Leading and Loving Your Flock at Home – Ironmen Summit

Leading and Loving Your Flock at Home – Ironmen Summit

by | Jan 25, 2014 | Featured Articles, Leadership, Marriage and Family, Pastoral Ministry

I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the annual Ironmen Summit, put on by Flint Hills Christian Church in Emporia, KS. Every year has been such a rich encouragement to my heart to bring a group of men and sit together under excellent plenary session sermons and practical break-out sessions that spark excellent conversation for weeks to come. This year was no exception. You can listen to all of the sessions HERE. I was honored this year to be a break-out speaker and join the others (Jack Hughes, Rick Goertzen, Craig Bowen, and Rick Holland) for a plenary question and answer session. My break-out group was a practical session focusing on how to be more thoughtful and practical in shepherding and discipling those in your home. As I promised the men, I have linked to a rough outline of my notes, and a few articles that I have found helpful to stimulate my thinking on being more practical in shepherding our homes. I pray they are helpful to the brothers who attended and any who may be able to make use of them. Leading and Loving Your Flock at Home, Session Notes, Outline A FEW HELPFUL ARTICLES 30 Practical Ways for Pastors to Love Their Wives and Families (great for anyone, not just pastors). God on Marriage, Danny Akin – notes from one of his seminars – good practical material here. 3 Ways to Nourish and Cherish Your Wife – notes from a message from C.J. Mahaney 6 Deadly Enemies of Marriage, Tim Challies Study Your Wife – see page 29 of this pdf on Biblical Productivity...
Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:31-32

Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:31-32

by | Sep 27, 2012 | Featured Articles, Marriage and Family, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:31-32 Where did this instruction originally come from in the Old Testament? What is the connection between 5:31-32 to 5:27-30? What is the connection between 5:31-32 and 5:17-20? Is Jesus contradicting what was said in the OT by his statement in 5:32? Why or why not? Who are the various parties that Jesus indicates are guilty of sin in 5:32? Why would divorce and remarriage except on the grounds of immorality cause someone to commit adultery? Prayerfully Meditate Divorce is a prevalent and painful subject in our society. What are some of the modern day challenges with what Jesus says about divorce in 5:31-32? Why are they so challenging? What is Jesus saying about marriage in these verses? Why would immorality be legitimate grounds for divorce? Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-24. What grounds for divorce does Paul give? Read Matthew 19:1-9. What are the similarities and differences to 5:31-32? In light of the above passages and considerations, what elements would make for a stronger marriage? If you or someone you know has pursued divorce for unbiblical reasons, how could you helpfully serve them? How could you help a person who has legitimate grounds for divorce think through their heart attitudes and approach to the situation? Intentionally Act Has God put anyone on your heart in thinking through these issues? Pray for them to have a heart for God and a desire to obey His word. Plan a time to talk with them about what God’s word says on the issue. Do you and your spouse need to talk through what would make for a stronger marriage...
Preparing for Sunday – A Gospel-Saturated Mother

Preparing for Sunday – A Gospel-Saturated Mother

by | May 10, 2012 | Marriage and Family, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Carefully Think Read through the following passages and list everything you find that Scripture emphasizes as a woman’s and/or a mother’s priorities:   Titus 2:1-5, 1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:18-24; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Timothy 2:8-15 For every item you listed as a priority, list what you find to be modern challenges to these priorities. Prayerfully Meditate How should a husband see these priorities and serve his wife in helping her achieve them? How could a single man use these priorities when praying about who to date/court/marry? How could a single woman without children use these priorities to serve other women, pray about her own situation, challenge her own heart’s desires? If your mother was not driven by these priorities, how could they assist you now in thinking biblically about motherhood? How could they help you in praying for and helping other mothers around you within the church? For those who are mothers, which one appears most critical for you to apply now? For those whose children are grown, how could you use these priorities in helping younger mothers or women before marriage and children? Intentionally Act Were any sinful tendencies revealed to you about your involvement in your home that you need to confess to God? For mothers, list out the actions that would be most appropriate for you to take in bringing your life in line with Scripture. Use this list for prayer. Use it in conversation with a godly older mother for input on how to apply them. Begin taking steps not to implement this list in your life. For those who are not mothers...
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....