It’s clear that scripture holds the discipline of self-control in high esteem.

Galatians 5: 22-24 lists it as one of the fruits of the spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Continue Reading »

Tags: advice, behavior, expectations, godliness, intentionality, whining, young children, training, older children

Discipleship as it relates to the stages of development

The Rhetoric Stage

In this series, we’ve taken a deeper look at discipleship in regard to the different stages of your child’s development. We have discussed what it looks like in the grammar stage (preschool-young elementary ages) and the logic stage (5th-9th grades). Now we will look at what discipleship looks like in the rhetoric stage (14 - 18+year olds).
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Tags: discipleship, intentionality, practical help, beliefs, church, expectations, faith, family, godliness, guidance, motivation, priorities, salvation, spiritual leadership, vision, wisdom, prayer, seasons of parenting, teens

Discipleship as it relates to stages of development

The Logic Stage

In our previous posts we discussed what discipleship is, and what it looks like in the early pre-school and elementary years.

Today, we are going to take a deeper look at discipleship in the tween years or the Logic Stage of discipleship (5th - 9th grades). We’ll discuss practical, effective ways you can help disciple your child in this stage. Continue Reading »

Tags: anxiety, discipleship, elementary school, fear, intentionality, beliefs, church, expectations, faith, family, godliness, guidance, motivation, prayer, middle school, older children, parent-child relationship, practical help, salvation, seasons of parenting, training

Discipleship as it relates to stages of development

The “Grammar” Stage

In Parts 2-4 of our discipleship series we will provide practical and helpful ways to equip you in the faithful discipleship of your children.

Having raised and educated our own eight children we have become believers in the trivium model of the classical approach to learning. Continue Reading »

Tags: discipleship, beliefs, church, expectations, faith, family, godliness, guidance, salvation, spiritual leadership, prayer, elementary school, intentionality, practical help, preschool, seasons of parenting, training, uncertainty, young children

Over the years we've interacted with many Christian parents. They have been at all levels of spiritual maturity — some very young in their faith to the seasoned and deeply mature.

One thing, however, is pretty universal — and that is what they desire for their children.

So, Christian parent, let me ask you...
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Tags: behavior, discipleship, entitlement, godliness, motivation, salvation, worldliness, expectations, influence, spoiled kids

A “good” parent is a humble and teachable parent. One who willingly and frequently reevaluates priorities. It can be an uncomfortable process, but one that is absolutely necessary to maintain a home that is conducive to the faithful nurturing and training of children.Continue Reading »

Tags: busyness, disorder, guilt, home life, irritability, overcommitted, priorities, advice, anxiety, chaos, decision making, distraction, dysfunction, expectations, family, goals, identity, intentionality, overwhelmed, peace, significance, seasons of parenting, stress

One of the unexpected realities confronting Christian parents is this: faithful parenting is personally costly. No one ever told us this, we were completely unprepared. Continue Reading »

Tags: balance, intentionality, loneliness, advice, blessing, busyness, decision making, distraction, encouragement, personal sacrifice, priorities, expectations, faith, family, husbands and fathers, guidance, home life, hope, motivation, parent-child relationship, perseverance, regret, significance, vision, wives and moms, purpose, resentment, seasons of parenting, selfishness, unappreciated

Charles Spurgeon, the famous nineteenth-century English preacher, once said, “You might not always get what you want, but you always get what you expect.” Continue Reading »

Tags: behavior, chaos, elementary school, advice, blessing, goals, guidance, intentionality, practical help, entitlement, expectations, high school, influence, middle school, older children, preschool, tantrums, teens, toddler, whining, worldliness, young children