Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Children; Desires; Family; Fathers; Girls; Love; Needs; Single Moms References: Proverbs 17:6; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21 The enormous response to Bob Carlisle’s 1996 ballad “Butterfly Kisses,” which speaks of the tender love between a father and his daughter, makes Carlisle feel sad. “I get a lot of mail from young girls who try to … Continue reading “THE
FATHER THEY WANT”

Topics: Children; Community; Family; Fathers; Fellowship; Food; Lifestyle; Mothers; Prosperity; Relationships; Teens References: Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 22:6; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:4 “Kids who dine with the folks are healthier, happier, and better students, which is why a dying tradition is coming back.” That’s what an in-depth study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance … Continue reading “MAKING
THE GRADE AT FAMILY MEALS”

Topics: Accepting Christ; Assurance; Child Rearing; Children; Family; Fatherhood; Heaven; Testimony References: Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Psalm 45:16; Proverbs 1:8; 4:1; Romans 6:23 At the funeral of Ronald Reagan, his son Michael described the greatest gift a child can receive: I was so proud … to be Ronald Reagan’s son. What a great honor. He gave me … Continue reading “DAD’S
BEST GIFT”

Topics: Blessings; Child Rearing; Children; Encouragement; Fatherhood; God References: Psalm 68:5; Proverbs 22:6; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6–7; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21; 1 John 3:1 The seventeen kids who shot classmates in schools in various parts of the United States had one thing in common: a problem with their dads—a conclusion drawn by the FBI after … Continue reading “MEAN,
DANGEROUS, AND ANGRY”

Topics: Child Rearing; Children; Civility; Conduct; Respect References: Proverbs 22:6; 1 Corinthians 13:4–5; Ephesians 6:1–4 In 2002, only 9 percent of adults said the children they saw in public were respectful toward adults. In 2004, more than one of three teachers considered leaving their profession or knew another teacher who quit. The reason? Students’ “intolerable … Continue reading “WHY
KIDS ARE RUDE”

Topics: Career; Mothers; Resentment; Respect; Sacrifice; Work References: Psalm 127; Proverbs 30:17; 31:10–31 Eighty-six percent of mothers think they don’t get enough respect, and 80 percent agree that moms who stay home get even less. Even so, 77 percent of mothers who work full-time would rather stay home if they could. That’s according to a … Continue reading “DISRESPECTING
MOMS”

Topics: Child Rearing; Children; Family; Home; Mothers References: Proverbs 29:15; 31:10–31; Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15 Here’s how several elementary school students answered the following questions about moms: Why did God make mothers? •     She’s the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is. •     Mostly to clean the house. •     To help us out of there when … Continue reading “MAKING
MOMS”

Topics: Babies; Control; Crisis; Dependence on God; Faith; Love; Rescue; Surrender; Trials; Trust References: Exodus 2:3; Psalm 22:7–9; 91; Isaiah 43:1–3 Letting go of their children and watching them make their own way in the world is tough for any parent. For Tracinda Foxe, however, letting go came much too early in her baby’s life. … Continue reading “LETTING
BABY GO”

Topics: Appearances; Assumptions; Babies; Birth; Challenges; Confusion; Consequences; Ignorance; Knowledge; Motherhood; Neglect References: Proverbs 2:1–5; 14:8; Isaiah 44:18; 50:10; John 16:21; Hebrews 5:12–14; 2 Peter 1:5–8 While an old proverb claims that ignorance is bliss, Amanda Brisendine, a twenty-six-year-old woman from Renton, Washington, would be the first to tell you that ignorance can have unexpected … Continue reading “I
JUST DIDN’T KNOW”

Topics: Calling; Christian Life; Gifts; Purpose; Work Reference: Acts 18:1–3 In the furniture industry of the 1920s, the machines of most factories were not run by electric motors but by pulleys from a central drive shaft. The millwright was the person on whom the entire activity of the operation depended. He was the key person, … Continue reading “MILLWRIGHT
POET”