by Winfield Bevins

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”  –Proverbs 22:6

Pastor Your Family

The Puritans remind us of the value and importance of family ministry. Family worship was one of the hallmarks of the Puritan era and one of their greatest legacies. The Puritan pastor Richard Baxter knew the importance of family ministry:

We must have a special eye upon families, to see that they are well ordered, and the duties of each relation performed. The life of religion, and the welfare and glory of both the Church and the State, depend much on family government and duty. If we suffer the neglect of this, we shall undo all…. I beseech you, therefore, if you desire the reformation and welfare of your people, do all you can to promote family religion.

Your Home Is a Church

The Puritans believed that their home was their church and the primary place of learning the Bible and moral instruction. They knew the call to “make disciples” begins in the home. Discipleship begins in our marriages, by loving our spouses with the love of Christ and by teaching, loving, and disciplining our children. The Puritans believed that it was a parent’s spiritual responsibility to disciple and teach their children about the faith.

“Family worship was one of the hallmarks of the Puritan era

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As Christian parents, we should also want to raise our children to grow up to love Jesus and know the Bible. It is important for children to begin learning about God and the Bible at home. If every family in every church got serious about making disciples in the home, it would change our nation and our world.

How are you creating good discipleship in your home?

Saw this video.  Reminded me of what most people think makes a youth pastor cool.

Especially appreciate what the girl said at the end, “If you love students and Jesus and want to teach them His Word, you are not doing to bad.”

I have been wrestling lately with the one question:  What do I need to do to hear God tell me, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

The question comes after reading Matthew 25:14-30.

When I get to Heaven I so want to hear those words, but what is the criteria for such an honor?

In particular, I have been asking this question is three areas of my life, as a parent, church leader and as a youth pastor.

As a parent, what must I do to hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

As a church leader, what must I do to hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

And as a youth pastor, what must I do to hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

Until I know, I am doing the best I can to be faithful in each of those roles and pursue what I believe God wants from me in each.

As of right now, I am anxiously anticipating the sound of my Father saying “Well done good and faithful servant.”