Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Child Rearing; Children; Discipline; Family; Guidance; Love; Support References: Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Proverbs 22:6, 15; 23:13; 29:15; Ephesians 6:4 Parents are reluctant to set limits for their children. And this permissiveness is harming kids of all ages, psychologists and educators say. Karen Stabiner writes in The New York Times, “It seems that the parents of … Continue reading “HARMING
KIDS WITH PERMISSIVENESS”

Topics: Children; Divorce; Family; Fathers; God as Father; Intimacy; Love; Presence References: Romans 8:15; Ephesians 6:4 Here’s what some third graders had to say about their dads, bad spelling and all: Dear Dad, I love it when you take me on dates! I like it when you play baseball with me, miniature golf with me, … Continue reading “DEAR
DADDY”

Topics: Child Rearing; Crime; Divorce; Family; Fatherlessness; Fathers References: Proverbs 22:6; Mark 10:14; Ephesians 6:4 Are fathers necessary in the home? Consider these statistics: •     Children in single-parent families are five times more likely to be poor, and half the single mothers in the United States live below the poverty line. •     Children of divorce suffer intense … Continue reading “SUFFERING
WITHOUT DAD”

Topics: Affirmation; Family; Fathers; Feelings; Relationships; Security; Unconditional Love; Words References: Proverbs 27:5; 1 Corinthians 13:1–7; Ephesians 5:1–2 “I love you” wasn’t spread around too much in our household. Not that it wasn’t meant. I could tell every time my dad told me he loved me without saying it. It’s just the way things were … Continue reading “SAYING
“I LOVE YOU””

Topics: Affirmation; Approval; Child Rearing; Criticism; Encouragement; Family; Fathers; Faultfinding References: Proverbs 25:11; Ephesians 4:15; 6:4; Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 The town ball club was the Lake Wobegon Schroeders, so named because the starting nine were brothers, sons of E.J. Schroeder. E.J. was ticked off if a boy hit a bad pitch. He’d spit … Continue reading “IMPOSSIBLE
DAD”

Topics: Children; Family; Fatherhood; Time References: Ephesians 5:16; 6:4 During morning devotions with his two young daughters, our friend Bill Cage realized he hadn’t been spending much time with his girls. After apologizing, he said, “You know, the quantity of time we spend together is not always as important as the quality of time we … Continue reading “SPENDING
TIME WITH THE GIRLS”

Topics: Alcohol; Drugs; Education; Family; Substance Abuse; Teens References: 1 Samuel 2:12–36; 1 Kings 1:6; Proverbs 22:6 Almost one in five American teens say they live with parents who fail to consistently set rules and monitor their behavior. These teens have a four-times-greater risk for smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use than their peers with … Continue reading “LETTING
PARENTS BE PARENTS”

Topics: Comfort; Compassion; Empathy; Encouragement; Love; Pain; Pastors; Presence; Support References: Psalm 46; Galatians 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:7–12; Hebrews 13:3 In June 2001, my son Jordan and I were working on our driveway, using a chisel and hammer to remove old asphalt and then patching it with new asphalt. We were both tired, so our … Continue reading “EASING
A CHILD’S PAIN”

Topics: Dashed Hopes; Dependence on God; Despair; God as Father; Grace; Helplessness; Rebellion References: Psalm 118:5; Luke 18:9–14; Hebrews 4:16 A teenage son rebelled against his parents and against God. For four years he protested his guilt and made innumerable promises to “straighten up.” But each excuse was unjustified, and each promise was broken. So … Continue reading “DASHING
MOM’S HOPES”

Topics: Busyness; Family; Fatherhood; Priorities; Schedules; Teens; Time References: Malachi 4:6; Luke 10:38–42; John 12:1–8 Dr. Robert Schuller was on a whirlwind book promotion tour, visiting eight cities in four days. It was exhausting work in addition to his normal duties as pastor of a large church. As Schuller reviewed his schedule with his secretary, … Continue reading “WINNING
TIME WITH DAD”