Church at Home

We have found ourselves in a place none of us saw coming. Due to the COVID-19 virus, we all are experiencing an interruption to our normal lives. Let’s acknowledge it, together. Take a deep breath and say to yourself, “This is not normal, but this is real.” The routine of our lives has been hijacked. Our days no longer consist of going into work, sending our kids to school, getting together with friends, hitting the gym, enjoying our kid’s soccer game, or attending a church gathering (in person). The routine is gone. The simplicity of knowing how each day would play out is gone. We don’t have control anymore.

I serve as the Worship Pastor here at Crossroads Church. I love what I do. I help craft services each week with the singular goal of connecting people to Jesus! Leading the Church to a place of encountering Jesus is my greatest passion. Now it’s gone. The in-person gatherings have now become a handful of us on a stage leading to an empty room. Here’s what we believe though, God is not dependent on His Church gathering in-person for lives to be changed. Read that again. God is NOT dependent on His Church gathering in-person for lives to change. Don’t get me wrong, He loves it. It was His idea! He created us to desire community, connection, and the intimacy that comes from being together. But God is not scrambling around in this moment, pacing the floor and wondering how He can continue speaking to people. He is still in the business of changing lives and bringing hope to a world in desperate need of hope.

I want to take a few minutes and encourage us on how we can have church at home during this season. Here’s what we believe, we are the Church! The buildings we gather in are not the Church. The only reason they have any significance is because we gather in them. WE are the Church. Every time we gather, whether in person or online, we are the Church. 

Here is some practical advice on how to be the Church and gather while we are online. 

Get Up and Get Ready 

Really? Get up and get ready? Yes. I said I wanted to give practical advice. Get up and get ready. Set your alarm. Take a shower. Eat breakfast. Get your kids ready. Get up and get ready. 

Routine in this season is important. Make this a practice in your life. Don’t miss this. The most practical practices will help you with the best spiritual disciplines. You cannot meet with God if you are groggy and unfocused. So get up and get ready. Set the example for everyone around you. Say this with me, “I will get up and get ready to meet with God!” 

Gather Who You Can 

Yes, you read that correctly. Gather who you can. Whoever is home with you pull them in on the gathering. It’s not about numbers, it’s about togetherness. So get everyone together that you can. 

Here’s an idea, set up a watch party on Facebook live. Invite your friends into the chat. Share the service you are watching. Bring others into the conversation. God has designed us for community and what I call togetherness. We may not be able to physically be together, but we can still connect with each other. 

We are better together. Let’s get together for our online weekend gatherings. Bring the kids along. Let’s meet in our living rooms, online, through text. Let’s join in together and gather together. 

Eliminate Distractions

This may be the most practical and helpful thing we can do. Eliminate distractions. Turn off unneeded technology. Don’t have conversations about the day or week with those around you. Make your coffee ahead of time. Don’t be worrying about making lunch at this moment. You will take care of it shortly. Have the room cleaned and the toys and clothes put away. 

It seems so unnecessary, right? Here’s the thing, our normal is to go to a building that is already prepared for us. A team of people works to do everything they can to eliminate distractions for us. They take care of our kids, they have coffee ready, they have the room cleaned and set, they make sure we can see and hear. They eliminate as many distractions as possible so we can encounter God and connect with Jesus and His church. 

The very things distracting us will keep us from engaging with God. Cut out the distractions. We can’t hear a singular voice if everyone is speaking at once. We can’t see what we need to amongst the clutter of our lives.

Engage with the Music, Message, Prayer, and Giving 

Alright, here are my tips on this. Whatever you are watching, cast it to the largest screen you have in your house. Put it front and center. Turn the volume up and get loud! Come on somebody, can I get an amen? Sing, and sing loud. Let’s lift our voices and praise God with everything we’ve got! 

Open your Bibles and take notes. It’s one more practical step that brings spiritual discipline. Read along. Write down what God is saying. “Amen” and give feedback when something resonates with you. True story, when I run or am driving in my car I will amen and say, “Come on” to a point that resonates with me. I am sure people think I’m crazy, but I don’t care. I want to agree with the truth. 

Pray. Don’t let the person on the screen be the only one praying. Pray. Pray passionately, boldly, and courageously. Pray out loud at that moment. Pray for your spouse, your kids, your parents, your city, your leaders, and the world. Prayer has always been a corporate practice of the Church. Let’s pray together, not just listen to prayers being prayed. 

And give. Let’s never stop giving. In this season let’s be known for our generosity. Let’s give out of the overflow God is giving us. He will take care of us. Let me say that another way, He is taking care of you. Let’s lead the way in our generosity. 

Continue the Conversation 

Here’s what I want to end with. Continue the conversation with anyone and everyone you can. Remember this, we are the Church! Church isn’t a once a week gathering in a building. We are The Church. Wherever we are and whenever we gather. 

Continue the conversation with your kids. Ask them what they learned that day. Ask them how they are feeling. Pray with them at that moment. Model being the Church. You are the Church. 

Text people, host a Zoom hangout, start a Q & A on Facebook. Post your notes on Instagram. Do whatever you can to continue the conversation. Being the Church is not a one and done, once a week thing. It’s a daily lifestyle of loving God and loving others. So love others by talking about what God is speaking to you. 

When all is said and done, and we are on the other side of this, here is my prayer: God will have spoken to every one of us, and we will know what it means to be in His presence. Do not miss this opportunity to grow in your faith and grow in being the Church. Let’s continue to gather, being the Church where we are, and lifting up Jesus!

The Father's Table

THE TABLE

I grew up in a rather large family. By “rather large” I mean there were 11 kids. Yes, my parents were crazy enough to have 11 children. And yes, they know about birth control. Seriously though, you would think that by the time the fourth child came along (me) that they would have gotten the hint that we were a strong-willed, rowdy bunch of kids. My dad jokes about the fact that they kept going for the perfect child...He said it’s yet to happen.

As our family grew, our dining room table became more and more crowded. As you can imagine, it takes a large table to host 13 individuals every morning at breakfast. At some point my parents realized the need for a larger table. I guess the alternative was to stop having children, but they were still under the illusion that perfection could be achieved so a larger table it was.

It was October, and the plan for us to purchase the new table was to pick up walnuts as a family. So we packed up in the ole 15-passenger and went for it. We’d drive around and Mom would spot a walnut grove or a tree in someone's yard, so we’d stop and ask the property owners if we could pick up their walnuts. I was embarrassed as a kid because it seemed so desperate. But we did it. We picked up 20,000 lbs of hulled walnuts. We worked in the rain, in the heat, in the fun, in the exhaustion. We didn’t stop until walnut season was over. Our hands became stained, our backs hurt, and we never wanted to see another walnut tree again.

Post walnut season the new table was purchased. It was like Christmas morning at our house, excitement all around! The chairs and benches were newly stained, and the table large enough to host everyone with elbow room to spare. It was ours. The Kent family table. And we each had a place at our new table.

​THE NAME

I love going home to my parents’. The rush of childhood memories is imminent as we pull into the drive. Everything from the smell of pancakes and black Folger’s coffee to the crisp breeze in the air takes me back to early mornings, family devotionals, and movies on Sunday nights. It’s a fresh reminder of who I am: a Kent.

Names have the potential to carry weight with them. There’s power and identity in them. Sometimes we stand on the shoulders of the last generation and build. One generation builds into the next, all with the same identity found in the family name. My family name has meaning and purpose to it. It carries with it the identity of a large family, hard workers, creative individuals, and a commitment to others. We have little choice in the imposition others place on us due to our family name. I am a Kent and proud of it. My parents carried the name well.

Here’s the best part about being a Kent though: I belong at my parents’ table. Let that sink in. I always have a place at my parents’ table. I belong there simply because I am their son. They’ve never made me pay for a spot at their table. I naturally belong there because of who I am and knowing whose I am. I am the son of Bob and Jan Kent.

THE MEAL

My mom is an amazing cook! Growing up I never wondered if she was going to burn our dinner, if breakfast would be awful, or if lunch would be fast food. She always had food prepared for us.

Growing up our table hosted many meals; meals my mom would prepare for us and meals we kids would help prepare. Breakfast and dinner we would gather, as a family around the table, and share a meal together. We would talk about the activities of the day while eating what was before us. Some meals were rushed, others would linger on for hours. This was life. This was our family, sitting around the table, eating, talking, singing, reading, praying, crying, sharing news, and speaking of the future.

As an adult, I love what my parents instilled in me. Family is meant to gather and eat together. Sit. Be in the moment. Wait until everyone is finished. Be present and enjoy the food and the company of those around you.

THE FATHER’S TABLE

I believe our Heavenly Father has a table as well. At this table we, who bear His name, have a place. We gather and share a meal together, with the Father at the head sharing His goodness, mercy, grace, love, peace. There is laughter at the table as the dishes are passed. We share about our day, our brothers and sisters encourage us, and the Father wipes our tears. He invites us to gather around and share with Him all that He has prepared for us. We come together because He has invited us, and we are His.

There are no limits as to who is invited or how many may come. It was not built by us. We did nothing to earn a place. We didn’t pay for the table, the meal, or our name. Our Father made the table. Our Father prepared the meal. Our Father made us His children through His son Jesus. We simply accept the invitation and come.

I like to imagine that our corporate gatherings, “Church,” are His table moments for us here on Earth. We gather because He has invited us. “Hey, come share a meal with Me. Come. Sit. Enjoy what I have prepared for you.” He invites us into a conversation with Him.

“How’s life? What’s been going on? How is the job I gave you? How is the family I have placed around you?” You can almost hear Him saying, “Why didn’t you bring them? They have a place here too.”

We gather around the table, but we often sit there acting like there is nothing set before us worth having. We fail to feast on His goodness, mercy, love, and grace. We act like we already have all we need. We pretend He is not even there. We gather. We sit. We endure the hour and fifteen minutes gathered around the table, and we can’t wait to leave and get back to our lives. And the whole time our Father sits there, excited that His children have come to share in what He has prepared for us.

What would our table moments look like if we came with a proper perspective and healthy expectation? I imagine excitement, joy, laughter, wonder, amazement, and transformation. I imagine a heart of service toward our brother or sister in the row, an understanding that all belong here regardless of (insert whatever your bias is), and an excitement to bring anyone and everyone with us! We gather together, as brothers and sisters, and eagerly wait to see what our Father has prepared. Our expectation becomes one of constantly knowing He will show us more of who He is and who we are in His eyes.

Everything changes when we understand we are sitting at the table of our Father; a Father who prepares the absolute best for His children and desires for us to just sit with Him. He never leaves us hungry but always leaves us wanting more. And in the midst of our apathy, He continually says, “I love you. Are you listening? I love you. I love you for no other reason other than I just love you.”

Has 30 Years Been Worth It?

The church where I have been serving for the past thirty years, Crossroads Baptist Church, just celebrated its 30th anniversary. In 30 years of ministry, there have been a lot of highs, and a lot of lows. You may wonder after all that time if three decades of ministering in the same church has been worth the effort. I say that it is worth every minute. The following letter is why I have kept going for 30 years. It is written by the daughter of a guy who helped me start our church 30 years ago. My buddy passed away a few years ago, but the words penned by his oldest say it all for me. I hope you enjoy what Morgan wrote. I know that Stanton would.

“My parents met at this church.
They learned how to lead at this church.
They built relationships of the deepest impact at this church. 
They were challenged to raise children in scripture at this church. 
I was saved at this church.
I was baptized at this church.
I learned the books of the Bible at this church. 
I learned to memorizes scripture at this church. 
I learned how to worship at this church, and learned that if you ain’t sweating you ain’t worshiping. 
I learned how to pray at this church. 
I learned the value of tithing at this church. 
I met leaders that have changed my life at this church. 
I met my best friends at this church. 
I have been through immense heartbreak and grief at this church. 
I have experienced pain from people at this church. 
I have had to chance to share a story of brokenness at this church. 
I have been able to practice being a servant at this church. 
I am learning how to lead at this church. 
I learned my passion for preschoolers at this church.
I am learning how to better study the Word at this church. 
I am learning the unbelievable need for community and small groups at this church. 
I am learning that people are people, and they sometimes fail you. That’s okay, because faith isn’t people-based but God-based. 
I am learning that the “cool new thing” may not always be the Jesus thing. 
I am learning that people dug a well that I GET to drink from every day. 
I am learning here. I have learned here. I have done things here. I wasn’t even alive 30 years ago, but people who wanted to make a difference were, and they started digging and planting seeds, and studying the Word and building relationships. This campus building we are standing in wasn’t here 30 years ago. The other campuses were far-off dreams that these people digging didn’t even know they had yet.

This church did so much. This church is doing so much. It’s changed my life, shaped my life, has been my life some days. But this church wasn’t built by people in a day. It wasn’t built easily. It wasn’t built without pain and challenge and death and joy and persecution and heartbreak and disagreements and disappointment and people coming in and people walking out and people being called in and people being called out.

This church is me. This church is us. This church is because of Jesus. It’s not this building or that building or dreams or good days or bad days. It is a faithful to calling pastor we have. It’s the elders who stay in the Word and wisdom so as to best make the decisions that represent our church. It’s the people who woke up early to set up in a high school and stayed late to break it down. It’s the people that rocked babies and chased three-year-olds and read little Bible stories to 4th graders. It’s the people who passed the offering buckets every single week down the aisle. It’s the people who lead us to the throne room in worship. It’s the parking lot guys who help us park or greet us with a happy face when we aren’t feeling it. It’s the middle school pastors who gave up their sanity to love on 13-year-olds who are always just so loud. It’s the people who stay with high schoolers and work through their pain and brokenness with them. It’s the people who sit in counseling offices or hospital rooms or funeral homes and showed with their actions that Jesus was still there. It’s the people. It’s relationships. It’s me. It’s you. It’s us. That is this church.

Jesus is good. He has been so good. Jesus is using us. He’s using you and me, and He’s using the broken and the messed up and the crazy and the mundane to build the Church. We get to be a part of this! For 30 years people got to be a part of something that didn’t stop – that isn’t stopping! Jesus is still going. And now I get to dig. I get to start things and be part of things that just maybe will mean something in another 30 years. I get to build relationships with people who might just change the world in 30 years. And it wouldn’t have ever happened without the people who dug for me 30 years ago. They didn’t know who they were digging for. But they dug anyway because the Lord asked them to dig.”

Remember Those Who Dug the Well

I’m amazed at what God has been doing the last 30 years in and through a group of people known as Crossroads Church. From a tiny core group praying for direction to a multi-campus, disciple-making network of churches living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. I find myself amazed by where we’ve come from and filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. I can’t count the number of times that I have heard Ken Adams say, “Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well.”  I just love this quote. It is so true. If we are not careful we can become comfortable where we are and take for granted all that has been built on hard work, sacrifice, faithfulness, and utter dependence on God. Our God is truly an awesome God!

I am thankful for that core group that met in schools. Every week was a labor of love…love for a community that needed to Experience God and Connect with Christ and His Church. Every week was a sacrificial offering….sacrifice of time (setting up and tearing down takes time), energy (setting up and tearing down is not easy), resources (cribs, furnishings and equipment aren’t cheap). Every week was a challenge…a challenge met with faithfulness, dedication and determination. Meeting in schools wasn’t easy, but, the payoff, the fruit was exponential. It is from this group that we have grown into the church we are today. Almost 4000 people have been baptized. We have given almost $4 million to missions, and 13 new churches have been started. Each of those congregations have drank from that well. Isn’t that amazing!?!

As we look to our future we must pause with gratitude for those who “dug the wells” over the years at Crossroads. We must also pause to ask ourselves a question - “Where is God leading me to dig a well?”  With each new campus, church plant, ministry initiative there is a well to be dug. It will take sacrifice, resources and surely be a labor of love. As we looked back during the Anniversary service, my mind was taken to a school a few miles down the road where we are digging a well to reach the community of Senoia. I could see families, gathering to worship, kids and parents being baptized, students leading out in their schools, young adults surrendering to full-time ministry. The same God that led Palmetto Baptist Church to reach the people of Coweta County 30 years ago is leading us to reach the people of Senoia.

Can you imagine what would happen if we began to dig with the same sacrifice, faithfulness, determination and dependence on God that the core group had 30 years ago? I believe we would see two things happen:

• God will do far more than we could ask or imagine!
  

  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
  

• We will see revival sweep our community and beyond!
  

  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

Let’s put on our work clothes and get digging. It’s time to help someone else encounter the living water of Christ.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

The Value of Recreation Ministries

The Church has utilized many ministry strategies to reach people for Christ throughout history: hospitals, schools, dramatic arts, music, dance etc., but sports ministries have a few distinct advantages over other worthy endeavors. 

1. Relevance

Sports activities and sports facilities attract people and translate to any community. There’s just something about seeing men running up and down a basketball court playing pick-up games, young adults running and jumping while playing ultimate Frisbee, women "digging" and "spiking" volleyballs, or families cheering for their kids as they kick up dust on a baseball field. Recreation and sports attract a wide range of people, and because of this, they have the unique ability to draw in people who have no church connection.

2. Long Term Approach

Recreation ministries provide a natural “back door” activity that give church members an opportunity to invite friends, families, and co-workers. Whereas, many people are not receptive to invitations to a church service, they are very open to playing a basketball pick-up game or signing their child up for a baseball league. Furthermore, it provides a continual opportunity for relationships to develop and deepen because practices and games occur at least once a week for months at a time. Most church outreaches last a couple of hours, one day or perhaps, or on the rare occasion, one week. Sports activities keep people involved for months to even years which greatly encourages successful long term relationship building and outreach. 

3. Built-In Accelerators 

The accelerator of relationships is crucial to the overall goal of reaching and discipling those who don’t yet have a relationship with God. It’s very hard to share the gospel with someone you have no relationship with. Sports create a unique opportunity to build trust and accelerate the relational process through teamwork. Sports ministries also have the ability to accelerate the process of communicating faith. Sporting analogies, metaphors and experiences provide unique, insightful and relevant ways to communicate a personal and growing relationship with Christ. 

Recreation and sports are a unique tool to bridge the Church to communities for the purpose of leading people into a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Have sports and recreation been a positive influence in your life? Share in the comments!

Build Your Biblical Vocabulary

Have you ever listened to a sermon or Bible study and the speaker used a word that just flew over your head? I have! Sometimes big “church” words can be intimidating. It’s easy to just nod your head and act like it makes perfect sense, but some of these words pop up repeatedly around the church in messages, studies, or even songs. I think it’s important to understand their meanings. If you don’t, you risk not fully grasping what the scripture or lesson is teaching.

I have a confession. I love words. I know it sounds nerdy, but I’m an English teacher’s dream when it comes to definitions, pronunciation, and context. I get frustrated when I read or hear words, and I don’t understand their meanings. This is especially true when it comes to the Bible and theological (study of religion) terms.

It’s easy to look up definitions quickly now that we all carry smart phones or tablets with us wherever we go. However, I’ve compiled a short list of commonly used theological words with basic definitions and sentences. You may want to study more to find deeper meaning.

5 Theological Terms to Know

1. Atonement - compensation or payment for sin

When Jesus died on the cross, he made atonement for our sins.

2. Inerrant - incapable of being wrong

The Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

3. Reconciliation - the restoration of relationship; repair of a broken relationship 

We are reconciled with God through the death of His Son, Jesus.

4. Redemption - saved from sin, error, or evil; to buy out as if purchasing a slave’s freedom

Because of Christ’s redemption, we are free from the bondage of sin. 

5. Sovereign - possessing supreme or ultimate power

Our sovereign God has authority over all things, and nothing is impossible for Him.

For deeper understanding, don’t be afraid to ask a pastor or leader to explain confusing words or concepts. God wants us to study and learn more about Him and His Word. The more we know, the stronger our faith grows.​

Abundant Life Always Works

Today I ate lunch with a couple of fellow ministers that were both asking the question, “What is wrong with the Church?” Both men care deeply about Christ’s Church and our effectiveness in making disciples. We had a good robust debate about what is working and what is not working in the Church today.

As I engaged in the conversation at lunch, my mind kept going back to the Church in Acts. The Church described in Acts 2:42-47 worked! It was a place where people wanted to be. It was a place where disciples were being made. It was a place where people were coming to Christ and growing in Christ. It was a place where people were experiencing the abundant life that Christ offers.

The Acts 2 Church is described as a large group of people who were “devoted.” They are also described as a place where people “were praising God and having favor with all people.” Church was fun. They were experiencing the abundant life Christ offered. They loved the music. They loved the teaching. They loved the fellowship. They loved serving and giving to each other. They loved inviting new people to join them. They loved these things because they loved God and they loved others.

Please understand that I am not saying the abundant life is an easy life. In fact, the abundant life might even come with more problems and difficulties. I am saying however, that the abundant life is a life that allows you to rise above the circumstances and problems of this world. The abundant life is a life that can only come through knowing Jesus. Jesus even told us that He has come to “give us life and life more abundantly.” The abundant life is a life overflowing because you have Christ living on the inside.

Christians and churches are dispensers of abundant life. We help connect people to Jesus, and He gives them life and life more abundantly. Abundant life always works. People will always want to have a life that is more full than empty. People will always want a life that is overflowing rather than dry. Our job is simply this: to connect people to Jesus so that they can have abundant life. We can’t give them abundant life, only Jesus can. We can lead them to Jesus.

To be honest, I wrote this blog for me. I needed to write what I was thinking after my lunch conversation. If it helped you, that is even better. I just needed to be reminded that my job as a pastor is to help people find abundant life. Life that is overflowing, not begrudging.

Championing and Reviving a Spirit of Joy

Have you ever thought, “Church is just boring.” No? Just me? Go ahead then, judge me, I can take it. I have sat through many services criticizing everything going on, imagining how I could do it better, and just wishing the service would end so I could leave. I was bored. It was boring. I wanted more. 

The Holy Spirit began convicting me through this season. He challenged me with the thought, “What would it look like to champion and revive a spirit of joy in you life?” I believe the local gathering of believers should be the most joyful place on earth. But that begins with me. It begins with God calling me to walk in joy through my attitudes, my speech, and my life. 

Let’s look at Psalm 84 (ESV):

“How lovely is your dwelling place,
   O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
   for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
   to the living God.

As we unpack this together, I believe Psalm 84 gives us three ways we can champion and revive a spirit of joy in our lives. 

Loving the Local Gathering of Believers

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s armies.” (NLT)

During the time that this psalm was written, there was a physical temple God had built in Jerusalem. In the temple there was a place called The Holy of Holies. It's where the Ark of the Covenant rested. On the lid of the Ark were two carved cherubim with their wings stretch towards each other. This was God’s dwelling place. This is where His presence rested. 

Today, we carry the very presence of God in us through the Holy Spirit. When we gather as local believers, the Church, God has said that He will be present with us. His presence, in that moment, being made known to everyone there. 

It’s easy for us to go to church and criticize how things are done. We say things like, “I don’t like the music. I don’t like what he’s wearing. He preaches too long. The area could use some work. I didn’t like how they did that…” We find ourselves focusing on the visual things, and we begin to criticize and tear down.

Here is where we need to remember the big picture, God is present. He is there in our midst. Instead of criticizing we should be asking, “God, what do you want to do through me in this moment?” When we ask this we go from criticizing to encouraging. We move past ourselves and see the needs of those around us. We being to love the local gathering of believers.

Having an Eager Expectation and Meeting with God

Let’s check out the first part of verse 2, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord”

Have you ever thought, “Why we are bored with church?” Like really thought about it. I’ve read this psalm so many times, and every time I’m struck by the language of verse 2. The psalmist cannot wait to be in the very presence of God. Eugene Peterson puts it beautifully in the Message, “I’ve always longed to live in a place like this, always dreamed of a room in Your house, where I could sing for joy to God-alive!”

I desire for everything in me to feel this way! I ask myself, “Do I have an eager expectation to meet with God? Do I expect to open up God’s Word and that He’ll speak to me? Do I expect that God wants to speak in the moments when I meet with other believers?”

Things in our lives become mundane too easily, and we start to go through the motions. We have moments when reading the Bible feels like a duty instead of an opportunity for God to speak. We have seasons where praying feels like a chore not a conversation. But let’s take a moment to remind ourselves we get to meet with the God of the universe! The one who created us, breathed life into our lungs, knew us before we were formed, and says “I love you, and I’ve adopted you as my son or my daughter.” We are meeting with the God who spoke things into existence. The God who pursues me. The God who pursues you. 

This reminder should change things for me. I should have an eager expectation in my life. I should have a longing to meet with God. 

I’ve changed behaviors and language in my life because of this. My “quiet time” is now “the speaking place” because I believe that God will speak to me in those moments. I step into every service with an expectation to hear from God. I ask myself continually, “Am I going through the motions, or am I longing to meet with God?”

Our Whole Being Praising God

The last part of verse 2 says, “my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

My heart and my flesh - This one is challenging for me. 

Have you ever had moments where your heart feels it, but your body is not acting with it? Or the opposite, where your body is singing out, but there is little to no joy in your heart? I’ve been there. I still am there. I find myself in the tension of believing in my heart yet feeling nothing outwardly. Or outwardly praising yet feeling empty inside. The psalmist reminds us our whole being needs to be praising God. 

In life, we can’t praise God just when we feel like it. Whatever we do, we do with whole being for God. The reality is that our whole being should be into praising God. We praise Him because of who He is. We praise Him because of what He’s done. We praise Him because of what He will do. We praise God with our heart and body. Everything in us should be shouting His praise.

If we believe in Jesus we have gone from death to life! The church should be the most joyful place on earth. Our hearts should be so full of joy we cannot help but sing to God. 

So why am I bored with church? Why do I leave a gathering feeling empty? I don’t want to anymore. I want to be a person championing a spirit of joy! I want to be known for loving the local church, having an eager expectation to meet with God, and praising God with everything in me.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Trying to Decide Where to Serve

Local church ministry requires a lot of hands, and serving is a vital part of the life of a fully trained disciple. Trying to decide where to serve can be tough, but there are a few key questions that can help you decide where to plug in as a part of the body of Christ.

1. Why do I want to serve?

It may sound silly to start with such a simple question, but it is crucial to understand why you are taking the step to look for somewhere to serve. It is a foundational question and needs to be answered if you are going to find the right place to serve and, more importantly, serve with the right heart.

Most Christ followers would say that our motivation (our “why”) is Jesus’ example. Over and over again Jesus showed His disciples the importance of servanthood and told them plainly that he came to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45). In Luke 22:27 Jesus says, “I am among you as the one who serves.” The kingdom he established is led by servants, and he has invited us to participate.

As you answer this question, remember this—your why may provide details that help lead you to the right what. For example, I was greatly impacted by a volunteer in my youth ministry when I was a student. His ministry impacted me in two major ways. First, he valued me during a time that I was struggling to believe I was valuable. Second, I knew that he was called and equipped to do student ministry, but he had a corporate job and felt stuck because of the pressure to provide for his family. This relationship led to two very distinct answers to the question of “why do I want to serve.” I wanted to serve so that I could make young people who are struggling understand their identity and value in light of the Gospel, AND I wanted to help people discover their callings and find the strength to walk in them. Because of this, I have devoted almost 20 years to student ministry, and I am currently employed with a non-profit that helps young adults discover their callings.

2. Where are the biggest needs?

When we choose to serve, we are making a choice to become “other focused” instead of being focused on ourselves. Asking this question is the first step in that process. God cares deeply about the Church and calls us to be His hands and feet as we serve (inside and outside of the body of Christ).  

This is one of the questions that a lot of people don’t like to ask themselves because sometimes it goes against their personal desires. Here is one common scenario: If a singer asks themselves this question, they may find out that there are already six vocalists but no one to run sound. For a season, they may be a greater blessing to their local church as a sound person than a vocalist. So where is the biggest need? Where will you be the greatest blessing as you serve?

3. What are some of my natural abilities and interests?

God created us all with unique abilities, and when we become believers, we are given spiritual gifts as well. Discovering what those abilities are is a necessary step in discovering where to serve as a part of the local church.  

We also each have unique interests—Activities that resonate with who we are. The problem is, not many people know what their natural abilities and interests are. Do you? Do you know what you are genetically encoded to do well? Or what types of activities you enjoy the most? 

4. What am I passionate about?

Serving in an area that you care about allows you to prioritize ministry and battle excuses that you might have for not fully committing. Passion fuels us as we continue to pour out in our area of ministry. If someone or something has captured your heart, God can use you as you selflessly and joyfully give. What are you passionate about? Who/what do you love? Worship? Students? Biblical truth? Babies? Children with special needs?

5. Where will I become who God wants me to be?

Through the years, I have learned that God is more concerned about who we are becoming than what we are doing. As you search for a place to serve, ask God to show you where you can grow the most. It may not be easy, but sometimes the hardest things are the most transformative. Serving others is challenging, but the more we serve the more we become like Jesus. Where can you serve and grow the most as a disciple?

To find out more about Crossroads’ serving opportunities, click HERE!

Are You Disengaged?

I recently had some trouble with my lawn mower. The blade wasn’t engaging and therefore I wasn’t getting any grass cut. My motor was full throttle, but the blade was not making any progress. 

This problem with my mower is the same problem some church members have: they are disengaged with the Church. Their motor still works, but they are not making any real progress in the mission of Christ. 

Thirty years of ministry has given me the opportunity to see lots of good-hearted folks disengage with God’s Church and His mission. They still love God and love people, but they have lost steam when it comes to God’s Church. At one point, they were monster leaders, and now, they hardly attend, or just don’t attend weekend services at all. As I ponder what has happened to my friends, here are a few observations.

First, you can’t separate Christ’s mission and Christ’s Church! 

Two thousand years ago Jesus decided to accomplish His mission using His Church. This was His decision, not mine. I cannot claim to be fulfilling the mission of Jesus apart from His chosen vehicle. 

The Church is supposed to be “on mission.” If it is, then I am called to be engaged with the church. Jesus did not make the Church optional. It is His chosen plan and His chosen vessel to fulfill His mission in this world. You don’t give up on the plan, and you don’t check out on the Church. 

Second, you must stay a contributor and not become a consumer! 

Oh my goodness! Many of the people I see that become disengaged with the Church have slowly transitioned from a contributor to the cause to a consumer of goods. They subtly lose sight of what the mission is really about. The mission actually becomes more about them than it is about making disciples. 

When the mission is about you and “your needs,” you will develop a “take it or leave it” attitude toward the Church. Mission-minded people are willing to do whatever it takes, and consumer-minded people are driven by what they can take. 

Lastly, you never separate the mission from your stage of life! 

I know a lot of people who have disengaged with the Church because their stage of life has changed. In other words, their kids are now grown, and they don’t feel the need to be as committed as they once were. They are retired and don’t want to be tied down like they used to. Are you kidding me? The world is dying and going to Hell, and you don’t want to be committed? 

Listen, you may change things as life changes, but not being committed to the Great Commission is not acceptable. Jesus did not say, “Make disciples as long as it fits your stage of life.” Fulfilling the Great Commission is for every stage of life! 

Don’t disengage from the Church. The mission is too important, and the world needs the Church more than ever. Be sure that the longer you live, the more engaged you are with the mission of the Church and not less.

To find out how to become more engaged at Crossroads,

check out our Next Steps class!

The Slow Death of Commitment

Here is an observation from thirty years of ministry. Every member of a church is either growing in his or her commitment to that church, dying in his or her commitment, or maintaining in his or her church commitment. Honestly, maintaining usually doesn’t happen that much. The truth is, most church members are becoming more committed or less committed over time. I’ve literally been watching it happen for over thirty years. 

As I think about my observation, one question continues to surface. How does God feel about my commitment level to His Church? I understand that you would expect a pastor to be writing about local church commitment. You would assume that only a pastor or a church leader would really care about a person’s commitment level. Why would anyone else care about this issue enough to write about it? 

The reality is, God cares about your commitment to His Church even more than your pastor does. The Church is the bride of Christ, and she deserves a commitment. The Church is the Body of believers, and every part needs to be committed. The Church is the flock of God, and belonging means something to the Shepherd. The Church is the Family of God, and family commitments are important. 

If over time your commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ is decreasing rather than increasing, you need to figure out why. In fairness, your involvement level might look different over time, but not your commitment level. As time passes, a person may or may not be able to do all they once did, but that does not mean that they can’t be even more committed. I think God would be incredibly pleased with seeing a person’s commitment to His chosen vehicle deepen rather than weaken as the years pass. 

I want to encourage you to always ask the question- how can I be more committed to my church this year than I was last year? How can I attend more? How can I serve more? How can I give more? How can I support more? How can I encourage more? 

In Acts 20:28 the Bible says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.” If the Church cost Jesus His own life, how can our commitment to the flock of God decrease rather than increase? 

If you want to know more about how the Church can be a movement of multiplying disciples, contact impactdisciples.com. If you mention this blog, we will send you a free resource called, “What If Thirty Days Could Change Your Church?”.

Finding Your Spiritual Gifts

Recently, I was having a conversation about spiritual gifts with my small group. As I described the different spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, many of my small group members began giving me the same look I give the car repairman when he is describing car parts and all that he did to repair my vehicle. I was surprised to learn that many in my group were not familiar with the spiritual gifts the apostle Paul describes in his New Testament letters.

Now concerning your spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 1 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)

How about you? If someone were to ask you what your spiritual gifts are, would you be able to respond? What would you say? Some believe that God-given spiritual gifts are simply the fruit of the Spirit, but the New Testament makes mention of 18 specific and actionable gifts apart from Paul’s famous writing in Galatians. In his letters to the churches in Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth, Paul describes spiritual gifts such as shepherding, evangelism, discernment, or mercy-showing…which gifts belong to you?

Every Christian would be wise to determine his or her spiritual gifts. Knowing the gifts that God has given you helps you find the best fit for serving in the church. Fortunately, we can help! Follow this link to take a spiritual gifts survey:

The knowledge of how God has gifted and wired you will inform and enhance your obedience for the rest of your life. Find out what your gifts are and ask God to give you opportunities to serve and glorify Him doing what you do best!

Find out more about Summer Test Drives HERE

How the Church Partners with Parents

Did you know that from the day your child is born until high school graduation you have about 936 weeks? Every week counts. In fact, every day counts. Let's be real, parenting is not for the weak. I remember when my daughter was a few weeks old and wouldn't sleep, and I thought, “This is it?” Don't all parents go through that at some point?

The church is here to partner with you. I mean, not necessarily through the sleepless nights, but we are here to share this journey and help make your spiritual impact the most effective in your child's life. You may be thinking, "How does the church partner with parents?"

First and foremost, you must remember that God is for you. The church, as the bride of Christ, is for you too. The church is modeled after Christ, and we are called to love one another. In order for the church to love on parents, we must partner with parents. Here are a few ways you as a parent can ensure that you and the church are working together.

Be the Model

Jesus is our model. We need to use our model - Jesus, and be the model for our children. Our children are watching us. They see everything that we do, and it sticks with them. If we ask our children to do something that we ourselves are not willing to do, we are not being authentic models.  Jesus is an authentic model, so we need to strive for that too. 

There will be times where we will fail and fall short of the glory of God, but thankfully, we can model forgiveness in those moments. To be honest, modeling forgiveness for my child is humbling. Think about this. You do something wrong, and your child calls you out on it. Yep, that has happened to me more than once. In that moment, I took a deep breath and showed my daughter how to appropriately admit my mistake and asked her, as well as Jesus, for forgiveness.

Be Present

Times have changed since I was a kid. Technology is changing daily; our children can have friends that they have never even met in person! Although technology is allowing us to see the world through a whole new lens, it is also allowing our children to be vulnerable. Be present in the things your children are doing on social media. Know their friends and the people they are talking to.

Our children are also facing stress. I know everyone has stress; however, the stress that our children face is like nothing before. The stress of friends, the stress of fitting in, the stress of doing well at school or extra curricular activities, and the list goes on. The stress kids face needs an outlet. Allow your children to talk to you about what they are experiencing each day and provide them with a safe outlet to share honestly. 

When I say safe, I mean a "no judgement zone." Listen to what they are saying and provide them with the Truth to apply to their situation. You may be asking, "How do I know what to say or do?" The church is here to guide you through this process and help you grow in your knowledge of scripture. Knowing your child’s small group leader is also a great way to get guidance.  

Know Your Child's Small Group Leader

This is a huge part of a successful partnership between parents and the church. Your children’s small group leaders are here for them, but they are also here for you. They want to know you and for you to know them. Feel free to go into the group area and introduce yourself to your child's small group leader!

You may be thinking, “Why is it important to know their small group leader?” Depending on your child’s age, his/her small group leader may be an outlet when he/she is struggling with a situation. If the small group leader knows you, he/she is able to share this information with you to help your child in that time of need. In order for all of the suggestions to truly work together for the greater good of your child, you must be involved at a church.  

Be Involved at Your Church

To be involved doesn’t mean just attend on Sunday and be done after that. No, being involved means getting in a small group of other believers who are experiencing spiritual growth. Another way to be involved in the church is to serve in an area that allows you to use your spiritual gifts. Finding where your spiritual gifts fit is key. For example, personally, I would not be happy serving on our security team. Not because I don’t support it, but I would struggle with confronting others in a possibly negative situation. 

Don’t serve in an area that doesn’t fill your heart with joy. Find the place that fits you. Once you become involved in the church, you will model for your children what you want for them. Remember they are watching you, and it will stick!  

936 weeks will be gone in the blink of an eye. Why waste it? The church is here for you each week and will continue to be. Think about your children right now. What phase are you in? How many weeks are left until graduation? What are you going to do to ensure you have the right partnership to raise them to be a disciple of Jesus? We are here for you! Are you willing to let us partner with you on this journey? 

Seven Steps

I love the New Year! I love the New Year because it is filled with possibilities and potential. I get excited when the blank page of a New Year is ahead of me waiting to be written on. So much opportunity exists as the old year rolls into the new, and people begin making changes and taking on new adventures. 

I always think of the New Year as a chance to help people make desired changes in their lives. I see part of my role as a spiritual leader as helping people discover the adventure of walking with God. I always feel like part of my job is to help people take steps each year in becoming the disciples they were meant to be. This year is no different. As much as anything else I do as a Pastor, I would love to see every person in our church take as many steps as possible in their walk as a disciple of Christ. 

One of the first steps I would love to see people take is the step of membership in a local church. Membership gets a bad rap these days, but it is still important and still a much needed step in our spiritual growth. People who bash the idea of membership these days ought to ask a believer in first century Jerusalem if it was important. 

Another step I would love to see people make is becoming a consistent magnifier of Christ. Being a consistent magnifier simply means being a person that worships both privately and publicly. Never underestimate the importance of what a commitment to personal and corporate worship will mean to your spiritual growth.

The next step I pray that people will take is a step into maturity. Maturity is the process of growing from an infant in the faith to an adult in the faith. This growth or maturity process does not happen by accident. It takes an intentional plan and an environment like a small group to grow and get deeper in your walk with God.

A fourth step I hope people will take is the step of ministry. Wow! Imagine what could happen if the majority of people in our church took a step onto a ministry team? It would be incredible to see everyone in our church doing something, big or small, to serve God. I have to think Jesus would be pretty honored by that.

The fifth step I would love to see people take is the step into managing. In other words, being a good steward of what God has given them. If everyone decided to be a better manager of their time, their money, their bodies, or their abilities, it would make a huge difference in the growth of God’s kingdom.

A sixth step I encourage people to take is the step of becoming a messenger. If everyone in our church shared Christ with someone else in the coming year that would be incredible. Being a messenger just takes a willingness to let God use you to share with someone else.

The last step is to take the step into multiplication. A multiplier is someone who makes a disciple that makes another disciple. When we have a church filled with multipliers, Satan starts trembling in his boots. I would love to see more people making disciples than ever before.

So, what about you? Are you ready to take a step? Would you be willing to take more than one? Let this be a year of growth for you. Don’t keep crawling when it is time to start walking!

To Love One Another - NOT just because “Tis the Season”

“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16. Through the Holy Spirit, loving others should be easy, right? For me, it depends on the day. Ha!  That sounds crazy, but it’s true.

There are days when loving others comes easy, and then there are days when loving others is more challenging than running. If you know me, you know running is no easy task! I’ve found the most challenging time for me to love others is during a time of pain or struggle. 1 Peter 1 tells us to rejoice in times of trials. If we have the Lord in our heart, we will have everlasting peace in Heaven.   

Loving others is a little easier through the power of the Holy Spirit than trying on our own. I am not saying loving one another will be easy...living life is not easy especially disconnected from the Lord. What does it mean to LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13 paints a picture of how we should love others. Love is described as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not dishonoring, not self-seeking, not keeping record of wrongs, not delighting in evil but REJOICING in the Truth. Love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. We are then reminded that love never fails.  

God actually explains love as a selfless act. To be able to love another is to put others before yourself. Think on this: Would you be willing to lay down your life for a friend? How about an enemy? God loved us, He gave us - undeserving and sinful - a model, Jesus, in the flesh without sin to be our Savior. Jesus died and rose from the grave to save us, you and me, not himself.  

So, how are you doing loving others? Not just because it is the Christmas season, and most of us are joyful during this time. There is something about Christmas that brings JOY. But, we must remember that we are created to love in all seasons. We are created to love others during their pain and trials. We are created to love others even in our own pain and suffering. We are created in the image of Christ which is perfection. I am not saying we are created to be perfect; we are created through perfection from Christ.  

We must remember that we are created to love in ALL seasons

Loving others has always been somewhat of an easy task for me…well, for the most part. Not too long ago, there was a point in my life, where loving others was not easy at all. You see, during that valley I was hurting, the pain and struggle during that time was real. To be honest, I wondered if I would ever be back to my “old self.” Guess what...I am not. The Lord allowed me to grow to a deeper spiritual place that I would never have obtained without pain.

Depending on your journey at the moment, you may not want to hear this...but, the Lord takes the bad and creates something good. From my valley, I experienced pain, sadness, and guilt. As the Lord held me through that valley, He showed me a love I never knew before. He showed me how to face the pain and begin walking out of the valley not on my own but with His strength.  

Even in our trials and pain, the Lord loves us. He is willing to walk beside us to guide us out of the valley. Are we willing to do that for others? Are we willing to love others during all of the seasons? Are we willing to love others during the bad to witness the good that the Lord has in store?  

I will leave you with this: To be able to love the way Christ loves, you surrender yourself and walk by the Holy Spirit. This is a daily task, and is nothing that can be obtained on your own. Through Christ we can love others, even when we believe they are undeserving...because guess what, so are we! I encourage you to love one another more often.

The greatest commandments Jesus gives us in Matthew 22:37-38 are to

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

When you love the Lord, you walk with the Spirit. Walking with the Spirit allows loving your neighbor as yourself to be much easier.

FAMILY Part 1: Family First or First God?

I have always had a heart to see families succeed. I am a believer that if we are to maximize our potential for Christ, we need to have a strong family that builds each other up and encourages each other in the Lord. I think, across the board, a breakdown in families results in other kinds of evils. To reach this next generation, we must have strong disciple-making families.

I have been blessed to see my grandparents married for over 65 years and other Godly mentors that make marriage and family a priority. I am writing this to share some of the things that my wife, Christin, and I do to that makes a difference in our family. My wife and I me up with an acrostic for FAMILY that will develop this concept.

F - First God

Today I will start with F- First God. This is nothing new. It comes from one of my favorite verses in the Bible: Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” One of our common mistakes is to put family first. I believe God is telling us to seek Him first and do everything else, including family, out of the overflow of our relationship with Christ. 

Please don’t get me wrong. I am a firm believer in the importance of family. I stick by the scripture 1 Timothy 5:8, “If anyone doesn’t provide for his relatives and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Those are strong words given to us by our Lord. Families and children have always been close to the heart of the Lord. If you have a chance, look at the words God gave Moses to tell Hebrew families before going into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).  

Christin and I are busy a lot like the rest of you with jobs, four children, sports…and I could go on. So I don’t want to say this without leaving some practical steps that we do to make First God happen in our family.

Model the Life of Christ

We must be the ones that model God first in all that we do for it to stick with our kids. The first thing my wife and I do when we wake up every morning is set aside 30 minutes to an hour spending one-on-one time with God. We make Church and Small Group (environments of spiritual growth) a priority. Children see these things. A lot more is caught than taught, and children can spot a fake.  

Mission-Minded Family

If we are not involved in making disciples, we are missing our true calling in Christ. I view my wife and kids as my number one disciples. Christin and I both are the lead faith trainers of our children.     

Ask Tough Questions

We continuously ask ourselves tough questions. How is your time with God? How are we serving each other, our children, and others? Are we leading with zeal and enthusiasm? Am I putting anything before the Lord? Am I being spirit-controlled or self-controlled? These are just some of the questions. Often it is not the question itself, but the conversation that sharpens us.  

Pray

I ask the Lord if I put anything before Him. Some common things that compete with God are phones, money, kids, education, relationships and hobbies. Pray through these things. God is faithful. He will reveal if you are putting anything before Him if you humbly ask. 

Could you imagine what would happen if we became disciple-making families that put God first? I know neighborhoods and entire communities would be changed. Do not underestimate what God can do through your family if you put Him first. He used 12 to change the world.

To put Family First you have to put God First.

Check out Justin’s next post to read FAMILY (Part 2).

"It Takes a Village"...No, REALLY

Have you ever heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child?” Wow, how true is that statement? Let me ask you this: Where is your village? Who is in your village? Do you lean on your village for support? I believe that Jesus wants our villages to be the church!

Jesus wants our villages to be the church! 

Think about this, the church should be the place where you can go when you have parenting questions. The place with the door open with welcoming faces and willingness to pray for your children and, of course, you as a parent. How do we do this? Through a partnership. We don’t want you to walk the parenting journey alone. We want to join you as you guide your child to know Jesus and then continue to grow in his/her spiritual walk. 

You may be thinking, “Well ok, how do I accomplish this?” No worries, I have a few helpful steps. Oh and, of course, some ways I implement this with my daughter.

1. Attend Church

The first step is attending church. Seriously, go to church! Do you ever get into your car on Sunday morning, look at the clock and say, “Whew! We will actually be on time today!” Or for some that may be a rare occurrence, and they can count it a miracle if they get there before worship ends. In all seriousness, church has to be a priority. Allow your kids to attend Reel Kids or another growing children’s ministry and experience church on their level! At the same time, attend corporate worship for yourself.  Your spiritual growth and theirs depends on this.

2. Don't Stop After Sunday Afternoon

Secondly, don't stop after Sunday afternoon. A lot of us go to church on Sunday, then Sunday evening rolls around. We eat Sunday dinner as a family, pray as a family and may even do a devotional as a family. After Sunday, the rush comes in full force. We get busy with work, school, practices and performances, and we lose sight. Now, some of us may have a small group or mid-week church activities at some point during the week, so we get a little church during that time.

We tell ourselves, “Take a deep breath you made it to mid-week!” The struggle is real. There have been nights where my daughter will finally fall asleep...I mean the bedtime routine is something fierce!  And I will look at my husband, shocked and say, “We didn’t read a Bible story!” Defeated in that moment, I think, “Should I wake her?” and then laugh,“No! Are you crazy?” 

Yes, we should strive daily to do better guiding our child’s spiritual journey. But, we can’t forget that we are human, and we will fall short daily. God gives us grace and mercy every second, and sometimes we need to extend it to ourselves. This is not a free pass. If bedtime is rough like it is at my house, choose a better time for your family to do a Bible reading or devotional. Why not try a time that will work?

3. Be a Model

Thirdly, be a model! Your children need to see you grow! Invest in your personal time with the Lord! Prioritize your daily God time, worship and prayer. Personally, I think it is valuable for your children to see this growth being modeled. Allow them to hear you reading the Word, praying and worshiping our Lord. You may even occasionally invite them in to participate with you during your time with the Lord. At other times find a location with little to no distractions where you can dig into the Word, cry out in prayer and rejoice in song. Magnify the Lord every day, even if the only non-distracting location is your closet. In order to grow in your relationship with the Lord, you must seek Him daily. Make this time a daily priority. Mark it on your calendar if necessary.  

4. Pray!

Lastly, pray! Pray for your children, pray for your parenting, and pray for your family.  Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing. Jesus modeled prayer, privately and corporately. If Jesus took the time to model prayer to the disciples, He wants us to take the time to model this as well. 

Through prayer you are able to talk to the Lord. When I pray individually or with my family I use the PRAY acronym.

P - Praise the Lord, magnify Him. 

R - Repent if needed confess and gain wisdom to change.

A - Ask for needs to be met.

Y - Yield to God’s will.  

There will be days when you fail, and there will be days when you win. TAKE THE WIN!! Don’t focus on the struggle, focus on the WIN. Lean on the church as your village and allow us to help you grow.

Looking for more inspiration on

how to lead your family?

Check out Justin Goode's article, 

"Family First or First God?"