Families on Mission

I am really excited about several aspects of the new direction our church is taking with family ministry. Close to the top of the list is the fact that we are making a concerted effort to provide more opportunities for families to serve on mission trips together. I have had the privilege of going on several mission trips with my daughters when they were in the youth department and once Sherron and I assisted on the same trip. I know from experience what a positive impact that had on each of us as we served and evangelized together. I do regret never having the opportunity for my entire family to go together.

The Georgia Family Mission Trip has been a great success the last couple of years. This coming November families with youth will be going to New York City to work with the homeless over the Thanksgiving holiday. This is just the beginning because I hope, in the not too distant future, we can schedule an international family trip.

There are multiple reasons why this is exciting from my perspective. First, we are breaking the trend of almost always segregating families when it comes to church related activities. Second, it allows the church and home to lock arms together to fulfill the Great Commission that our Savior has left for us accomplish. Third, in the context of family, missions is more likely to become a lifestyle rather than an event. And fourth, it allows parents to model a servant spirit, kingdom mindset, and evangelistic zeal in front of their own children.

In the past, our youth pastors and ministry leaders along with a few adult chaperones filled the position of modeling missions before our youth. While I would not hesitate pointing to these folks as role models, they should never take the place of the primary role models – the parents. What a great opportunity for parents to live out in front of their children the life that Christ has called each of us to live for His glory!

Ask any group of teenagers, churched or unchurched, who has the most influence on their spiritual development and the #1 and #2 answers will overwhelmingly be mom and dad. It is estimated that parents have three times more influence on their children than any other source. The question is this, is that influence recognized and purposefully implemented in the home? When a godly parent seeks to teach through both word and example, their children will be effected in a positive way.

I hope that many of our church families will take advantage of the opportunities ahead to do missions work together. There is no substitute for parental influence in the life of our children and our children’s children.

Psalm 78:5-7
“For He established a testimony in Jacob
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers
That they should teach them to their children,
That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
That they may arise and tell them to their children,
That they should put their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments.”

David

Making Wise Family Media Choices

Someone asked me recently if I thought parenting was getting more and more difficult. Without hesitation my answer was “YES!” Though there are several reasons I believe this, my primary concern stems from the bombardment of media choices presented to families today. On a 24/7 basis, visual images and life messages stream into Christian homes through television, movies, music venues, video games, internet sites, books, magazines, and even cell phone usage. Most of those images are harmful and the life messages almost always contradict a biblical world view.

More than ever before, parents must stay informed of what their children are watching and listening to and what is going on in the culture around them. Because of the shear volume of media opportunities this is no easy task to undertake. I have cautioned parents not to go the easy “isolationist” route and simply say no to everything. There are two reasons behind this advice. One is that it relieves the parent of doing the hard work of discipling their children on how to live in a fallen world without being contaminated by it. Two, it can lead to violating the first portion of Ephesians 6:4 which says “And fathers, do not stir up anger in your children.” This can happen through placing unreasonable demands and restrictions upon children.

While there must be limits in every Christian home concerning media consumption, it is always best to have a clearly defined and communicated guide that everyone in the house abides by and understands. The following list of questions can help provide a “filter” for parents to use to help scrutinize media choices and also provide an avenue for discussing those choices with their children. This really helps when parents must say “no” because it shows your child that your decision is not unreasonable but well thought out and purposeful.

Questions to Help You Make Wise Media Choices:

 Would you consider the main characters to be positive role models?
 Does the overall moral and spiritual message contradict a biblical worldview?
 Are real consequences to sin exposed or is sinful behavior celebrated?
 How are relationships and love portrayed?
 How are Christians, religion, the church, the family, and God portrayed?
 Does the language honor God and people?
 If violence is included, how is it presented?
 How much and what kind of sexual activity is implied and/or depicted?
 Are the visual images dark, sensual, or gratuitous?
 Is the media (video games, television, cell phone, internet) consuming too much time that could be used more productively?

In closing, let me caution a couple of things with using this list. First, realize that parents will apply these questions differently while making media choices for their own family. Even using these common questions may result in some parents deeming a media opportunity as unacceptable while others may not. Second, you will never be able to completely shield your child from negative images and messages. For example, you may go to see an acceptable movie at the theater and then be inadvertently exposed to something unacceptable in the previews of coming attractions. The same goes for commercials on television. I suggest you use these times as teachable moments. *Third, some movies, TV shows, or books that may have slightly questionable content may be worth watching along with an older child or teen because it could provide a bridge to speak openly with them about the spiritual implications of the content.

The goal is to teach our children to develop their own media “filter”. We want them to leave our home some day knowing how to live in and engage a fallen world with the Gospel without being contaminated by it.

David

* Added on 3/30 - I felt it might be best for clarity to name a few movies or books that I felt would fall under this category such as: Remember the Titans, October Sky, Bella, The Chronicles of Narnia movies, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, or The Rookie. All these have strong moral and/or spiritual implications that can be used to promote family discussions. Every parent should still discern the value to viewing them as a family and all are obviously too intense for younger children.

Teach Them God's Word

In my estimation, the weakest area of spiritual nurture in the Christian home is parents that neglect their responsibility to teach and explain the Bible to their children (Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-7). There are a few parents I am aware of who make a daily habit of reading the Bible to their children. There are even fewer, I believe, that take the time to explain the meaning and application of what they are reading. As a Christian educator, one of the first lessons I had to come to terms with was just because I was teaching it did not necessarily mean anyone was learning.

While reading the Bible to our children is definitely a worthwhile endeavor, how can we know if they are really learning? Even if memorization is taking place, can we be sure they are able to make proper application of the Word of God? I do think there is a teaching method where parents can be sure they are teaching the Bible fully and accurately and also know that their children are “getting it” as well. That method is teaching through catechism.

What is catechism? A catechism is a short book giving a brief summary of basic Bible doctrine using a question and answer format. Nearly everyone is familiar with catechism as a teaching method whether or not we know the meaning of the term. Most of us learned our addition facts and vocabulary words using this time tested method. Our teacher would ask us, "What is 2 plus 2?", and we would answer, "4". In the context of Bible study, our teacher might ask, "What is the first commandment?", and we would answer, "You shall have no other gods before Me." (NKJV) A catechism is a proven way to transfer important, foundational doctrines into our minds and hearts. (excerpt from J. Dan Boulton’s article Catechism- A Means for Learning and Teaching God’s Word)

Catechisms include teaching on such subjects as:
• The doctrines of God including His nature and attributes.
• The doctrines of man.
• The doctrines of grace, sin and salvation.
• The offices of Christ as prophet, priest and king.
• The Ten Commandments.
• The Lord's Prayer.
• The meaning and place of baptism and communion.
• The doctrines of resurrection, judgment and the Lord's second coming.

The most appealing aspect of teaching children through catechism is the fact that it is so simple. Parents can teach five questions and answers of the catechism at a time until they are memorized, read the accompanying Scripture verses, and in many instances use the content of those questions and answers as the topic of family prayer and praise time.

I am happy to let every parent know that through the Family Ministry, the church is making available, at cost, family devotional kits that utilize catechism material. The primary books we are using come from the Founders Ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are three Truth and Grace Memory Books that are designated for different age levels. Each book contains a different Baptist Catechism with accompanying Scripture verses, Scripture memorization assignments, and the words to great hymns of the faith. One of the best things about these books is that they allow parents to teach and children to learn at their own pace.

You can purchase these books individually ($5.00) or together with the Family Devotional Kits our staff has put together ($24.00). The kits include one Truth and Grace Memory Book, the Family Worship book by Donald Whitney that expresses the theology of family worship, and the Hymns for Kith and Kin accompaniment CD that goes along with many of the hymns printed in the Truth and Grace books. If you are interested in getting any of these resources they will be made available in the church book store located at the Worship Center main entrance beginning Sunday, March 29th.

Grace and Peace,

David

P.S. If you are not a member of First Baptist Church or you attend our Fountain City Campus, let me know if you want any of these resources and I will get them to you.