Category: Family Collection

Family Focus

On By BrianIn Family Collection

Here are some good posts on marriage:

Affair Proof and Divorce Proof Your Marriage in 2 Hours a Week – Gary Thomas
After years of reading, writing, speaking, traveling, and pastoral counseling, I’ve identified two things that, when they are in place, can almost guarantee you that your spouse won’t have an affair and that you won’t get a divorce. But you need to do both. I didn’t come up with these; I’m just recognizing them. You’ve heard of both of them, there’s nothing new here, but consider these two elements as the “canary in the mine.” If your marriage has both elements, the “air” in your mine is fresh and healthy and your marriage is probably fairly stable. If one or both of them die, the air is getting poisoned, and you need to take caution. Your marriage is now much more vulnerable to disintegration….

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Wife – Tim Challies
Here are 18 things I know I will never regret doing with my wife.
1. Praying with her. It took too long for the two of us to begin to really pray together; even now, we have a long way to go. But we have learned the importance of praying together and never regret the times we spend together before the Lord….

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Husband – Aileen Challies
So here are 18 things I will not regret doing with my husband.
1. Dating him. Because Tim is a pastor, Monday is usually his day off.  But like most days off, our Mondays are usually filled with chores (and in his case, writing). But one thing we always try to do is to get away from the house and go out for some time and some lunch. I will never regret setting aside that time to be together….

Family Focus

On By BrianIn Family Collection

Here are some important and really helpful posts for parents:

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Children – Tim Challies

Parents, Require Obedience of Your Children – John Piper (DG)

Is Your Child a Christian? – Brian Croft (GC)

How to Guard Sabbath for Your Children – Jen Wilkin (GC)

Merry Christmas!

On By BrianIn Family Collection, Holidays

I hope you all have a merry Christmas tomorrow.  Here are a few good Christmas posts:

God Became a Man – Justin Taylor
Some good classic quotes on the incarnation from Spurgeon, Augustine, and more.

Why a Virgin Birth? – Douglas Wilson
Good answer to the question…

5 Ways to Play With Your Kids This Christmas – Trevin Wax
Dads, this one is for us.  You may not like every idea, but the post gets us thinking in the right direction.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

I’m preaching on love in the family tomorrow, so here are some good posts on family love:

22 Descriptions of Marital Love – Paul Tripp (via R. W. Glenn)
1. Love is being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of your husband or wife without impatience or anger.
2. Love is actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward your spouse, while looking for ways to encourage and praise.

Leading in Love – Wayne Grudem (via Tim Challies)
Headship doesn’t mean selfishness. It means being willing to give of yourself for your wife and care for her as well.

Christian Husband’s Only Option: Love Your Wife – Jason Helopoulis
Every Christian husband knows that in Ephesians 5 the husband is exhorted to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. What many of us need to hear, especially in Western modern culture, is that an aspect of Christ’s love for the Church is that it endures. Christian husbands must take note that Christ’s love for the Church is not momentary or even for a season. It is a love that continues. It is steadfast and true. And these qualities are to mark a husband’s love for his wife. There is no other option.

When I Don’t Feel Love for My Spouse – Steve Cornell (via Gospel Coalition)
A woman once told me that she planned to leave her husband because she “just didn’t love him anymore.” I asked her to change the way she worded what she planned to do so that her decision could be understood accurately. I asked her to say it this way: “I am choosing to no longer value my husband and to break my commitment to remain faithful to him.”

If you are married, I hope these posts will help to strengthen your marriage.  And as always, have a great Lord’s Day worshiping our Savior who loved his church and gave himself up for her.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn Church Collection, Family Collection, PASSION Points

How we treat children says a lot about our humility.  Here are some helpful posts for parents and anyone who ministers to children:

How Do You Discern the Conversion of a Child? – Brian Croft

Teach Children the Bible Is Not About Them – Sally Lloyd-Jones

Children in Worship: Let’s Bring It Back – Jason Helopoulos

Children in Worship: Mom Tested Tips – Jason Helopoulos

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping the Lord!  (And if you are a parent, I hope you have a great Lord’s Day helping your children worship the Lord!)

The Reality of Failure

On By BrianIn Family Collection

The following is an excellent post from Collin Hansen addressing the reality of failure and its necessary applications in parenting and discipleship.  If you are a parent, you need to read this.  If you are a teen/young adult, you should read this.  Okay, you should just read and ponder this post no matter who you are:

Your kids will fail. This is both inevitable and also necessary. Apparently not many parents today want to hear this uncomfortable fact. And they certainly don’t want to implement it in how they discipline their children. Writing the cover story for The Atlantic’s July/August issue, therapist Lori Gottlieb alerts us that the cult of self-esteem is ruining our kids. Convinced they are the center of the universe and capable of anything, our children have become insufferable narcissists. Then, when these kids grow up and fail, as they must, they head for the nearest therapist, worried their lives have gone horribly wrong. Gottlieb writes:

[R]ates of anxiety and depression have also risen in tandem with self-esteem. Why is this? “Narcissists are happy when they’re younger, because they’re the center of the universe,” [psychology professor Jean] Twenge explains. “Their parents act like their servants, shuttling them to any activity they choose and catering to their every desire. Parents are constantly telling their children how special and talented they are. This gives them an inflated view of their specialness compared to other human beings. Instead of feeling good about themselves, they feel better than everyone else.”

As you might expect, this attitude wreaks havoc in the real world of adulthood. Try giving one of these college students a B, let alone a C. You better be prepared for a visit from the student and maybe even a phone call from a parent. Or try telling young adults in their first job that their work doesn’t cut it. You just might be looking for a new employee when the offended party looks for a workplace where his creativity and brilliance will be “appreciated.”

Continue reading…

Passion Week With Children

On By BrianIn Family Collection, Holidays

Easter bunnies, easter eggs, easter baskets, candy, gifts, and so much more.  Nothing wrong with these things in and of themselves.  But they can be a distraction from the true meaning of Easter.  In the midst of all these things, how can we help our children focus on what Easter is really all about?  Thriving Family magazine offers daily crafts and activities to do together as a family during Passion Week to help your family focus on Christ.  Check it out here.

Passion Points – Parenting

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

This week, I want to share some good posts about parenting. 

First, we need a Biblical understanding of who are children are as both sinners and image bearers as we seek to disciple them.  (Check this link for the Cosby Show clip if nothing else!).  We also should consider the goal of Biblical parenting – and it is not to simply have well-behaved kids.

Second, read an interesting and encouraging testimony of a father leading his son to the Lord.

Third, use those meal time prayers to teach your children how to pray, and also about God and the gospel.

Fourth, talk to your children about the sermon.  They remember and understand more than you think they do.

Finally, fathers must take seriously their role in taking their children to church.

Passion Points – Family

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

In keeping with the theme of the last few posts, here are some good links on marriage and the family.

First, Jared Wilson gives some direction for a grace-driven marriage.  Justin Taylor gives some thoughts from John Piper on the husband’s call to lead in reconciliation after the inevitable quarrels of marriage.

You might also check out some helpful booklets on marriage from RBC Ministries that you can view on-line:

Building Blocks To A Strong Marriage

What Is The Promise of Marriage?

Abigail & Leah: Living In A Difficult Marriage

When The Flame Flickers: Rekindling Intimacy In Your Marriage

Finally, here are some helpful links related to some family issues recently in the news:

Albert Mohler gives some helpful commentary on President Obama’s recent announcement that the Justice Department will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act.  You might also consider John Piper’s reaction.

Meanwhile, Joel Northrup, a high school student in Iowa, refused to wrestle  against a girl in the state championship wrestling tournament.  Despite there being good moral reasons for Northrup to take this stand, much of the media has lambasted him.  Albert Mohler and John Piper again give helpful commentary on this clash of worldviews related to the family.

Passion Points – Single Life

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

In keeping with our theme this week, here are some good articles about the single life:

Tim Keller reminds us that singleness is a good Biblical option in a world that either trivializes or idolizes family.

Brooks Waldron considers the meaning of singleness.

Finally, Dave Egner has a booklet in pdf format you can read online that explodes myths, considers Scriptures, and addresses issues related to the single life.  Highly recommended for singles and indeed anyone in the church.

Next week, we’ll continue looking at the single life as we consider benefits, as well as the right focus.