8-18-22 This Week in Faith

For Kids in August

• Sunday school Begins THIS Sunday Every Sunday from 9:45AM-10:45AM. There are classes for 5th grade and under. Check in at the desk in the foyer. This month we are studying:

  • Aug. 21- Moses Disobeys; Aug 28- God Heals Israel with a Bronze Snake

  • Scripture Memory: Colossians 1:16-17

  • Catechism: Who made you? God

• Children’s Church [8:30AM Service] Just a reminder that, when we return to 2 services this Sunday, Children’s Church will only be available during the 8:30AM service. There will be a kids message in both services. 2nd grade and under will be invited to leave for Children’s Church after that in the 8:30AM service.

For Students in August

• Wednesday Nights for Middle School [6-8PM] We are going through the workbook “What’s Up?” talking about the gospel and how it changes us.

• Sunday Nights for High School [6-8PM] We are studying the Psalms and learning how the Psalms can help us pray.

• Sunday School [9:45AM-10:45AM] Students have the option to serve in a kids Sunday school class, attend the MS class [Understanding the Faith] or attend the HS class [New City Catechism]. CLICK HERE to sign up to serve.

• Student Ministry Fall Retreat [Sept. 2-4] The early registration deadline is this Sunday [the price goes up on Monday]. This is a great way for middle and high school students to start off the new school year- spending time with each other and with God. CLICK HERE to register.

• Pray for Me Campaign Students can sign up HERE to be partnered with a younger kid to pray for the school year.

For Parents in August

• Parent Book Discussion [Are My Kids On Track? By Sissy Goff, Dave Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan] Sign up at the kids Sunday school check in desk and get your free copy. Start reading on your own or with your spouse and we’ll get together 2 times to talk about it [September 28 and November 9].

• Pray for Me Campaign- Sign up HERE to be partnered with a K-12th grader to pray for this school year. It is a great way for us to invest in each other’s kids as a church family.

• New Service Times THIS Sunday! Don’t forget that we return to our usual service times at 8:30AM and 11:00AM with Sunday school in the middle at 9:45 for kids and 10:00 for adults.

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Psalm 34: Giving Our Children a Taste of God’s Goodness

I love the concept in this article of exposing our kids to the goodness of God so they can taste it, experience it, and want more of it. There are plenty of times when I’m tempted to push my kids towards Jesus through lecturing them and telling them what to do. But we can’t change our kids’ hearts. We can’t ultimately make them move towards Jesus. And this becomes more true the older they get. But we can point them to the goodness of God all around them and in their lives. And God can use those evidences of his goodness to draw them near and cause them to want to see and experience more of it. As we begin studying the Psalms with our high school students this Sunday, this article is a good reminder of how rich the Psalms are in their ability to show us Jesus in the midst of the everyday things we face in life. It’s causing me to ask, “Where do I see God’s goodness in my own life right now?” and “How can I help my kids see his goodness in their lives as well?”.

Click here to read the article by Melissa Powell.

How to Help Teens Who are Anxious and Depressed

We hear over and over again that teenagers today are facing more anxiety and depression than any generation ever. But what do we do about it? How do we help our kids work through those feelings and what do we do when we discover that our kids are really struggling with these feelings and acting out on them? Jared Kennedy has some needed encouragement and practical advice for parents in this area.

Click here to read the article by Jared Kennedy.

Helping Our Kids Learn Better Ways to Communicate

I don’t know about you but whining drives my crazy. Not mine- I always have a good reason to whine or complain :) But when my kids do it, it drives me crazy. My instinct is to correct them out of annoyance and frustration instead of helping them to understand whining through a Biblical framework of the heart. And instead of helping them move away from whining through the power of the gospel at work in their hearts. This article gives a helpful picture of how to do both. If whining is a matter of self-control, and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, it means that our kids [and us] have to look to Jesus to produce in us what we cannot produce in ourselves. And this article gives us a pathway to be able to do just that.

Click here to read the article by Ginger Hubbard.

PODCAST: Raising Boys and Girls- Help Kids Grow in Confidence

This is a podcast from the 3 people who wrote the book we are reading for our parent discussion group this fall. I thought this podcast was really interesting. One of the things I’ve been trying to implement more is the idea of being very specific in the ways I praise my kids. This podcast talks about the difference between the unhealthy practice of generally telling our kids they are great or what we’re proud of them for, versus being specific in what we praise. This shows our kids we are paying attention and it helps us be specific in the things our kids need to work on as well. There’s a lot of good stuff packed into this 30 minutes.

Click here to listen to the podcast on iTunes. [Search the podcast name in other apps]

6-17-22 This Week in Faith

For Kids in June

• Family Class on Proverbs every Sunday at 9:00AM. This is a fun class where kids, students, and adults study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

For Students in June

• The summer schedule is out! Don’t forget to sign up for our events at THIS LINK. This week is a service project with Chosen for Life from 9AM-Noon.

• Summer Small Groups are Sundays at 11:15AM at church. We meet right after the service in the youth room. This week we are starting Ephesians 2. Our memory verse this last week has been Ephesians 1:16.

• Family Class on Proverbs every Sunday at 9:00AM. This is a fun class where kids, students, and adults study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

For Parents in June

• Family Class on Proverbs every Sunday at 9:00AM. This is a fun class where kids, students, and adults study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

• There is a family devotional that goes along with our study of Proverbs in the Family Class. Make sure to grab your free copy this Sunday at church for you to use with your family and follow along at home all summer.

• Parents Night Out- Students will be hosting a Parent’s Night Out on June 29. Mark your calendars and look for more details soon!

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Passing Our Faith on to the Next Generation

This article is a great reminder of the calling God has given men to pass the faith on to the next generation. Whether they fill that role though leading their family spiritually, or serving in children & student ministries at church, or setting a good example for the young men around them, this job is vital. I am always encouraged by the intergenerational Sunday school class we do in the summer. It is a great opportunity for the younger people in our church to see the examples of faith in the older people [and for the older people to learn from the faith of those who are younger]. Thank you to those adults who have participated so far. Your presence there is so important and is having a lasting impact on the faith of the kids and students of our church. Whether you are discipling your kids at home, talking to their friends, or participating and serving with kids at Faith, be encouraged that the next generation is watching and God is speaking to them through you.

Click here to read the article by Marty Machowski.

What Kids Need Most from Their Dad

“Help him develop an emotional vocabulary and healthy coping skills for navigating the discomfort of life…This is one of the most foundational needs a boy has and sadly is one of the lowest priorities for many parents. I wish parents gave the time and passion they gave to youth sports to helping boys develop emotionally and spiritually. I can’t imagine how different this world would be if they did.”

There is a lot of wisdom in this short interview with counselor David Thomas. He has insightful things to say about parenting boys and girls but this quote above [and the section around it] stuck out to me as something important for all of us to consider who are parenting boys. I hope you’ll read the article because its really good and an introduction, if you are interested in more, to his books on parenting that he mentions in the article.

Click here to read the interview with David Thomas.

VIDEO: Jon Tyson on Skillful Manhood, Capturing First Moments, & The Intentional Father

I love so much of what Jon Tyson has to say about fatherhood and what it means to intentionally invest in your kids. I know some of you have read or are reading his book The Intentional Father together. This is an interview where he talks about many of the topics in that book. It’s a great refresher of those things. If you haven’t read the book, this is a good introduction and has so many practical ideas and encouragement for dads. I’d encourage you to get together with some other dads at church and plan how to intentionally invest in your kids together. I heard an encouraging story today from someone in our church whose son was given his first job but someone else in our church and that is such a cool way our church family is working together to build our kids up together. Thanks for working to create that kind of environment for our kids to grow up in and see Jesus through.

Click here to watch the interview with Jon Tyson from dadAwesome.

VIDEOS: Father’s Day Videos

Here’s a couple of fun videos for your Father’s Day enjoyment!

4 Kids/ Home Birth- Jim Gaffigan [this has my favorite description of parenting ever!]

Like Dad- The Skit Guys

This Week in Faith 6-2-22

For Kids in June

• VBS is NEXT WEEK! We are so excited about VBS next week and we hope your kids are too. Early check in is this Sunday morning before and after the service.

• Kids are invited to sing some of our VBS songs together in the worship service on June 12.

• Family Class on Proverbs starts this Sunday at 9:00AM. This will be a fun class where kids, students, and adults will study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

For Students in June

• Students serving at VBS next week need to be at church by 8:15 on Monday morning and 8:45 every other morning.

• The summer schedule is out! Don’t forget to sign up for our events at THIS LINK. We have a pool party next Friday after VBS and we’re going to Six Flags on June 15 [9AM-10PM].

• Summer Small Groups for students begin this Sunday at 11:15AM at church. We’ll meet right after the service in the youth room. This Sunday you’ll meet your small group leaders for the summer, get your books, start in Ephesians 1, and make your group’s plan for the rest of the summer.

• Family Class on Proverbs starts this Sunday at 9:00AM. This will be a fun class where kids, students, and adults will study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

For Parents in June

• Family Class on Proverbs starts this Sunday at 9:00AM. This will be a fun class where kids, students, and adults will study the book of Proverbs together, through upfront teaching and intergenerational small groups.

• There is a family devotional that goes along with our study of Proverbs in the Family Class. Make sure to grab your free copy this Sunday at church for you to use with your family at home.

• Parents Night Out- Students will be hosting a Parent’s Night Out on June 29. Mark your calendars and look for more details soon!

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BOOK: The Moon is Always Round

The book I talked about in my Kid’s Message during worship this past Sunday is called The moon is Always Round. It is a great book for helping kids understand how to walk with God through suffering. The particular thing the book addresses is the pain of a miscarriage and it is a moving story that can really help kids understand what to do if their family has experienced this kind of loss. But it can also help kids know how to trust God in the midst of whatever pain they are going through. Here is a link to the book if you are interested, or you can find it in the church library.

Click here to see more about The Moon is Always Round.

When Violence Touches a Child’s Life

“The challenge is to find the right balance—teaching young people awareness and caution while equally encouraging trust in a sovereign God. The most hazardous thing we let our children do is ride in a car, yet we rarely fear driving them to school or church or the mall—nor should we. Young people must learn to live life fully, and not overshadowed by fear.”

It feels like violence and tragedy are such a regular part of our daily input these days. And our kids, at most ages, pick up on it in one way or another. The reality is that our kids face possible danger everyday. We can’t protect them from everything. But we can trust them to a sovereign, good, and loving God. And we can teach them to trust that same God each day. In this article, she gives 5 tangible things we can do to help our kids face their fears with confidence and peace.

Click here to read the article by Julie Lowe.

STUDENT MINISTRY: Ephesians Summer Study

This summer, our middle and high school small groups are studying the book of Ephesians. I would encourage you to ask your kids about what they are learning. And here are some more resources that could help you continue the conversation about God’s Word at home [or to study the book of Ephesians as a family].

An Overview Video of Ephesians from The Bible Project

A Family Discussion Guide on Ephesians from The Bible Project

Why Study the Book of Ephesians by Eric Redmond

RESOURCE: Smart Digital Family Plan

In talking to parents, one of the most common things I hear is that they experience a high level of frustration from dealing with their kids and technology. And I know from my own family, technology has been incredibly helpful and an incredible source of stress all at the same time. This is a really cool resource from the Smart Gen Society. It is a technology contract you can use with your kids. I like it because it covers a lot of different areas and gives you a way to have a number of important conversations as you introduce the freedom of technology to your kids. It can also help you all be on the same page with rules and expectations.

Click here to see the digital contract from Smart Gen Society.

VIDEO: Interview with Denzel Washington at the Better Man Event

This is a great interview between Pastor A.R. Bernard and Denzel Washington. They cover a number of topics including parenting, fatherhood, and more.

Click here to watch the interview with Denzel Washington.

5-24-22 This Week in Faith

Sorry it has been awhile. The last month or so has been busy but my hope is to get back to weekly blogs over the summer, including articles and updates about what is going on at Faith. - Steven

The Grove in May

• In Sunday school, this week we are talking about the Israelite spies checking out the Promised Land.

• Scripture Memory Psalm 128:1

Student Ministry in May

• We are done with Sunday and Wednesday nights until our summer schedule starts in June.

• CLICK HERE to see the summer calendar and sign up for Wednesday events

Parents in May

• Sunday Summer Worship Schedule- Beginning in June, we will move to Sunday school at 9:00AM and worship at 10:00AM. There will be a family class for ages 1st Grade and up where you will be able to study the book of Proverbs together with your family. Some student ministry small groups will also meet Sunday mornings. And there will be Children’s Church for 2nd Grade and under during the service.

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Making Sure My Kids Know a Father’s Love

If you know Benjamin Watson, you probably remember his time playing for the Dawgs or his 16 years in the NFL, but he is also a follower of Jesus and a father of 7. He and his wife do a lot of writing and speaking on marriage and parenting. In this article, he gives dads 5 questions to help them think through the times kids need to be most confident in the love of their father.

Click here to read the article by Benjamin Watson.

Facing Conflict with a Humble Heart

Maybe you have never dealt with conflict in your marriage or relationships. If that’s you, please don’t tell me :) But if it’s not you, if you face small and big conflicts with your spouse, then you know how important both gospel reminders and practical wisdom are to the health of your marriage. This article does a great job of offering both. I’m grateful for the way counseling has helped Kelly and I navigate some of the bigger conflicts we’ve had. But this article gives us some helpful ways forward through the day to day disagreements of life that can strengthen our marriages and push us deeper into the gospel.

Click here to read the article by Jenny Solomon.

How to Prepare Siblings for a New Baby

Transitions can be really tough for kids. And one of the biggest transitions they face is a new addition to the family. Preparing our kids in advance for a new sibling can make a big difference in their excitement about a new brother or sister. This article has some great, practical tips to prepare our kids well for the next kid.

Click here to read the article by PeggySue Wells.

If Roe is Dead

The month of May has increased Pro-Life hopes that Roe v. Wade [and some other abortion precedents] may be reversed by the Supreme Court. It’s an exciting development for those who cling to the Scriptures that point to the sanctity of all life, including those God has known and formed in the womb [Psalm 139:13-16]. But a change in the legal precedent is not the magic pill for cultural change.

The reality is that the amount of actual abortions in our country has decreased since Roe v. Wade. While this doesn’t make a difference for those whose lives were lost, it does show, like the article points out, that persuading the hearts and minds of people about the value of life in the womb [and at every stage of life] is possible, and vital. This is why our church is so grateful to partner with community organizations like Athens Pregnancy Center [serves those who find themselves in a difficult place and with tough decisions due to unplanned pregnancies], Chosen for Life [serves adoptive and foster families], and others. The care these organizations provide for pregnant women and vulnerable children, and our work through and alongside them, is making an impact on individual hearts and minds, as well as the cultural conversation around these subjects. And no matter what happens at the Supreme Court, this work will need to continue.

This is why it’s important to teach our kids the truth of Scripture and what it looks like to advocate for the truth, with grace, to the people around us. The article talks about why this is important. An article from a previous blog had some good topics to start the conversation:

• Teach the Prophetic Function of the Church: The church is called to be a loving, just, prophetic voice for our nation and its leaders. The conversation around abortion and the responses to recent news gives Christians the opportunity to point the world to the goodness and justness of what God says is true.

• God’s Word Defines Right and Wrong: God’s truth flows from his character, through his word, to us. As we talk with our kids, we need to help them see that God’s Word is the ultimate source for the truths we believe and the ways in which we live that truth out.

• Help the Next Generation Find Its Courage in the Gospel: To encourage is to pour courage into someone. We have the opportunity to give the next generation courage to stand up for God’s truth, with wisdom, even when they might suffer for it. Remind them that God’s good plan often involves suffering and that we are able to bear the cost of suffering for the truth because Jesus bought us through suffering, his own blood on the cross.

Aside from the issue itself, there has been a heightened intensity to the dialogue around this issue and the public response [including threats against Supreme Court Justices and heated protests like this]. These types of things constantly in the news and in conversations at school can cause fear and anxiety in our kids. So it provides an opportunity to talk to them and remind them about what is true:

• Talk with them about the reality of sin and evil in our world, and why those exist.

• Remind them that God is still sovereign over evil, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

• Pray with them and give them the hope of the gospel, that Jesus has conquered sin and he will one day fix all that’s been broken by the curse of sin and its effects.

Don’t forget that as you talk about and process these kinds of issues yourself, your kids are watching and learning. And what you do will shape their understanding of what a gospel-motivated response to issues like this looks like.

Click here to read the article by Colin Hansen.

PODCAST: Faith in an Anxious World

Anxiety seems to be one of the things most affecting teenagers these days [and kids even younger]. It’s hard to know how to talk about what’s most weighing on the minds of our teenagers in a way that they actually respond well to our inquiries. This is a podcast series from the Fuller Youth Institute that interviews different mental health professionals on a variety of topics that create anxiety in teenagers. Their goal is to help parents have meaningful conversations with their kids. I haven’t listened to every episode yet but I think it will be really good and I’m looking forward to getting some things I can put into practice with my kids.

Click here to listen to the intro podcast from the Fuller Youth Institute.

4-8-22 This Week in Faith

The Grove in April

• In Sunday school, we’re talking about the 10 Commandments, the tabernacle, and the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. [Exodus].

• Scripture Memory Matthew 5:8

Student Ministry in April

• High School- We’re back this Sunday studying Luke. We’ll go out to eat after.

• Middle School- We’re back this Wednesday studying Luke. We’ll have pizza.

• Scripture Memory for the next lesson: Luke 15:7

• Middle School Scavenger Hunt on April 29.

Parents in April

• Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt on April 17. The fun will start at 9:30 and the egg hunt [5th grade and under] will begin around 10:00. This is not only a great morning for your family but a chance to invite another family who doesn’t usually go to church to join us for activities and worship.

• Parent Book Club Discussion on Wednesday, April 20 from 6-7:30. If you’ve been reading Habits of the Household with us, or want to hear what families have been learning from it, join us!

• Faith Explored on April 30. If you are interested in knowing more about Faith, or if you have students that are interested in joining the church, this class is a great next step.

• Check out the Easter resources on the Welcome Desk outside The Grove. There are recommendations for books to read to and with your kids, family devotionals, and books for your older kids to read on their own.

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The Brightest Day that Changed Everything

This is an interview with the author about one of the books we have featured on the Easter Resource table outside The Grove [he is also the author of our kids Sunday school curriculum]. He talks about what is unique about this devotional and how you can use it to help your family make the most of this Easter season. But he also talks about the importance of family devotions more generally, regularly pointing our kids to Jesus, and how devotionals like this can help parents with this important job.

Click here to read the article by Marty Machowski.

Do Not Lose Heart: Encouragement for Hurting Parents

“Do not lose heart.” We read those words in Scripture multiple times but we know it is easier said than done. The struggles of our kids, and the pain we experience in watching them struggle can be hard to bear. We can feel at a loss for what to say or do. And we can wonder if it will ever change. But the gospel gives us hope. Not that Jesus will necessarily change our circumstances the way we want him to. But he walks with us through the suffering and gives us the ability to rejoice in the midst of it because our suffering connects us to him in a unique way. This article addresses the specific hardship for for parents whose kids identify as LGBTQ+, but I think the hope he offers is needed for all parents. No matter what your parenting struggles are this week- Do Not Lose Hope!

Click here tor read the article by Chris Torchia.

Parenting Against the Spirit of Fear

So much of the research today tells us that parents are still the number one influence in their kids’ lives. This should encourage you because it means that the faith you teach your kids and live out in front of them has real impact. But it also means they also learn from our insecurities and fears, of which I have a lot to offer- which is why I’m so thankful for grace! But it is interesting how the anxiety and fears of teenagers are growing at the same time that adult fear and anxiety seems to be increasing in levels and in intensity of expression. And it is definitely showing itself in the ways we parent. This article made me ask myself, “What ways are my fears and anxieties being passed down to my kids?”. Which also makes me want to ask, “What fears and anxieties do I need to trust God with more, so that I can live with more faith and hope in front of my kids?”. Jesus gives us sufficient reason to live with faith and hope. We just need his strength to cling to him more tightly.

Click here to read the article by David French.

VIDEO: What’s So Good About Good Friday?

This is such a good video that we watch it every year on Good Friday. It’s something you can watch with your family and I hope it is an encouragement that points you to the good news of Good Friday. I probably won’t have a post next week because I’m preaching at our Good Friday service [next Friday at 7:00PM @Faith] so I wanted to send it out today so you would have it.

Click here to watch the video from Passion.