Shepherding a College-Bound Member

Shepherding a College-Bound Member

by | Jul 13, 2015 | Education, Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry

Recently, parents of one of our church’s high-school graduates and college-bound students asked if I would contribute to a book of helpful advice from those who have had an impact on him through his life. I was humbled and honored, as his pastor and as a close friend of the family to contribute. While the name has been changed, and a few of the details, below is the contribution I made as a suggestion of what I would recommend not only to this student, but just about any student as they move away to begin their college career. Brad, While it is no doubt harder for your parents to believe, it really does make Kelly and me take a step back to realize that you have reached this very significant milestone in your life and are headed off to college. One of the greatest joys of our family’s life is to have the close friendship of your family. Recently, while taking my son to a friend’s house abut thirty minutes from us, he wanted to know how far away it was from you. When I asked him if he ever wanted to live far out in the country like his friend, he immediately said, “no way, it’s too far from your family.” Each one of you means much to each one of us. You are embarking on a most significant step. It is now, as you step away from the familiar and safe borders of family, church, and hometown, that you will begin to not only develop new relationships and chart a new course, you will will also begin to see...
Answering Hot Topics – Educating Our Children

Answering Hot Topics – Educating Our Children

by | Sep 7, 2010 | Education, Featured Articles, Marriage and Family, Pastoral Ministry

Educating Our Children from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. How should we think about educating our children, especially in light of the very strong convictions held by those in home schooling, private schools, and the public school system? Parents Are Responsible In God”™s plan, I think the Bible is clear on who is fundamentally responsible for teaching children:  parents.  Deuteronomy 6 indicates that parents are charged with teaching children God”™s ways throughout the normal flow of life.  Ephesians 6:1-4 clearly lays responsibility upon parents to raise their children in God”™s wisdom and ways.  Parents are responsible for their children.  This seems fundamental, doesn”™t it? Thus, it is not ultimately the church”™s children”™s ministry that is responsible for teaching our children about God.  It is not the student ministries of the church that is chiefly charged with a teenager”™s spiritual life.  Neither schools (private or public) nor even the church, as an institution, are ultimately the overseers of who, what, when, where, why, and how our children are educated ““ parents are.  That”™s who God charged to be responsible for a child”™s education. Options are Legitimate Parental responsibility does not demand parental involvement alone.  Certainly the church”™s children”™s and student ministries can be an asset to our children”™s learning more about God.  Pastors and teachers are charged with spiritual instruction within the church ““ children included. Thankfully, parents are not mandated to teach calculus to their children.  But they are charged with being responsible for being involved in who will teach them.  Responsibility to oversee a child”™s instruction does not demand that no one else be included in instructing a child....

Remembering Why We Are Here

by | Jul 4, 2008 | Education

I remember visiting Union Seminary a few years ago.  As soon as they heard I and the brothers with me were Southern Baptists, they literally stopped talking to us.  In this report, Dr. Mohler notes the latest statistics of Union’s grads and reminds us of the importance of the local church in the very purpose of the seminary. Inside.SBTS.edu » Remembering Why We Are...

Ministerial Students, Calling, and PhD Studies

by | May 14, 2008 | Education, Pastoral Ministry

Here’s an excellent discussion on why many ministerial students tend to drop their interest in pastoral ministry for that of being a professor.  I wonder how many of such students are receiving significant influence from local church pastors and congregations during their studies? Sean Michael Lucas: Ministerial Students, Calling, and PhD...