work together to be a winning family.

3. Clear on What is a WIN - What is the ultimate goal for racing? Winning the race, crossing the line! For the Christian household, we have the same goal as that of the Apostle Paul: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

4. Work Together to Win - It involves more than just great individuals on the team. It requires that they learn how to work together in harmony. The family must value each member and value what they can do together.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

5. Hi-performance Systems - From the car itself, maintenance, performance, pit crews, management, promotions, etc., knowing how to design it and make it operate at the highest level is required. God has given us disciplines as believers to make sure we stay on track to Christlikeness and bringing Him glory. As a family, we have to see what are we intentionally doing together and as individuals to see this happen.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

6. Avoid Crashes & Pitfalls - Races rarely go off without a hitch. There seems to be the inevitable crash, yellow flag, spills and spin outs. The family is under attack from all sides and needs to be ready for trials and temptations to get off track.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Galatians 5:7

7. Finish Well - At the end of the day, what counts in racing is how you finished. Paul could say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 We want to hear as families: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23

Begin your plans now to be involved with the Soap Box Derby Race Night for Family FX on November 18. See the attached document at our Family FX page for complete instructions: http://icelebrationmembers.org/children.aspx?a=viewPost&PostID=10362

Passing on the Cape: Superhero Successors - September 30, 2009

You don't encounter too many successors in the world of comic book superheroes. Superman had his Superboy and Scooby Doo had his Scrappy Doo, but for most Superheroes passing on the cape was not on the agenda. For the Christian household, following our Superhero Jesus, having successors is not only a good idea it is part of God's will and plan.

"Future historians will see best the multiple factors, that led to the decline of America. But I suggest one of the major factors will be the failure to replace ourselves with enough stable children born to families with the ability to raise successful children." Richard Lamm

Starting in 1677: genealogy of an immoral man who married a prostitute. 1,900 descendants resulted from that union. Of these, 771 were criminals, 250 were arrested for various offenses, 60 were thieves, and 39 were convicted murderers. These people spent a total of 1300 years behind bars. They cost the state nearly $3 million.

"The first thing a man should do if he would succeed in life is to pick a good mother and father to be born of." Henry Ward Beecher

Edwards family: Christian man and woman who wed in the late 1600’s. Three generations later Jonathan Edwards was born to become a revival preacher and president of Princeton University. There are 1344 descendants in the Edwards legacy. Of them, 186 were ministers. Dozens were college professors, 86 were state senators. And there have been 3 congressmen, 30 judges and one vice-president of the United States. All this, and there is not one record of prison, divorce or public welfare.

"Though one cannot do anything about the heritage handed down to him, one can do everything about the heritage he hands down to others." Stephen Crotts

David’s Final Words to Solomon: When David was close to death, he told Solomon his son: "I am about to die. Be strong and become a man! Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish, and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, ‘If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being, then,’ he promised, ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 1 Kings 2:1-13

God's promise and warning to the Israelites: And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-8

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." Deuteronomy 4:9-10

The Psalmist writes:

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-
what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.
Psalms78:1-8

Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your forefathers? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. Joel 1:2-4

Planning for a Godly Heritage

• Keep record and celebrate what God has and is doing


• Disciple reproducibly (can your children take what you are doing with them and do it with their children, who can do it with theirs, who can do...)


• Make family traditions (that reinforce your beliefs)


• Leave a tangible legacy (in writing, on video, on audio, etc.)

Superhero Households - September 23, 2009

Superhero Households

We don't need the Government's help in establishing Superhero households! A household is a family group including extended family, friends, close neighbors, close friends through work or providing services. A biblical Christian household lives out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world.

How can you turn an ordinary household into a Superhero Household? We wish we had a Superheroes school like Sky High to send our kids to get trained. Actually God has designed the perfect place for children to learn to live by His power and grace: the Christian household. It takes a two pronged approach. The first is to establish a Family (Discipleship) Time:

• Commit to it (Know why it is important and make it a high priority, you will be tested and tempted)


• Set day, time, plan and frequency (i.e. - every Tuesday night, after breakfast each morning)


• Make age appropriate


• Patience till it is established (takes 3 to 6 weeks)

What do you include? The main thing is to keep it simple yet meaningful. Here are some elements:

• Bible Reading


• Bible Memorization


• Bible Media (Movies, songs, pictures, children's Bible story books)


• Recount Blessings (Keep list of how God has worked in your family's life)


• Life Training (biblical wisdom of how to live life God's way)


• Singing


• Games


• Serving together (neighborhood project, a neighbor, mission project, etc.)


• Praying together


• Prayer Walking (around your neighborhood, your school, where your mission project is located)

The second way is to not only have a scheduled activity, but also to practice God's presence 24/7/365. Weaving your faith into your everyday conversations and activities is vital to teaching your child that God is not just a part of your life, but is the very source of life. "Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates." Deut. 6:6-9 The Message

Superhero Households

Households - A family group including extended family, friends, close neighbors, close friends through work or providing services

Biblical Households - Households that live out the message, power and glory of God to their neighborhood, community and the world.

• Old Testament:
  Genesis - Adam & Eve: 1st Houshold
  Abraham - through him God would bless families Gen. 12:1-3, to be careful to teach his household
  Israel was always organized by households
  Spiritual training was through households Deut. 6
  Fall and rise of Israel was always tied to the success of one generation passing on to the next a vibrant spiritual life

New Testament
Oikos - the Greek word for household, included all "under the roof."

• Acts 10:2 "He (Cornelius) and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly."
  Acts 10:24 (Peter at Cornelius' House) "The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends."
  Acts 16:15 "When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us."
  Acts 16:31 "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
  Acts 18:8 "Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized."
  1 Corinthians 1:16 "Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else."

Jesus our SuperHero’s plan = be one as He and the Father are one - believers and families.

Archvillan Satan's plan = divide us from our Creator & divide families

My Prayer for my Family:

"I ask You, Father, to....Protect and guard my family from the evil one.Make them holy with truth.I consecrate myself for their sakes.Make them one heart and mind.I want them to be with Jesus.I ask all of this because I want Your Name not to be maligned by my unbelieving in-laws and neighbors. For Your honor give us victory in our Christian life.The community is watching, God, to see if we who are called by Your name will receive Your presence and power. For the testimony of Your name in this community, have mercy upon us, and use us to do a great work that is a witness to Your sovereignty."

Next Week: How can you turn an ordinary household into a Superhero Household?

Who Are the Super Heroes?

Do you remember the Super Heroes? Superman, Batman and Spiderman are our fictional comic book characters that came to save the day. What is a Superhero? According to wikipedia:
Super HeroA superhero (sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero) is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest". Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes—ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas—have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other media. The word itself dates to at least 1917.

What makes a Superhero? The ability to do the supernatural.



Why do we long for a Superhero? To come and change things, to make things right, to give power to the powerless, to revert an injustice nad to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Are there any real Superheroes? No, not in the fictional comic book sense. But we have Someone far better: the Supreme Being of all the Universe. In fact He created all the complexities and harmonies of the universe out of nothing. Every particle of that universe is held together by Him. He is so powerful that when He speaks supernatural, incredible things happen. He supercedes the very nature He made: time is altered, the sick are healed, the hopeless are provided for, supernatural plagues, seas parted, enemies are defeated without effort, future foretold with mindboggling prophecies that came true, the blind see, the deaf hear, the deranged are made whole and the dead rise.



And in His greatest expression of power, He sent His Son born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, bore all sin of mankind, died willingly on a cross and then three days later was raised from the dead. Colossians 1:15-20 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."



Can a man be a Superhero? God is all powerful, all knowing, ever present and not limited by time. He has no peer and is beyond our comprehension. Yet, this Super Being has chosen to work through those whose hearts are fixed on bringing Him glory: 2 Chronicles 16:9"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." Recognize who we are not, in and of ourselves, powerful. He is God, we are not. We are very limited in what we can do in the context we find ourselves. At times we feel like we are in control, but soon find it an illusion.

To be a Christian is to believe in God through the work of His Son as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian is to believe in the supernatural, because we believe in the One who supercedes nature. The Bible is full of persons that God worked through to acheive His purposes in supernatural ways:

• Enoch never tasted death, but was taken directly to Heaven
• Noah and his family was saved from the worldwide flood
• Abraham was given a son and the beginnings of a nation in his very old age
• Moses led the children Israel out of bondage in Egypt after it witnessed God's supernatural plagues
• The Children of Israel walked across the dry ground as God parted the Red Sea in front of them
• God did miraculous things through Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Daniel and Esther to name a few (Hebrews 11 gives a great list).

Ultimate Expression of a Superhero is Jesus Christ! Jesus' ministry was supernatural. Luke 4:17-19 "The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Since Jesus was fully God and fully man, He showed the incredible power to hold in check his power to allow His eternal purpose of salvation for all mankind to happen. Philippians 2: 5-11 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."



And the the supernatural ministry of Jesus did not end when He ascended to Heaven, in fact it increased as the Holy Spirit enpowered believers to continue His mission. John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."



In 2004 a new kind of superhero movie was released. It was an instant hit and remains a classic. The Incredibles were the first Superheroes which highly valued family as a team. They discovered that being united in purpose was the most powerful way to live. But this is nothing new. God from page one of the Bible has used his first institution, the family, to carry out His purpose. Examples of Super Households of the Bible:

• Abraham: Genesis 18:19 "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
• Joshua: Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
• The early church grew exponentionally in supernatural ways from household to household. We see the three households of Acts 16: Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5), Lydia and the Jailer. Their households were forever changed and became lighthouses to those around them.
  

Family FX definition of Superheroes: A household who radiates the power and glory of God.
Here are some of the ways God has worked supernaturally through our family:

• During my childhood and teenage years my guardian angel worked overtime. It is a testament to the power of God I'm still here.
• 1969: I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior
• 1979: Through God saving me in a car wreck, I surrender to the ministry
• 1980: God heals a young boy of Reyes Syndrome that we prayed for
• 1984: Jana miraculously marries me
• 1988: First of many God moments on mission trip when He immediately answered prayer for the rain to stop
• 1993: Samuel is miraculously born unharmed because notice something a little off in his heartbeat and the contractions
• 1997: Lindsey is born with no complications
• 1998: While on a family bike ride, God saves us from a pack of pit bull dogs1999: God answers Samuel's prayer for a camper that we could afford
• 2003: God provides a car we could pay cash for the day after our old car dies
• 2008: God orchestrating my call to Celebration
• 2008: Finding the right home at the right price just a mile and half from the church2009: 41 answers to our prayers concerning Jana's cancer
  

What supernatural stories do you have? God wants to express His Power through your household:

• Power to see salvation come
• Power to see marriages healed
• Power to see hearts changed
• Power to see healing and wholeness
• Power to see addiction broken
• Power to see the purposes of God carried out through the household
• Power to see spiritual leadership established in the home
  

Every Superhero has an arch enemy. In real life we have a real enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." It is the reason Paul talks about a godly marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33), then parents and children in the next verses (6:1-4) and other household members (6:5-9) before proceeding to explaining spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-20) The enemy has plans for your family. Do you?

We must commit as households to radiate the power and glory of God in a dark world that is in desperate need of a Hero, the one and only true Superhero, Jesus!

From My Family to Yours,
Doug Bedgood

"Home Improvements" - May 6, 2009

Family FX for May is going to be focused on planning and implementing home improvement projects for the summer of 2009. We are asking families to commit over the next few months to build well these four specific pillars in our homes:

1. Family Devotions


2. Family Prayer


3. Family on Mission


4. Church Family

"For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Genesis 18:19

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

"He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him." Psalms 78:5-8

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4

" Being an On Mission Family" - April 29, 2009

Our Mission Trip as a Family to Mexico in 2007


Personalize Acts 1:8 for your family:

“But you (Your family’s name):__________________________
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you (Your family’s name):__________________________
will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—
1. in Jerusalem (neighborhood):__________________________,
2. throughout Judea (Community, Tallahassee):__________________,
3. in Samaria (i.e.—Gadsden County, Miccosukee):_______________,
4. and to the ends of the earth ( i.e.—Indonesia, North Africa): __________________________________________________.”

Becoming an On Mission Family

STEP 1 Family Readiness Questions

1. What does it mean to be lost? What are the short and long term consequences of being lost?
2. What difference does prayer make in people’s lives? What are four specific requests we should pray for the lost?
3. According to John 14:15, what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
4. What are the commitments a Christian must make for relational evangelism?
5. Name three methods for sharing the gospel. Which ones would you be most comfortable using?

STEP 2 Family Applications

1. Develop a prayer journal for the lost. Be specific by including names of individuals, their specific needs, and for specific requests for overcoming their “lostness” (e.g. for their eyes to be opened). Monitor your journal regularly and praise God as the people accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
2. Write HOLY SPIRIT on the left side of a piece of paper. For each letter, fill in what the Holy Spirit does in people’s lives (e.g., hears our prayers, opens our eyes, etc.). Once complete, make these phrases prayers to God, thanking Him for sending us the Holy Spirit.
3. For each family member, look for ways to make sharing the gospel intentional in two current relationships.
4. Obtain three or four witnessing tracts. As a family, evaluate them and determine which ones your family would like to use. Brainstorm ways to distribute and use them (e.g., leave them with a tip at a restaurant).
5. Make preparing your testimony a family game. Using index cards and markers, write the following headings on the cards: “My life before Christ,” “How I realized my need for Christ,” “How I accepted Christ,” and “My life since Christ.” Each family member should have a set of four cards. Spend some time talking about each card, writing in appropriate details for that card . Next, mix up the cards and challenge the family to place them in the proper order. For a greater challenge, place the cards in an envelope and then switch cards. Family members are then arranging someone else’s testimony. Once they are in proper sequence, each family member should read the testimony.

STEP 3 Family Building Activities

1. Go on a journey to see the lost-shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, the inner city, a mall, an airport, the movies, and a city or state park. After the experience, answer these questions:
* What are some signs of “lostness” you saw (e.g., empty, searching eyes)?
* What were people doing to fill the void in their lives (e.g., shopping)?
* How could your family meet the physical and spiritual needs of the lost people you encountered?
2. Have testimony night over a bowl of popcorn or a pizza. Each family member prepares and delivers his or her testimony. Family members then help one another refine the testimonies to have the greatest impact. Be prepared for questions and concerns, as some family member might not have a testimony. In other words, they might realize during this activity that they have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.

.

Links to videos about On Mission Family opportunities:

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http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.1342843/k.F363/Families_on_Mission.htm

.

http://going.imb.org/volunteers/Step_1/family.asp

Difference Makers Not Place Takers, April 22, 2009

Notes:

We saw a funny video by a Dad about daily life as a family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zw8VTlxk9E

My little poem:
Get all you can
Can all you get
Sit on the can
Enjoy all you can
Before you kick the can

We eat to live to work to eat to live to work to eat to live to work…then we die!

As Christians believers and families we reject the endless circle of life mindset and know we are place uniquely in the world for a unique purpose.

We looked in Matthew 5:13-16
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We discovered that God has placed you where you are for a purpose. To be pro-active in the world you live in every day. As a light that is not hidden you have to:
1. Look and Listen to what is going on around you. Really hear what people are saying, see what is happening and recognize the needs. Discover people’s stories and help them see God’s story. Then show them how theirs can be a part of God’s.
2. Unconditionally love people and get over your pet peeves.
3. Be a voice of positive encouragement in people’s lives in contrast to the negativity.
4. Move from “got to” to “get to” help others.

Our families and homes are the “lighthouses” that God uses to dispel the darkness.

Areas of Influence
One thing we all have as individuals and as families is influence in the lives of others. Tonight we listed all we could think of at the moment from the neighborhood, school, office, relatives, people in the community, sports, online social networking, etc. When we tabulated all of those present we had over 650 unique points of influence in the community.

We are aiming at having our Family Mission Statement in rough draft form this week and in final draft next week.

Family Mission Trip Gone Local – Ideas for your family:
Families can help with the variety of needs in helping honor Single Moms. A special Mother’s Day lunch for Single Moms is planned for the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
This Summer, as a church we will have a Mission Project Venture to the Miccosukee community. It will involve a multi-faceted outreach, using many different skills and abilities to come along side this community to show them God’s love. We are going to need a vast team of church and community members to make this community makeover happen. Two events that families can join in on is the Mission Adventure Week- June 22-25 - and the Sports Camp—July 20-24.
Families can help this summer with World Changers. World Changers is a great program to involve students from across the country in mission projects. Families are needed to work together to commit to feeding lunch to the students.
Families can cook dinner for the Haven of Rest (and relieve the people that do it all the time) or another organization.
It may be a good Family time project to make a “Friendship Bag” and keep in your car when you see those in need:
a pop-top can of fruit, or fruit cocktail
a pop-top can of vienna sausage
a small can of juice or bottle of water
a package of cheese and crackers,
or peanut butter and crackers
plastic fork, spoon
a moist towelette
napkins
one all-day bus pass
a card with a list of community contact phone numbers (crisis clinic, food bank, Salvation Army, etc.)
a small tract and note from the church inviting them to stop by or call
small toothpaste, shampoo, soap
Toothbrush

Families can do repairs to the buildings of a helping organization like the Women’s Pregnancy Center.
Families can feed the homeless Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. with the “Frenchtown Breakfast in the Park” organization.
Families can visit the elderly in nursing homes/villas. Simply talk and/or play games with them.
Families can collect food and household goods and take them to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home.
Families can adopt a widow in the neighborhood or in our church to encourage and help. Call the church office or a current list.
Families can prayerwalk their neighborhood on a weekly basis.
Families can hold a neighborhood block party to allow the neighbors to get to know one another.
Families can go on their own mission trip in the U.S. or abroad.
Families can pull their grill out in the front yard or driveway and organize with the neighbors a cookout and games.
Families can start a home group study for the neighborhood that is geared for all ages to participate in.
Families can make and place small gifts on door hangers on their neighbor’s door that celebrate important holidays from a godly perspective.
Families can conduct a Backyard Bible Club in their neighborhood during the summer.
Families can keep an eye out for newcomers and help them get settled into the community.

Notice about the Family Camping Trip—That was scheduled for April 24-25 has to be rescheduled due to water and erosion damage at the Pole Barn. We will let you know as soon as a new date is set.

Family 2 Family - April 15

Family2Family
April 15

April 8 — 7 Realities of a Family Experiencing God
April 15 — 4 Steps to developing a Family Mission Statement
April 22 — Concentric Circles of Concern
April 29 — Choosing your Missions

4 Steps to developing a family mission statement:

Step 1: Take a family inventory. Ask:
¨ In what activities are we presently engaged as a family?
¨ What motivates us?
¨ How would others describe our family?
¨ How secure are we in each other’s love?
¨ What things are we afraid of?
¨ What is missing or lacking in our relationships?
¨ What is the spiritual environment of our family?
¨ What are our priorities?

Step 2: Consider your goals. Ask:
¨ What does our family stand for?
¨ What values do we live by?
¨ How will needs be addresses and problems solved?
¨ What activities will be important to our family?
¨ What is the desired outcome for our family?
¨ Is there a Scripture verse(s) or passage(s) that summarizes our intent?

Step 3: Conceptualize the statement.
¨ As a family, we will stand for ______, living by the values of _______.
¨ Needs, conflicts, and issues will be addressed by ______.
¨ This is based on these Scripture verse/passage _________.

Step 4: Fine-tune and personalize the statement.
Write the phrase again, this time in your own words. Each member of the family should answer, “Is there something crucially important to our family that is not included in this statement?” If so, refine it. Rework it until you develop a form and substance that will be appealing and meaningful.


Examples of Mission Statements
“Our family will share the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ with each other, our neighbors, and our community as we go through life.”
“Our family lives to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, sharing His mercy and offering His salvation to all who will give us the opportunity.”
“This family will show love to each other through the traits of tenderness, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and gentleness. Our words will be uplifting, our tone encouraging. We will think of each other before ourselves. These characteristics will be carried outside our home as we share the love of Jesus Christ and those around us.”
“The mission of our family is to share the way of salvation through Jesus Christ with a lost and hurting world. We will do this by modeling a Christlike life first in our home, living the attitude and actions of Jesus before each other. Next, we will seek to build relationships with extended family, neighbors, and others we encounter daily. In these relationships we will model the love of Christ with the hope of earning the opportunity to share how Christ makes a difference in our lives, and how He can do the same in theirs.”
“This family exists to live the great commandments and fulfill the Great Commission, beginning in our home and extending to every arena of life.”
“Our family will work, play, pray, and study God’s word together with the goal of becoming Christlike and sharing the love of Jesus with all of those around us.”

Members or Regular Attenders who are widows - call the church and we can email you this list of names


¨ Family Mission Trip gone Local—Miccosukee Project (Mission Adventure Week, June 22-25; Community Center Addition, Sports Camp July 20-24)
¨ Family Camping Trip—That was scheduled for April 24-25 has to be rescheduled due to water and erosion damage at the Pole Barn. We will let you know as soon as a new date is set.

Family 2 Family - April 8th

7 Realities of Your Family Experiencing God

1. God is always at work around your family.
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with your family that is real and personal.
3. God invites your family to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks to your family by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
5. God’s invitation for your family to work with Him always leads to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
6. You must make major adjustments in your family life to join God in what He is doing.
7. Your family comes to know God by experience as they obey Him and He accomplishes His work through them.


What’s Coming

¨ Family Mission Statement
¨ Family Mission Ideas (See back)
¨ Family Mission Trip gone Local—Miccosukee Project (Mission Adventure Week, June 22-25; Community Center Addition, Sports Camp July 20-24)
¨ Family Camping Trip—April 24-25 at Fellowship in the Field property near Lloyd–Food, Games, Adventure, Music, Movies in the Barn and much more. For directions and information go to www.fellowshipinthefield.org.


Some Family Mission Ideas

Families can help with the variety of needs in helping honor Single Moms. A special Mother’s Day lunch for Single Moms is planned for the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
Families can help this summer with World Changers. World Changers is a great program to involve students from across the country in mission projects. Families are needed to work together to commit to feeding lunch to the students.
Families can cook dinner for the Haven of Rest (and relieve the people that do it all the time) or another organization.
Families can do repairs to the buildings of a helping organization like the Women’s Pregnancy Center.
Families can feed the homeless Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. with the “Frenchtown Breakfast in the Park” organization.
Families can visit the elderly in nursing homes/villas. Simply talk and/or play games with them.
Families can collect food and household goods and take them to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home.
Families can adopt a widow in the neighborhood or in our church to encourage and help.
Families can prayerwalk their neighborhood on a weekly basis.
Families can hold a neighborhood block party to allow the neighbors to get to know one another.
Families can go on their own mission trip in the U.S. or abroad.
Families can pull their grill out in the front yard or driveway and organize with the neighbors a cookout and games.
Families can start a home group study for the neighborhood that is geared for all ages to participate in.
Families can make and place small gifts on door hangers on their neighbor’s door that celebrate important holidays from a godly perspective.
Families can conduct a Backyard Bible Club in their neighborhood during the summer.
Families can keep an eye out for newcomers and help them get settled into the community.

Connect 4 with Your Kids - Tommy's Notes March 25

This past week we discussed discipleship resources for our kids. We should strongly encourage them to begin reading the Bible and teach them to do so. I strongly suggest that every kid have their own age appropriate Bible and spend time reading it daily. Even toddlers can have a Bible board book and pretend to read as they look at the pictures.

When our children learn to read, they should already be in the habit of spending time with their Bible each day. Continue to get them new Bibles and allow them to complete them and then move on to a more advanced children's Bible.

We handed out the Wonderzone Kid devotional books. These are 60 day devotional books for children (grades 3-5). There are six different books and the can be found at https://mail.icelebration.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.wonderzone.com. I also keep some in my office to give out to parents and kids.

We also talked about online websites that encourage bible reading and learning the bible:
https://mail.icelebration.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.awana.org
https://mail.icelebration.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.wonderzone.com
http://www.jellytelly.com/

These websites have great kid games and daily devotional ideas for children. It is vital to get our kids enjoying and learning to read the bible on their own. One day they will leave our house and we pray that their faith will be theirs and not just that of their parents. It is our desire to see them grow and in turn make disciples of their children.

We walked around the bases (visual on board) as we desired to see our kids:
1- Saved
2- Baptized
3-Grow
4-Become a Disciple

It is our prayer that they would repeat the process with their own family some day.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Tommy's Notes:

This week in Family FX we talked about sharing the Bible at home with our children. We discussed the importance of having family devotions at home. We have goals in mind for our children as they grow up (intentional or unintentional), but if we want them to be godly young men and women we have to lead them in that direction.

If you want your child to be a great baseball player; you would have them play on teams, practice all the time, take them to watch big league baseball, buy them good equipment, etc. But what if you want your child to be a godly young man or woman? What do you do? Go to church? Is that enough to lead your child to be godly?

The bible teaches us in Deuteronomy 6 that the parents are to pass on their faith in God to their children. We are to do so as we get up, as we walk throughout our day, and as we lie down at night. I believe one of the greatest things we can do with our children is have a weekly time together of learning God’s word.

Yes, we all need daily reading and prayer, but a weekly family time gives us an outlet to teach our kids biblical truths as they grow up in our homes. Imagine if you did weekly family times every week for 18 years. You would not look back and say; “I wish I would have told them about…” You would have more than enough opportunities to cover most of the choices and temptations they will face in life. It is one of the best ways to guarantee that we get ample time to teach and train our children.

We pay $60 - $100 to sign our kids up for soccer, piano lessons, basketball, etc. Why not make an investment in family time and get some tools to help you teach your kids biblical truths in a fun way. Below is a list of resources we discussed this past week at Family FX.

Parent Resources for Family Devotions

BLAST lessons (weekly lessons from Sunday morning)
Review lessons with family devotional at home during the week. You can find them online and a weekly hand out at BLAST

www.famtime.com
These are great family time activities for children of all ages. You can purchase these books online or download their free on per month. We have some listed on our church website under Family FX. These are about $20 per book and they would last several months.

Family Devotional Books (we had several books on hand for parents to look at)
Family Night Tool Chest
Family Devotions2
Focus on the Family Activity Books

Unit Studies – www.christianbook.com and search for family devotion. For under $20 you can find some great family devotional books that will last for months and some all year long.

10 Tips for a successful Family Time

1. Make it fun
2. Make it relevant – it needs to be age appropriate
3. Make it short and meaningful – it should not be long and boring
4. Pick a theme or a topic – it is great to have a family calendar and place your themes or key words on your calendar. Your kids will know what is coming and look forward to that time.
5. Add your family extras – quiz night, game night, special dessert night, theme song, quick –no-mess dinner, etc.
6. With older kids – let them help lead and pick future topics
7. Be consistent and faithful – yes you will have some duds, but pray for God’s guidance as you lead your children. They will remember more than you think. Be faithful to protect your family time.
8. Change the scenery – it’s OK to leave the house, some of their best memories will be when you took them downtown to visit the homeless and teach them about helping others
9. Share the passion with others. It’s OK to invite friends over to be a part. You may change a family simply by opening your doors on family night.
10. Dad – lead the way. It is biblical and best when dad is leading. If that is not an option, then mom feel free to take start the ball rolling.

No Greater Joy! March 4, 2009

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

We started off in small groups discussing when we accepted Jesus.

We made observations from Romans 10:9-17:

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Then we saw Lindsey's baptism testimony video from when she was barely six years old.

1. Pray for your child's salvation. Never stop praying, be patient.
2. Prepare yourself to lead them to Christ. Know your own testimony and know the steps from God's Word.
3. Be patient as you continually provide spiritual nuture in age appropriate ways about God and His love, Jesus, sin, repentance, faith and eternal life; even before they accept Christ. Chrisitan attitudes, actions and truths need to be taught to the child before the child is saved. You create the environment; the Holy Spirit convicts and reveals the love and way of God.
4. Deal gently and with understanding when you see that their desire for salvation is an effort to please peers, to please you, to get praise, to join others in baptism, or to get out of trouble.
5. As age appropriate, let your child read scriptures aloud that deal with salvation. Ask them what the Word is telling them. Lead them in explaining the main points of accepting Christ in their own words.
6. Lead them in praying to accept Jesus, but let put it in thier own words. Also, have them follow up with a brief prayer of thanksgiving to God for their salvation.

We had the groups come up with a plan to present the gosple to a child.

We also watched "The Gospel for Kids" video from http://www.essentials.tv/site/c.bqLKI1OKKtF/b.486373/apps/s/content.asp?ct=617785

We handed out Plan of Salvation bookmarks with a simple Roman Road gospel presentation: Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23 and 10:9.

Remember:

• Salvation is a point in time and it is a life long process.
• Nuture and encourge them to trust God. They will need to trust Him for salvation and daily living.
• Repentance and faith are not one time acts but ongoing attitudes of the heart toward sin.We may lead them to Jesus, but it is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction and reveals to them their need for Jesus.
• Don't get ahead of the Holy Spirit, by coaxing your child into making an empty profession of faith. There is no set age a child should receive Christ.
• Don't get in the way of the Holy Spirit when He does start spontaneously working in your child's life.

We ended with a resource to use with your child after they accept Jesus: I'm a Christian Now! It comes in a version for younger children and one for older children. Both can be obtained from our Children's Pastor, Tommy Hendricks.