for Raising Christian Kids
I recently found my son sitting on the couch without his glasses. This wouldn’t be a big deal for most six-year-olds, but when my son is without his glasses, his eyes become cross-eyed almost instantly.
God, in his good wisdom, has given us a secret weapon for family discipleship, and it happens to be baked into the pattern of our daily lives. This secret weapon is the dinner table. Everybody has got to eat!
In today's fast-paced world, Christian parents often feel overwhelmed by the challenges of discipling their children. Many fear if they are doing “enough” to spiritually influence their children in today’s world.
My family loves to travel. We love to experience new things together, but every family trip calls for us to prepare. My kids pick out the toys they want to bring, I pack the clothes, and we prepare together.
It happened again. I sat down with all three of my kids with the best intentions of completing a short devotional reading, and it turned into 30 minutes of tears, jumping off of everything (literally), and then sending everyone to their rooms with a shout of frustration: “God, I need some patience for these kids you gave me!”
In your home, how big is God? In your home, through the eyes of your children, how trustworthy is he? How involved is your God? How near is he? The saying goes that when you are squeezed by life’s trials, what comes out of you reflects what was inside.
After watching older movies, I always wondered what the secret sauce was for super moms. You know who I’m talking about; the moms who always had the perfect dinner ready, never got tired, and ensured the kids were always prepared for every event.
The topic of this article is teaching our kids a healthy hermeneutic when it comes to reading the Bible. Hermeneutics for kids?! Isn’t that a bit overeager and potentially above our young children’s heads?
Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like everyone around is staring at you? Either you did something embarrassing, or your kids are acting too crazy in front of others.
Years ago, I listened to a sermon about prayer convicted me to my core. One idea from that sermon that resonates with me to this day is this: “Our prayerlessness exposes our self-reliance.”
Recently, I found myself in a hospital with socks and a stylish gown on. Usually, when you have these on, you have a procedure or check-up, but not this time.
I first attempted to intentionally disciple my oldest when she was around a year old. I started making a list of everything I would do with her—the lessons I would teach her, the stories we would read, and even what we would discuss (she talked extremely early).
As Christ followers, we know that God’s Word is our bread for spiritual life. We take our nourishment, loving correction, wisdom, and hope for heaven from its pages. It is one of our primary means of grace for life in Christ until he comes.
There are some classic cartoon characters that, when angry, change colors and have steam come out of their ears. Their anger is visible, and the situation usually ends badly for the character.
It is a new year, which means change for many. Some might resolve to find a new job, hit the gym for the first time, or change their area of study. I’ve had many Januarys where I decided to start a diet, make a reading goal, or push myself in some new task for the year. Something about a new year challenges us to think we can try something new.
Family discipleship is an important element of the Christian faith. But when your family has atypical children, it might look a little different. Family discipleship for atypical children can be frustrating and overwhelming at times, but take heart.
If your family is blessed to have two or more little people living in it, then I might guess that there is big sibling love involved—and likely big sibling squabbles. It’s a fact of life: when sinful people live together, they bump into one another, and conflict comes up.
If you’ve been following along at Cross Formed Kids for a bit, you’ve probably heard us tell you that parents are the primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives. But if you’re like me, that statement is a good news bad news situation.
The Christmas season approaches quickly every year. Once the leaves have fallen and the air is crisp, we see decorations, candy, and gift ideas in every store we enter.
In various shows and movies, there are scenes where a kid’s birthday party or celebration occurs. We watch as chaos is all around.
I never considered myself to be an angry person until I had children. In fact, I had considered myself to be quite a patient and steady individual until the Lord brought new opportunities for my patience to be tested.
Many mornings, I wake up, and my family’s entire day is accounted for within a few minutes. From work, school, kid activities, and church ministries, we can quickly go from nothing to do to no time at all.
God has designed an incredible opportunity for relational category after category to be built through the relationships we share in our families.
I remember the first time I held each of my kids. Each was a moment of overwhelming joy as I had waited in nine months of anticipation for that specific moment.
In my backyard, two peach trees were planted by the previous owner. When we saw them, we were eager and excited to pick peaches throughout the summer and eat them outside.
When Jesus redeemed his people at the cross, he paid full price. And when he bought us with his blood, he bought not a part, but the whole of us.
Have you ever heard about something good happening to a friend but rather than being excited and celebrating with her, you found yourself comparing successes or wanting what she has?
Count the Fruit, By Jill Jaramillo and Lilla Vincze, is a super cute story of how one little boy learns and applies the fruits of the Spirit in his life with help from his mom and dad.
My kids began to sing nursery rhymes as soon as they could talk. In their tiny little voices, I could hear them sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” as they walked around the house.
Big, mighty, great, all-knowing. We describe God in these ways when teaching our kids about the Lord. But what about his character? Is he good? Is he just? Indeed, he is.
The Christian life is full of tension. But no concept must be held in tension more tightly than grace and works.
This one seems simple, too obvious, really. You might say that we all know how to acknowledge God in daily living.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the chaos of parenting and neglect our duties to disciple our children.
If I’m not careful, I can get through a whole day without really looking at my kids. Sure, I see them running down the hall and throwing blueberries at one another, but I can be so busy and preoccupied with whatever else I am doing, that I don’t really see them.
The world is messy, and it’s our job to introduce our children to it.
The ultimate goal in Christian parenting is to point our children to Jesus Christ. But how do we do that? Being a Christian parent requires intentionality, biblical wisdom, practical action, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Our culture has an obsession with effectiveness and efficiency. If you can do something well and do it quickly, you’re considered successful.
The question is a human question. It’s what we ask when we face suffering. When we watch our loved ones get sick. When a marriage falls apart. Why?
Our souls were created by God, for God, to feed on the knowledge of him. He gave us his Word as food for the soul, packed with nourishment tailor made for his image bearing creatures.
The Tech-Wise Family helps parents put technology into its proper place within the family.
Last week my whole family fell like dominoes to a stomach bug, one tapping another in a week-long chain of misery.
What was the message of Christ as He began his earthly ministry? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp provides an overarching picture of parenting and its challenges through a gospel lens.
It’s already happening; our kids are being catechized. The world is bombarding them with a narrative meant to shape how they think and telling them what to value.
El Roi: The God who sees me. What a powerful name to call our God. He sees. He sees the mundane moments, the challenging moments, the scary moments, and the good moments. Every second of the day, God sees, and He cares.
"We’ve all been there. You yelled at your kids because you felt overwhelmed. You were harsh with them for a mistake they made. You let your anxiety pour over them with high standards and little grace. Parenting is hard, and none of us are perfect.
Unless we have this truth firmly planted in our hearts and minds, we will be on an endless journey of “self-discovery” that will lead nowhere.
Have you mastered the art of being present with your kids? Or does technology, work, or daydreaming pull you away and keep you from connecting in ways that you want and that they need?
If you’re a parent, no one needs to remind you that your child has feelings. You might sometimes feel like your child IS feelings.
cripture tells us again and again to sing; O come let us sing a joyful song to the Lord (Ps 95:1); address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (Eph 5:19);
As parents, we believe many myths about family prayer that prevent us from engaging our kids in the practice of talking with God together.
The way to dig a moat is to dig in the same spot in the ground, in the same direction, over and over. Now what do moats have to do with family discipleship?
“Having kids is super easy.” “I get so much rest.” “I’m really relaxed these days.” “I have so much free time.” Said no parent ever. If you’re like me, you’re a little worn out.
Our First Nativity SetI popped open the children’s nativity set that I had found at one of our favorite discount stores. I put together the stable, and I started setting up Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the angel, sheep, shepherds, and wise men.
Idk if this is you, but a LOT of parents ask me, “why is catechesis so important?” Or...even better, “what is a catechism?”
Almost every parent I've spoken to has mentioned or asked about discipline. How should I handle this behavior? Is this form of discipline ok? Is this form of discipline effective?
Whatever your take on current events, it's undeniable that talk of death is everywhere in the Covid era. Dr. Brett Vaden joins me with some wisdom on addressing the subject of death with your kids.
If you're not in a bunker, you're aware that there's some crazy stuff going on. Parents who have open eyes are concerned about how to be sure their kids are prepared for life in this hectic world.
Parenting would be simple if only we didn't have to do it while also being human. Being human throws us a curve ball whenever we feel pressured to perform.
