STOP! Don’t skip this post—it isn’t just about raising kids!
For the next several weeks, we will be focusing on the importance of equipping children, new Christians, and current Christians to be pivotal members of the body of Christ.
The church is in crisis. The number of people identifying as Christians is dwindling. Pew-warmers seek entertainment, and feel-good messages rather than biblical literacy. Young people are leaving the faith in droves despite targeted “programs.” Church leaders are baffled.
We are in a battle that’s raged since the birth of Creation. Satan wants us all to reject, ignore, or simply forget God. What will we choose? How will we help those who follow in our footsteps? Are we allies of God in this battle or are we unwittingly aiding the enemy through carelessness?
If we want the church to continue tomorrow, we need to actively train replacements today—and I’m not just referring to our own children. Every Christian should be taught, trained, and strengthened for action—especially when they are new in the faith.
The history of ancient Israel teaches us many lessons. They did a terrible job training their children (and each other). They were supposed to be God’s people, set apart from the world to fulfill his purpose (sound familiar??). The calamitous results of their neglect and apathy should shout at us through the ages, yet we fall into the same traps. Judges 2 tells us of their slow decay (you can read the full text here):
And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.
~ Judges 2.10-12, ESV
The next generation did not know God, so they did evil, and then abandoned the Lord. Do you see the progression?
Do we want the same said for the generation of Christians who follow in our footsteps? “There arose a generation who did not know the Lord, nor the saving power of Christ. They did evil in the sight of the Lord, worshipping entertaining speakers, abandoning the Lord and the truth.” I wish I could say this isn’t already happening…
It’s time to stop the downward slide.
I need to be asking myself these questions: What am I doing to prevent this? What can I do better? Am I being diligent in raising my own children to know the Lord? Where am I falling short? As with many of my posts, I do not write from some lofty expert status, but as one taking steps to walk more closely with Christ. I welcome input from those with more experience! (Feel free to email me: elihuscorner at yahoo dot com)
The next several posts in this series will revolve around the 6 E’s of raising a generation that knows the Lord: Engage, Exemplify, Equip, Entrust, Edify and Entreat.
The 6 E’s of Raising Gen-Next Christians:
Engage: Develop a meaningful relationship
Exemplify: Demonstrate how a Christian ought to live
Equip: Teach and train
Entrust: Involve in the important
Edify: Build up
Entreat: Go to the Lord on their behalf.
Today is the day to begin training replacements. We don’t know how much time we have left!
A genuine passion can be contagious…what if our passion today was Christ? To quote Rich Mullins…”the stuff of earth competes for our allegiance that I owe only to the giver of all good things”
Anyways, excited to join you on this journey…hearts on fire reaching out to spark a generation!
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A heart that shines will stand out to those who become acquainted with it. And if we make it our aim to shine forth Christ, it’ll make an impact!
I’ve never heard that quote, but it’s perfect!
😀
God be with you!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thank you, Vincent! God be with you.
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You’re very welcome Elihu and God bless you too!
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Amen, Elihu! I’m looking forward to the subsequent posts. I just finished co-writing a book on the book of 2 Timothy called Legacy. I sense the Spirit rising up a theme!
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I love it when that happens!
Did you publish an e-book? Is it available on your site? I can always put a link to it in the teaching section.
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The book isn’t published yet. We pitched it at a writer’s conference. A publishing company has asked us to send a proposal. Hoping and praying God will open the doors. I’ll keep you posted. When I know more info, I’ll post on my blog about it. Thanks for being willing to share!
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Yes! Super ideas, great strategies. Also, I don’t know how this happened, but somehow your site was kicked out of my reader, so I had to “refollow” you. Ever had that happen??
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Thanks, Dawn!
I have had that happen a couple times. Not sure why though… must be a glitch in WordPress.
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