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Parents Ministry, Youth Sermons

Samuel – A Youth Living the Christian Life

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Focal Passage: I Samuel 2:18-21; 26 A brief sermon outline prepared by Ken Sapp Introduction

Friar Michael Hayduk, pastor of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic church in Cleveland Ohio visited the churches preschool and day-care center one day. A new group of little ones had started at the center, and one boy, about 3 years old looked at the priest in his robe and clerical collar and asked “Why do you dress funny?” Friar Hayduk told him he was a priest and this was the uniform priests wear. Then the little boy pointed to Hayduk’s clerical collar insert and asked… “Does that hurt… do you have a Boo-boo there?” Friar Hayduk took the plastic collar insert out and showed it to the little 3 year old boy. The name of the manufacturer is embossed on the reverse side. The boy felt the letters and the priest asked him, “Do you know what those words say?” “Yes I do!” said the boy, who was not old enough to read. “It says, ‘Kills ticks and fleas up to six months!’”

Tie-in to sermon

Today we are looking at the story of Samuel. He’s one of the youth mentioned in the Bible for whom we have some extensive background. At a very young age he’s placed in the role and uniform of a devout follower of God. But even though he may have wore the uniform (a linen ephod) and had a religious environment for his home.. it was some time before the boy fit the uniform, before he took on the character of a devout follower of God. Its one thing to wear a uniform… but its another thing to embody the characteristics so that the uniform is no longer needed to show others your identity.

I. Devout family – Born to Hannah and Elkanah

A. Father: Elkanah (I Samuel 1:1-8)

  1. Levite
    • PK (Priest Kid) a member of those chosen to be priests.
    • Attended religious feasts/ presented a yearly sacrifice.
    • During the time of Elkanah in the nation of Israel there was a general neglect & corruption of religion.
    • Eli the High Priests’ sons were typical of the neglect and Corruption of the religion of the day (2:1-17)
    • The father is the priest of the home… I Peter 2:9 describes us all as a royal priesthood. In Biblical times the head of the family carried out the priestly duties in the home.
  2. Leader in the Home
    • Elkanah took Hannah and his other wife, Peninnah, with him for the sacrifice showing himself the spiritual leader.
    • Who’s the driving force in your home when it comes to Spiritual matters? Who’s the spiritual pacesetter, the spiritual Leader?
  3. Loving husband
    • Encouraged wife to focus on blessings instead of afflictions
    • Sought to share in Hannah’s troubles.
    • “loved her more than 10 sons”

B. Mother: Hannah (I Samuel 1: 9 – 20)

  1. Fervent in prayer
    • seen as the solution to her problems
  2. Faith
    • Faith that her prayers for a son would be answered
  3. Faithful to Commitment
    • Dedicating her son to God by taking care of him until the time she left him. Hannah visited him yearly at the temple (Heartbroken) She brought him a linen ephod

C. Spiritual Mentor: Eli

  1. Leader – ministered under Eli and apparently to Eli – 2:18, 3:1
  2. Lenient father – Eli wasn’t the best mentor… as a matter of fact Samuels first message from God was a rebuke against Eli for his raising of his own sons and failing to restrain them.
  3. Lesson – Eli guided Samuel to obey God’s voice – While he was a leader in authority over Samuel, and although he wasn’t a perfect leader, he did teach Samuel an essential lesson – to Listen to and obey God’s Voice.

II. Divided family.

A. Triple parent home.

  1. Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife bore several children, but Hannah was barren until the time of Samuel. Because of this, Penninah taunted Hannah and provoked her. Even so, Hannah did not respond in like manner.
  2. Samuel was probably a victim of similar taunts by his older stepbrothers and stepsisters
  3. It wasn’t a perfect home, but God was honored there! God’s grace is sufficient to fill in the gaps

Transition

After church one Sunday morning a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.” That’s ok with us,” the mother said, “but what made you decide to be a minister?” “Well,” the boy said, “I’ll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell then to sit still and listen.”

Tie In to Sermon

Samuel also made a decision to become one who speaks the “Word of God.” His parents started the process, but somewhere along the line, Samuel quit living off the faith of his parents and started living in his own faith in God.

III. Development into a man of God (I Samuel 1:21-28)

A. Dedication to God before his birth – Parents Choice

  1. He was taken to the temple at a young age
  2. After weaned from his mother’s breast (age 3)
  3. or from childish things (age 8-11)

B. Devotion to God – Samuel’s Choice

  1. Samuel worshipped God (1:28)
  2. Raised in a religious environment – the temple – parent’s choice
  3. Nazarite – Mother’s choice – did not cut hair, did not drink alcohol – avoided certain things to set themselves apart for God’s service
  4. Peer pressure from Eli’s sons to conform to their sinfulness. Even in the church there may be some negative pressure

C. Disciplined life – Samuel’s Choice

  1. Discipline of Samuel as opposed to Eli’s undisciplined sons (3:1-11)
  2. One night Samuel heard God and thought Eli was calling him. He ran to Eli, showing his ready obedience.
  3. He served God, but he did not yet know God or God’s call.
    • 1:28 Samuel worshipped God – his choice
    • 2:18 ministered in temple
    • 2:26 As he ministered to the Lord he grew before the Lord. Grew in strength, stature, understanding, and in favor with God and men. (The same was spoken of Christ in Luke 2:52)
    • 3:1 ministered
    • 3:7 “He did not know God”
    • 3:7 “Word of God was not yet revealed to him”
    • 3:19 God was with him
    • 3:21 God Revealed himself to Samuel through his Word
  4. Eli helped him recognize God’s call but it was his choice of Obedience that made him a man of God. Every youth must come to a point where he stops living off the faith of his parents and begins living in obedience as a result of his own faith in God!
  5. As a servant of God, Samuel listened and, as a result, God was able to ultimately speak through him as well.
    • God knew Samuel as an individual
    • Samuel was given the privacy to discover his identity with God… without someone telling him how to do it.
    • Eli encouraged Samuel

D. Divine Call – Samuel’s Choice (3:19-4:1) After hearing God, and coming to know God, He made a choice to obey God he became:

  1. Holy prophet – Your child proclaims God’s Word in life an action. Lifts up God before the nation
  2. High priest – Serves God – the youth are our leaders for tomorrow, but have a role even today and may hear God better than us at times.
  3. Honest judge – Person of integrity living a life of Godly values and wisdom.


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Parents Ministry, Youth Ministry

Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences

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Self-Esteem and Self-Image are issues that all youth have to address. During the teenage years, the primary developmental task for youth is discovering their identity, their life purpose, their mission in this world. Youth are asking the question, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”

One step to helping your church youth deal with these critical questions is in understanding some of the primary issues that influence a young person’s self-esteem or self-image.

Here are seven primary factors that effect a youth’s self-image.

1. Age that Youth Physically Mature
Youth progress to different stages of maturity at different speeds. Guys tend to be a little behind the girls in maturity, but every youth is different and growing and maturing at a different rate. In relation to their peers, there will always be some youth that are a little behind their peers and some that are a little ahead. Interestingly this is often tied to their physical maturity. If they mature physically earlier than their peers, because they look more like adults, people often treat them more like adults and these youth tend to generally develop a fairly positive self-image. Youth who mature physically a little later than their peers, still look more like children and are treated by adults as children. These youth who mature a little later often feel misunderstood and more likely to have negative self image and maladjusted behavior.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Don’t treat youth differently based on physical maturity. Treat everyone of a specific age group the same as mush as possible, both in leadership responsibilities as well as in other interactions. Don’t single out those who are a little behind in physical maturity, not give all the leadership and responsibilities to those who are more mature.

2. Physical Appearance
Youth are very peer conscious. They are always comparing themselves to their peers. While some may strive to be different, most prefer to hide in the crowd, to blend in with their peers. For most youth, If they look different from their peers they see themselves as being strange and potentially inferior. This is especially true for the primary sexual characteristics such as body hair, breast development in the girls and muscle and genital development in the guys. Even if they are more attractive because of their male physique or feminine curves it can still lead to a poor self-image simply because they see themselves as different from their peers. Physical differences such as a large nose, or bigger than usual ears or even being too thin or simply a little bigger than their peers can lead to inferiority issues. When it is a physical defect or even simple things like acne or rashes it can still have a negative impact on their self-image. The more embarrassing or unusual he difference, the greater the impact.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Do not draw attention to physical differences among youth, especially if it is something that could lead to embarrassment of any kind. Try to avoid activities that highlight the differences and always be affirming to youth regarding their appearance.

3. Sex-Appropriateness
Sex-appropriate characteristics are essential for a healthy self-esteem among youth. This includes appearance, interests, and behavior. Guys that appear a little more effeminate and girls that appear too masculine tend to have problems in self-estem. Youth have nicknames for them such as a “sissy” for a less masculine guy and “tom-boy” for a less feminine girl. Some youth have more trouble forming a healthy self-image if they aspire to occupations that tend to be dominated by the opposite sex. For example, hair dressers are often seen as a woman’s job and construction work is often seen as a man’s job. Finally there might be specific mannerisms and interests that again are commonly associated with the opposite sex. These can also be hurdles for them to overcome in developing a positive self-image.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Try not to reinforce stereotypes for jobs and behaviors. Avoid masculine / feminine comparisons and instead treat everyone as brothers and sisters in Christ. Always affirm youth for who they are and for what they do as an individual rather than as simply a guy or a girl. Always try to include sports and activities that balance out the need for both guys and girls on each team. Always try to have a variety of positive role models serving within your youth ministry team including singles, couples, and people from a variety of occupations and walks of life.

4. Names and Nicknames
Youth are sensitive and embarrassed if their peers judge a nickname unfavorably or if they are given nicknames that are meant or even implies ridicule. Nicknames can often stick with a person for life.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Nicknames and labels are to be avoided at all costs as they tend to highlight the negative. If you hear a youth using negative labels or nicknames, encourage them to use more positive ones. Set the example yourself by using positive labels that affirm the positive qualities in each youth.

5. Family Relationships
Teens who have very close relationships with a particular family member will identify most closely
with this person. As such, they tend to desire similar personality traits. This can be positive or negative. They say that if you want to know how a guy will treat his wife, look at how he treats his mother. If you want to know how a girl will treat a future husband, look at how they treat their father. At the same time, this desire to be like the most-liked parent can be detrimental if it goes over the line of causing sexually ambiguous behavior and characteristics. Lack of positive family relationships and positive role models can also cause problems for youth regarding their self-image.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Have a variety of role models serving on your youth ministry team. Singles, dating couples, young couples, couples with children, couples with teens, and couples that have been married for a long time all help youth in affirming their own identities and coming to a positive self-image. Provide opportunities for youth to form significant bonds with others outside their immediate family. This gives them a broader perspective on things to appreciate in their own families as well as helps them to have a variety of models in choosing how they will develop their own relationships and their own identity in those relationships.

6. Peers
Peers place a primary role in the identity formation of youth. During the teen years they start looking outside the immediately family for keys to their own identity. Peers influence a youth’s personality in two primary ways. First, what a youth believes about himself is often a reflection of what he perceives that his peers believe about him. Second, a youth is often under a lot of pressure to conform to the personality traits and behavior that is approved by his peers.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Try to create an environment with yourself, your volunteers and the rest of the youth that is affirming and supportive for the youth. While peer pressure can be negative, it can also be very positive. Affirm youth as leaders and who are good role models. Help to mentor those who need a little more help. Make affirmations and recognition a regular part of everything you do in youth ministry. And when possible, without embarrassing the youth, make that recognition public to the rest of the youth.

7. Level of Aspiration
Everyone has dreams and goals and aspirations. Youth are often asking the question, “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose in life?” “What is the meaning behind my existence?” But this is also a tricky area when it comes to youth with fragile self-esteem. They need to have big dreams and goals to drive them forward, but if the dreams are too big they can experience failure and great disappointment. Mistakes and failures, if not handled just right can lead to anxiety and feelings that they are not good enough or even the thought that “I am a failure.” At the same expectation that are too low leads to mediocrity and become without purpose, wandering through life without direction. It has been said that the bigger our dreams, the bigger we become. But also has a greater risk of failure. We need to help youth to be realistic in their aspirations, but at the same time not to be complacent to live only in their comfort zone. Youth who are realistic about his or her abilities will gain greater self-confidence with each success and, with it, a better self-concept.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Always challenge youth to dream big but also be realistic dreams. Youth need champions in the youth ministry, people who will cheer them on in their dreams and support them and encourage them in both success and in failure.

By the way, this is not only useful for youth, but it’s great information for parents of youth to consider as well.

 


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Parents Ministry

How to Set Up a Christmas Tree

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Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

In the midst of the holiday season with Christmas right around the corner everyone is hustling and bustling to get their Christmas shopping done and their homes decorated for the holidays so they can enjoy their family Christmas traditions. Offices, shops, and churches are also being decorated for the Christmas Season. One of the most common and beloved Christmas traditions is putting up a Christmas tree. Christmas Trees are also a common Christmas decoration in shops, public places and churches.

The origin of the Christmas Tree

According to tradition, the Christmas Tree originated in Riga, Latvia. The Christmas legend says that a monk named Boniface used its triangular shape of an evergreen tree to to explain the trinity – that God was Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From that point on, the Germans called the tree “God’s Tree.”

In Western Germany in the 16th century, evergreen trees were used in plays to represent the tree in the garden Eden with Adam and Eve and they were decorated with apples. (Actually an apple is never mentioned in the Bible as the forbidden fruit from the Graden of Eden, but that’s the tradition.) Anyway, they were called “Paradeisbaum” (Paradise Trees) and were soon brought into homes and decorated with apples and other fruits to celebrate Christmas. Later, dates, pretzels, and nuts were also used to decorate the tree.

To add meaning to the tradition, the evergreen tree was also recognized as a symbol of eternal life because its leaves were always green. Soon candles were also added to the evergreen branches to represent the stars that would have shown in the sky the night of the Savior’s birth and to symbolize that Jesus was the light of the world.

Besides apples and other fruits, tradition says they also added Communion wafers wrapped in gold and silver foil that represented the fact that Jesus came into the world to save it, that like the communion bread, his body would be broken to save us from sin. Later the wafers were replaced with cookies cut into the shapes of bells, angels, stars, and hearts. All of these add to the tradition of the Christmas Tree and how it is used in Christmas Celebrations around the world today.

Trimming the Tree

Many families have their own unique ways of setting up the Christmas tree for the holidays. Putting up and trimming the tree is a great way to bring the family together and enjoy the Christmas holidays. There are many excellent ideas for decorating your Christmas tree to consider too. Of course, all Christmas Trees look great with lights on them.

When setting up your Christmas Tree, the very first decision that has to be made is to decide exactly what kind of Christmas tree you want to decorate. There a several kinds of trees that are traditional holiday favorites. Some Christmas trees are considered regional favorites, but you can usually get any kind of tree you want to have. Fir trees are always a great choice and the three that stand out are the Noble, Douglas, and Frasier Firs. The boughs of these Firs are usually very full and they smell terrific. The Blue Spruce is an excellent choice for the same reasons as the Firs. Some pines are also very good for Christmas decorating too.

When decorating your Christmas tree you should consider using both garlands and tinsel in order to add color and to fill in the open areas of your Christmas tree, which will give your Christmas tree a fuller appearance. The good thing about garland and tinsel is that it is relatively inexpensive, which is not something you generally hear about anything over the holidays. Another great thing about garland and tinsel is that it comes in a wide variety of colors, which means that you should be able to find your favorite Christmas colors easily. One drawback to garland and tinsel is that it is flammable so be careful when hanging these items on your tree.

Most people who have been brought up in families where the celebration of Christmas and trimming the tree in particular is a very important tradition tend to have many heirloom decorations that they place on the trees. It is always a great idea to decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments that are important to the family and have sentimental value. Just be careful with these types of tree decorations because they tend to be very fragile. Many of the older Christmas Ornaments are made of glass, or some kind of ceramics, although they may be made of other materials as well.

If you need to go shopping for Christmas ornaments there are a couple of things to consider before you make your purchases. The first thing to think about is how safe they will be, and that question is usually answered by whether or not you have children. Children like to play with ornaments particularly if they are of favorite carton characters or something similar, and in this case plastic ornaments are a safe bet. Glass ornaments are of course very beautiful and come in many shapes, colors, and sizes and if your children are older or if you do not have any are safe and a great investment.

In addition to store bought ornaments, and heirloom ornaments, hand-made ornaments are also great and can be very meaningful. Check out a craft site for great ideas for hand made ornaments.

However you decide to decorate and trim your Christmas Tree, you can make it a special occasion that will be treasured and looked forward to as a family for many years ahead.

 

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Parents Ministry

Qualities of a Strong Family

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When people around the world describe the qualities that make their family strong, these are some of the things they talk about.*

Appreciation and Affection

  • We appreciate each other and let each other know this.
  • We enjoy helping each other.
  • We like keeping our promises to each other.
  • We like to show affection to each other.
  • We feel close to each other.
  • We like to be kind to each other.
  • We like to hug each other.
  • We enjoy being thoughtful of each other.
  • We wait for each other without complaining.
  • We give each other enough time to complete necessary tasks.
  • We are able to forgive each other.
  • We grow stronger because we love each other.
  • All things considered, we have appreciation and affection for each other.

Ability to Cope with Stress and Crisis

  • A crisis has helped us to grow closer together.
  • It is easy to find solutions to our problems when we talk about them.
  • It is always important to change the things we can.
  • We can work together to solve very difficult family problems.
  • A crisis helps make our relationships strong.
  • We try not to worry too much because things usually work out OK.
  • We are able to face daily issues confidently.
  • We like to support each other.
  • Our friends are there when we need them.
  • A crisis makes us stick closer together.
  • We always find something good comes from a crisis.
  • We find it easy to make changes in our plans to meet changing circumstances.
  • We have the courage to take risks that will improve things for our family.
  • We feel it is important to accept the things we cannot change.
  • We are adaptable.
  • We demonstrate resilience.
  • All things considered, we look at challenges as opportunities for growth.

Valuing Each Other and Demonstrating Commitment

  • Responsibilities are shared fairly.
  • Everyone gets a say in making decisions
  • Individuals are allowed to make their own choices.
  • We find it easy to trust each other.
  • We like to do things for each other that make us feel good about ourselves.
  • We have reasonable expectations of each other.
  • We allow each other to be ourselves.
  • We have a high regard for each other.
  • We respect the roles each of us plays in the family.
  • We find it easy to be honest with each other.
  • We accept that each of us has different ways of doing things.
  • We build each other’s self-esteem.
  • We are dependable
  • We are faithful to each other
  • All things considered, we value each other and are committed to our well-being as a family.

Enjoyable Time Together

  • We have a number of common interests.
  • We like to have fun together.
  • We feel comfortable with each other.
  • We like to give each other a chance to do new things
  • We enjoy hearing our grandparents’ stories about the past.
  • We enjoy simple, inexpensive family activities.
  • We like to have a place we call “home.”
  • We feel strongly connected to each other.
  • Hanging out together builds strong relationships.
  • We have lots of good times together.
  • We often laugh with each other.
  • Observing family rituals and customs is important to us.
  • We enjoy sharing our memories with each other.
  • We enjoy having unplanned, spontaneous activities together.
  • All things considered, we have adequate time for each other and we enjoy the time we share together.

Positive Communicaion

  • We like to share our feelings with each other.
  • It is easy to cue into each other’s feelings.
  • We like talking openly with each other.
  • We listen to each other.
  • We respect each other’s point of view.
  • Talking through issues is important to us.
  • We give each other a chance to explain ourselves.
  • We enjoy our family discussions.
  • We share jokes together.
  • Putdowns are rare.
  • Sarcasm is not generally used.
  • All things considered, our communication is effective.
  • We avoid laying blame.
  • We are able to compromise
  • We are playful in interactions.
  • We agree to disagree

Spiritual Well-being

  • We have a hopeful attitude toward life.
  • Our home feels like a sanctuary to all of us.
  • We have a strong sense of belonging.
  • We enjoy learning about our family history.
  • We feel strong connections with our ancestors.
  • There is a feeling of safety and security.
  • We feel connected with nature and the world around us.
  • We feel a strong connection with the land.
  • There is a sense of peace among us.
  • We believe love is a powerful force that keeps us together.
  • We benefit in many ways from our belief in a higher being.
  • It is easy to share our spiritual values and beliefs with each other.
  • Our personal religious beliefs are compatible with each other’s.
  • All things considered, we have strong spiritual connections that enhance our well-being.

Global Measures of the Family’s Strengths

  • We love one another.
  • Life in our family is satisfying to us.
  • We are happy as a family.
  • All things considered, we are a strong family.

 

* Based on Research with more than 24,000 family members in the United States and 34 other countries. This research has been conducted since 1974 by Nick Stinnett, John DeFrain and their many colleagues.

  • John DeFrain, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Family and Community Development Specialist, Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 135 Mabel Lee Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0236. Phone: (402) 472-1659. E-mail: jdefrain1@unl.edu
  • Nick Stinnett, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Phone: (205) 348-7864. E-mail: nstinne2@ches.ua.edu

 


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Parents Ministry, Youth Ministry

Stress Test for Youth

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STRESS SCALE FOR YOUTH

PTS: STRESS EVENT
100: 1. Death of spouse, parent, boyfriend/girlfriend
065: 2. Divorce (of yourself or your parents)
065: 3. Puberty
065: 4. Pregnancy (or causing pregnancy)
060: 5. Marital separation or breakup with boyfriend/girlfriend
060: 6. Jail term or probation
060: 7. Death of other family member (other than spouse, parent or boyfriend/girlfriend)
055: 8. Broken engagement
050: 9. Engagement
045: 10. Serious personal injury or illness
045: 11. Marriage
045: 12. Entering college or beginning next level of school
045: 13. Change in independence or responsibility
045: 14. Any drug and/or alcoholic use
045: 15. Fired at work or expelled from school
045: 16. Change in alcohol or drug use
040: 17. Reconciliation with mate, family or boyfriend/girlfriend
040: 18. Trouble at school
040: 19. Serious health problem of a family member
035: 20. Working while attending school
035: 21. Working more than 40 hours per week
035: 22. Changing course of study
035: 23. Change in frequency of dating
035: 24. Sexual adjustment problems (confusion of sexual identity)
035: 25. Gain of new family member (new baby born or parent remarries)
035: 26. Change in work responsibilities
030: 27. Change in financial state
030: 28. Death of a close friend (not a family member)
030: 29. Change to a different kind of work
030: 30. Change in number or arguments with mate, family or friends
025: 31. Sleep less than 8 hours per night
025: 32. Trouble with in-laws or boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s family
025: 33. Outstanding personal achievement (awards, grades, etc.)
020: 34. Mate or parents start or stop working
020: 35. Begin or end school
020: 36. Change in living conditions (visitors in the home, change in roommates)
020: 37. Change in personal habits (start or stop a habit like smoking or dieting)
020: 38. Chronic allergies
020: 39. Trouble with the boss
015: 40. Change in work hours
015: 41. Change in residence
015: 42. Change to a new school (other than graduation)
015: 43. Presently in pre-menstrual period
015: 44. Change in religious activity
010: 45. Going in debt (you or your family)
010: 46. Change in frequency of family gatherings
010: 47. Vacation
010: 48. Presently in winter holiday season
005: 49. Minor violation of the law 5

TOTAL SCORE = ____________

If you have experienced total stress within the last twelve months of 250 or greater, even with normal stress tolerance, you may be overstressed. Persons with low stress tolerance may be overstressed at levels as low as 150.

Adapted from “How to Survive Unbearable Stress” by Steve Burns MD (USA: Pergamon Press.1989)


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Devotional, Parents Ministry

Christmas – An Earthly Stepfather for God

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Scripture: Luke 2:1-5, 52

Although God was the real Father of Jesus, Jesus also needed an earthly “stepfather.”

God needed a godly man to take the responsibility to raise Jesus in the right way. He fulfilled the demands of his society as he went to his own town to register in a census. He worked in order to feed and cloth him. The task of a father is very demanding, but also rewarding. Jesus and Joseph worked side by side in a carpentry shop and “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Even today, fathers are in a sense stepfathers to they children raise.

For they do not belong to them, but to God. The task of raising a child of God is no less difficult than raising the Son of God. Imagine how inadequate Joseph must have felt raising the Son of God! ! !

Joseph made many mistakes we can be sure. No father is perfect but the Heavenly Father. We can trust that when we are inadequate He is fully able to meet all the needs and demands that raising a child requires. Many men spend considerable amounts of time away from their families because of work, but God is fully able to care for your family.

Raising children as a mother is no less difficult!

Children take a moment to be thankful for your father and mother.

Fathers and mothers take a moment to ask God to continue to help you raise your children in the right way so that they might also “grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

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Parents Ministry

A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents

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  1. My hands are small. Please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short. Please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
  2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have. Please let me explore safely. Don’t restrict me unnecessarily.
  3. Housework will always be there. I’m only little for such a short time. Please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
  4. My feelings are tender. Please be sensitive to my needs. Don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.
  5. I am a special gift from God. Please treasure me, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.
  6. I need your encouragement and your praise to grow. Please go easy on the criticism. Remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
  7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday, I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
  8. Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or my sister.
  9. Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
  10. Please take me to worship regularly, setting a good example for me to follow.

Author Unknown, Source Unknown


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Parents Ministry

Twelve Tips to Understanding Your Youth

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  1. When your youth comes home from school today, smile when he or she walks through the door. Do that several days in a row and your youth will actually look forward to coming home!
  2. Next time your youth tries to be funny…laugh.
  3. Make a list of all the things your youth does that makes you mad. Now, go through the list and cross off all the stuff that doesn’t really matter. Save your anger only for those things which have lasting moral consequences.
  4. Take your youth out for breakfast or lunch once a week. Promise yourself that you won’t use that time to lecture or nag. Just listen and talk about good stuff.
  5. Invite your youth’s friends to your house for pizza, soft drinks and a movie rental. Extra points if you can secure a big screen TV or video projector.
  6. Ask your youth to play his/her favorite music on your stereo. Listen and discuss the music with him or her. Find out why he/she likes it so much. Try to avoid criticism.
  7. Think of something positive you can say to your youth today…and say it.
  8. Put a love note (from you) in your youth’s backpack or lunch sack where it will be found privately.
  9. Before you criticize your youth’s behavior, try remembering your own teenage years. Chances are it will help you communicate better.
  10. Respect your youth’s privacy. Snooping without a legitimate reason is a no-no.
  11. Communicate your plans to your youth frequently. Let him/her know where you are, when you’ll be home, what you’re doing. This sets a good example that will encourage them to do the same thing for you.
  12. Pray daily for your youth. Remember, God loves them even more than you do!

Adapted from “Understanding Your Teenager” at Gospel.com


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This 100 Page e-Book Includes All The Help You Need To Prepare Powerful, Life-Changing Youth Sermons That Will Turn Your Preaching Around And Make Your Youth Sit Up And Listen! Includes 7 Complete Sermons.
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Parents Ministry, Teaching Illustrations

I Took a Piece of Plastic Clay

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I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded to my will.

I came again when days were past–
The bit of clay was hard at last;
The form I gave it, it still bore,
But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay
And gently formed it day by day,
And moulded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yeilding heart.

I came again when years were gone–
It was a man I looked upon;
He still that early impress wore,
And I could change him nevermore.

Author Unknown


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