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Helping Children Think Christianly – Resources for Christian Parents Part 5

We are now to the next resource for helping the next generation think Christianly. You need to know that relativism is everywhere. Truth, Jesus, Sexuality, and Morality are all up for grabs and are now considered a “personal preference.” Are you prepared to address this with your children? Your students?

You can be if you pick up a copy and study Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World by Sean McDowell. It is clear, concise, and does not require any prior knowledge of the topic. Also, your students can read it with you and you can talk about it. I highly recommend this resource. If you would like to hear 5 reasons relativism is a really bad idea (in 10 minutes), click here for my latest podcast.

(Product Description)
High school and college students are bombarded today with mixed media messages of moral relativism. ethiX: Being Bold in a Whatever World helps young adults better understand how to make Bible-informed ethical decisions on the issues of abortion, homosexuality, marriage and divorce, the morality of war, cloning, euthanasia, capital punishment, sexuality, and more.

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Why Study the Bible?

Why Study the Bible? There are at least 3 reasons:

First, the Bible teaches us about God, about ourselves, and how to live.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Next, the Bible gives us hope, encouragement, endurance, and instruction.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”—Romans 15:4

Finally, the Bible helps us grow and change.

“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…”—1 Peter 2:2

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”—1 Thess. 2:13

If we are to think Christianly in the day to day, the Word of God must saturate our hearts and minds. Here is a question we need to ask ourselves…am I in this book long enough and frequent enough to be shaped by it?

BTW – if you don’t have your Bible with you, but can get online, visit Bible Gateway.

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What kind of world would it be if relativism were true?

“What kind of world would it be if relativism were true? It would be a world in which nothing was wrong—nothing is considered evil or good, nothing worthy of praise or blame. It would be a world in which justice and fairness are meaningless concepts, in which there would be no accountability, no possibility of moral improvement, no moral discourse. And it would be a world in which there is no tolerance.” – Greg Koukl & Frank Beckwith

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Helping Children Think Christianly – Resources for Christian Parents Part 4

Kids have questions about life and faith…do you have answers? The good news is that there are answers out there and you don’t have to have PH.D behind your name to have access to them. Here is a resource that gives short, solid answers(1 page or less…isn’t that good news??) to the toughest questions out there.

It would be good to just have this around the house (bedside table and bathroom are two good spots). Who Made God? And answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith by Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler

Product Description
A single-volume accessible summary of answers to the most commonly raised apologetic questions by some of the foremost evangelical apologists to equip lay persons as well as Christian leaders with biblical and practical answers to tough questions about the Christian faith, as well as its relationship to other faiths in an era where many listen with their eyes and think with their emotions. Companion book to Is Your Church Ready?: Motivating Leaders to Live an Apologetic Life.

From the Back Cover
In the quest for the truth, you need to know what you believe and why you believe it. Who Made God? offers accessible answers to over 100 commonly asked apologetic questions. Bringing together the best in evangelical apologists, this guide is standard equipment for Christians who want to understand and talk about their faith intelligently.

Part one answers tough questions about the Christian faith such as: • Who made God? • How can there be three persons in one God? • What is God’s ultimate purpose in allowing evil? • Where did the universe come from? • How long are the days of creation in Genesis? • Did Jesus rise from the dead? • Are the records of Jesus’ life reliable? • Does the Bible have errors in it?

Part two answers tough questions about other faiths, including Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism, Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, Reincarnation, Buddhism, and Black Islam. Relevant stories, questions for reflection and discussion, and a comprehensive list of suggested resources help you dig deeper so you can be prepared to give careful answers that explain the reasons for your faith.

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Helping Children Think Christianly – Resources for Christian Parents Part 3

Today we are going to talk about the older kids a little (6-14). Earlier this year, Theologian Bruce Ware came out with Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce Ware that teaches the basics of theology in 2-3 pages snippets with a key verse of scripture to read and questions. This book project came out of his nightly bed time routine with his own kids — a captive audience and they don’t want to go to bed just yet ;).

Parents will learn a ton from this book! It is well written, but very accessible. You could buy it, and stay a day ahead of your child. Ware does a good job on teaching what Christians believe. This is a wonderful resource!

Reviews:

“A theologically rich resource to aid parents in training their children. Anyone who wants to help children grow in their love for Jesus and understanding of the Bible needs this book.” – Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle; President of Acts 29 and The Resurgence

“This is a great book for children and their parents on the classic doctrines of the faith. I heartily recommend it to every parent!” – Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife

“My conversion and discipleship as a young girl were significantly influenced by my parents reading to our family a book that taught biblical doctrine to children in a systematic way. The church today must be intentional in passing on to the next generation the core and precious beliefs on which our Christian faith rests. To neglect that responsibility is to leave those who come behind us vulnerable to every wind of (false) doctrine and to risk their rejecting our faith altogether. Big Truths for Young Hearts is a rich resource for parents, teachers, and others who care about helping the next generation know and love God and his ways. In addition to being a theology course for children and young people, it is also a great refresher course for adults.” – Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author; host of Revive Our Hearts radio broadcast

“Imagine a respected theologian devoting himself to training a new generation of pastors and scholars in the seminary classroom. Now imagine him driving home at night to teach that profound theology in simple terms to his children at their bedsides. Now imagine this father compiling those bedside conversations into a book available to all pastors, parents, and children alike. Imagine no more. My friend Dr. Bruce Ware has done it.” – C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

Product Description
Equips parents to guide their young children through all major doctrines in an understandable, chapter-a-day format.

Sure, it’s easy to teach your children the essentials of Christian theology when you’re a theology professor. But what about the rest of us?

With Big Truths for Young Hearts, Bruce Ware, (you guessed it!) a theology professor, encourages and enables parents of children 6-14 years of age to teach through the whole of systematic theology at a level their children can understand. Parents can teach their children the great truths of the faith and shape their worldviews early, based on these truths.

The book covers ten topics of systematic theology, devoting several brief chapters to each subject, making it possible for parents to read one chapter per day with their children. With this non-intimidating format, parents will be emboldened to be their children’s primary faith trainers-and perhaps learn a few things themselves along the way.