What must I do to be saved?

“Think of a kindergartner taking a calculus test. Because he’s only 5, the little tyke bombs the test and receives an ‘F’ atop his page. The teacher might show mercy, tear up his exam, and forgive his failure. But the lad will not rejoice when a fresh, identical test is placed in front of him for a second attempt. While some Mensa-in-waiting kindergartner might pass calculus, there’s zero chance a fallen human can pass the test of God’s law. As Scripture declares, ‘None is righteous, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10). And since there’s zero chance humans will obey God perfectly, why would Christians spread news of a God of second chances? Is it good news to get a second chance at the impossible?” (Aaron Wilson, “He Is Not ‘The God of Second Chances,’” The Gospel Coalition, July 7, 2016)

OT history is full of examples of Israel failing their exam given by God and the loving Father patiently and graciously giving them another chance after another chance. When you and I study the history of God in the OT, it should give us hope and encouragement that God is not a God of “second chances,” but a God of seventy-times seven chances. Consider this outline of Psalm 106…

GOD’S FAVOR – 106:1-3:

When you meditate on the nature of God, you cannot help but speak about Him! “Who speak of the mighty deeds of Jehovah?” He will proclaim all His praise. Who can? Actually, no one can fully tell of all of God’s wonderful works! He leaves you breathless.

REMEMBER ME O LORD – 106:4-5:

When we see, experience, and feel the goodness of God, you must rejoice in it with God’s other people. Faithfulness, neither in the OT, nor in the NT, is an individual matter. It is to be done with God’s people. Then he can “glory” with God’s inheritance, His people.

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL IN EGYPT – 106:6-12:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS – 106:13-18:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL WITH THE GOLDEN CALF – 106:19-27:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL AT BAAEL-PEOR – 106:28-31:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE MOSES AT MERIBAH – 106:32-33:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL IN THE TIME OF THE JUDGES – 106:34-39:

WE HAVE SINNED LIKE ISRAEL IN THE CAPTIVITY – 106:40-43:

WE HAVE SINNED AND WE NEED LOVINGKINDNESS – 106:44-46:

WE HAVE SINNED AND WE NEED TO BE GATHERED – 106:47-48:

WE HAVE SINNED:

You and I are blessed to live on this side of the cross. We have the forgiveness of our sins and we still have a God who is characterized by lovingkindness.

“If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4. Imagine Jesus saying this to His heavenly Father: “If your child sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Don’t be weighed down by guilt. God longs to forgive you. Repent and experience His endless grace and forgiveness.

Paul Holland

Music is the language of the heart. The true expression of a people. We pass it down year after year, note by note, generation to generation. It is one way that generations connect from one to the next.

Music also joins one culture to another. When we lived in Romania, there was a Christian there, Benone, who liked listening to religious music especially non-instrumental. For a few years, whenever we came back to the states, I would find some acapella music on cassette or CD and take it back to him. I think I gave him maybe half a dozen or more.

My wife and I live about 70 miles from Detroit. Detroit is the home of “Motown.” The designation came from the nickname of Detroit, home of General Motors, Ford, and what used to be Chrysler. Detroit’s nickname is “Motor City.” The guy who was instrumental in getting the black singers onto the national stage who was from Detroit altered “Motor City” to “Motown” and helped these artists create the “Motown sound.” Rachel and I have been to the Motown Museum twice and they are right now going through a major renovation and expansion. It should be very interesting once they get it built. The current museum has a video for the visitors to watch and the man on the video talks about the influence that music had on the culture in the 50s and 60s. Specifically, he said that when the artist began singing, the blacks were on one side of the auditorium while the white people were on the other side. But as the singers continued their show, the people would mix and mingle and the crowd would forget that races even existed.

That is what the Gospel and Christian singing is supposed to do: join everyone together in praise to our heavenly Father through our common Savior, Jesus Christ. When Paul writes in Romans that the gospel is God’s power to salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, in Romans 15, Paul quotes from the OT to prove his point (15:6):

In verse 9, he quotes Psalm 18:49: “Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your name.”

In verse 10, he quotes Deuteronomy 32:43: “Rejoice, O nations, with His people.”

In verse 11, he quotes Psalm 117:1 “Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples!”

Finally, in verse 12, he quotes Isaiah 11:10: “Then in that day the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious.” Isaiah is talking about the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. There are two things that unite each of these quotations from the OT as Paul applies their teachings to Christians and specifically unity in the church of Christ: Each verse contains the word “nations” or “peoples,” or as Paul translates it in the book of Romans: Gentiles. There is one other word or idea that connects these quotations: praise. Praise, praise, praise.

Praise God more!

Paul Holland

“To infer” means to “derive as a conclusion from facts or premises.”

We absolutely have to infer what the Bible implies. Nowhere does the Bible teach that Paul Holland must do anything. I infer that I am obligated to do something because the Scriptures imply it. Let’s look at some examples.

In Matthew 22:29-31, when Jesus is asked about the nature of humanity after death, Jesus infers from Exodus 3:6 that God implied Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive. He does so based on the present tense verb in the text (the Greek translation, the Septuagint).

In Romans 10:13-14, Paul refers to Joel’s statement from Joel 2:32: “Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul infers that Joel’s statement implies that if you call on the name of the Lord, you must believe. But the implication of that command is that someone must hear first. But the implication of that command is that you must have a preacher. But the implication of that inference is that the preacher must be sent. The whole series of inferences are drawn from one implication to the next. Indeed, the Bible teaches through inference.

In 1 Corinthians 15:27, Paul quotes from Psalm 8:6. Listen to David: “You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Now listen to Paul’s inference from God’s implication: “But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.” The word “evident” is used also in Matthew 26:73 and Galatians 3:11. It is another way of saying, “It is common sense.” Paul says it is “common sense,” that is, one naturally understands (infers) that if someone makes all things subject to someone else, the one who subjects all things is excluded from the submission himself. So, God the Father is not submissive to God the Son, even though every things else is.

In Ephesians 4:8-10, Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18: “You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men.” Paul inferences that if one has ascended, then the implication is that he must, at first, been lower. So, Jesus had first to descend before He could then ascend. Isn’t that common sense? Yes, and it is an inference  from what the text implies.

Finally, in Hebrews 4:1-11, the writer quotes from Psalm 95:11 as he contrasts Joshua with Jesus. “Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.” There are a number of implications of this concept of “promising rest” illustrated ion Psalm 95:11 that the reader must infer…

1) Since God has a rest to give and the wilderness generation of Israel did not inherit that rest, then the implication is that others will receive the rest.

2) David (who wrote Psalm 95) lived generations after Joshua; therefore the rest was still future from his standpoint.

3) Since Israel lost out on their rest due to their unbelief and disobedience, Christians might too lose the promised of rest for the same reason.

4) Christians ought to be careful to give attention to obeying every word from the mouth of Christ.

We will have more to say in the near future. But, not all inferences are implications of the text. When the “households” of Lydia and Cornelius were baptized, some religious groups infer that babies out to be baptized. But that inference is not necessary. In fact, not only does it violate the context (they could not hear and believe the message preached), but it also violates broader biblical theology (babies are not susceptible to the gospel message). So, before we infer, we need to make sure that we are not putting words or concepts into the mouth of the Holy Spirit but only infer what He has implied.

Paul Holland

First, the Bible: “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you” (Jonah 3:1-2).

Jonah did not want to do what his Father told him to do. In fact, he ran in the opposite direction of responsibility. So, to use modern terminology, God put Jonah in a “time-out” chair. The time-out chair typically serves as a tool for punishment, separating a disobedient child from his or her siblings, toys, or whatever else that might give them joy. The child is usually in the time-out chair for some specified length of time.

When God Jonah into “time-out,” it was in the belly of the fish. But God did not put Jonah there simply to punish him. Nor did God put him there for a set period of time. God put Jonah in the belly of the fish so that Jonah would have a change of heart. Chapter 2 is a poem composed by Jonah from the belly of the fish and we see that he experienced a change of heart, which led to a change of behavior. When God commanded Jonah the second time to go to Nineveh, Jonah obeyed.

Perhaps something that is missing from the “time-out” method of discipline is this focus on encouraging the child to change his or her heart. Neither repentance nor humility come easily. They are not miraculous gifts or abilities; they do not drop out of heaven into the heart of a child (or adult for that matter!). Rather, they are choices that have to be made.

Giving your child time to think and change their heart can be a helpful and positive method of training your child. Rather than escalating a confrontation between the parent and the child, Mom or Dad can require the child to sit in the chair, perhaps in the corner, and think about what they have done or said. Mom and Dad can even stipulate that they can get up and rejoin the family once they have had a change of heart.

This “tweaking” of the time-out chair idea offers a couple of advantages to the other approach. It turns the method into a disciplining process rather than just a punitive process. It puts the focus on the child’s heart as it guides their behavior, rather than just the behavior itself. It also makes the time spent in the chair dependent on the child’s choice to humble himself or herself as opposed to an arbitrary time set by Mom and Dad. Of course, if the child comes back and has not humbled the heart, they can also be sent back.

Paul Holland

INTRODUCTION:

1. One of the great needs of the world today is God-fearing fathers talking to or advising their sons.

2. One great cause of the “generation gap” – fathers are too busy to train their sons.

3. Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-7; 32:45-46.

4. If fathers fulfilled their responsibility along this line, it would mean:

a. Far fewer rebellious children

b. Fewer crimes by young people

c. Save many young people from leaving the church.

5. David spoke to admonish his son, Solomon, many times.

6. Our lesson text is one such example.

7. If we are Christians, we are God’s children: Matt. 6:4-6, 9; 23:9; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:17-18.

AS DAVID ADMONISHES SOLOMON, LET US THINK OF GOD ADMONISHING US:

1. One must know God (1 Chronicles 28:9-10).
   1. Vast differences in knowing God and knowing about God.
      1. Too many just know about God.
      2. One may know about G. Washington, A. Lincoln, Ronald Reagan without knowing any of them.
      3. Difference in knowing facts of the Bible, and knowing the God and the Lord it reveals.
      4. 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:10.
      5. Compare a child who knows only of his deceased father with one who knows a living father.
      6. Do you really know God?

1. Serve Him (God):

A. Many serve self: worldly pleasures, wealth, evil desires, etc. 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 8:14; Gal. 5:19-21.

B. One must serve God: Matt. 4:10; John 12:26.

C. Explain what it means to serve God!

D. Can’t serve two masters: Matt. 6:24.

3. How shall I serve God?

A. A perfect heart:

1. Prov. 3:1; 4:23; Matt. 5:8; Psalms 24:3-4; James 4:8.

2. We sing a song, Is Thy Heart Right with God?

B. A willing mind:

1. If I love God I have a great desire to serve Him.

2. We are creatures of choice: Deut. 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 2 Cor. 9:7.

3. Even the four great Bible invitations point to choice: Isaiah 1:18; Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 3:20; 22:17.

4. One must seek God… Who will find Him (ver. 9):

A. Today we seek health, jobs, happiness, financial security, etc.

B. Man left God; God has never left man.

C. Not a game of hide ’n seek (God is not hiding from man).

D. James 4:8; Matt. 5:6; 6:33; 7:7; etc.

5. Forsake God … He will cast you off (ver. 9):

A. We read of children being abandoned, forsaken – our “blood boils.”

B. Sometimes husbands forsake their wives or wives their husbands.

C. Nothing can compare with God casting one off forever.

1. Again, He never forsakes us, but we forsake Him

Note: “If you forsake Him…” Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 37:13; 73:19

2. John 15:1-5 (fruitless branches); Matt. 25:26-30.

6. We, too, are to build a temple to glorify God (ver. 10):

A. The church – 1 Tim. 3:14-15.

B. Our bodies – 1  Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20

CONCLUSION: Be strong and do it (ver. 10).

A sermon preached by the late Wayne Holland at:

Bayou La Batre, AL (6/17/1979)

Hiawassee, GA (6/15/1986)

Roxboro, NC (6/18/1989)

INTRODUCTION:

1. One of the great needs of the world today is God-fearing fathers talking to or advising their sons.

2. One great cause of the “generation gap” – fathers are too busy to train their sons.

3. Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-7; 32:45-46.

4. If fathers fulfilled their responsibility along this line, it would mean:

a. Far fewer rebellious children

b. Fewer crimes by young people

c. Save many young people from leaving the church.

5. David spoke to admonish his son, Solomon, many times.

6. Our lesson text is one such example.

7. If we are Christians, we are God’s children: Matt. 6:4-6, 9; 23:9; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:17-18.

AS DAVID ADMONISHES SOLOMON, LET US THINK OF GOD ADMONISHING US:

1. One must know God (1 Chronicles 28:9-10).
   1. Vast differences in knowing God and knowing about God.
      1. Too many just know about God.
      2. One may know about G. Washington, A. Lincoln, Ronald Reagan without knowing any of them.
      3. Difference in knowing facts of the Bible, and knowing the God and the Lord it reveals.
      4. 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:10.
      5. Compare a child who knows only of his deceased father with one who knows a living father.
      6. Do you really know God?

1. Serve Him (God):

A. Many serve self: worldly pleasures, wealth, evil desires, etc. 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 8:14; Gal. 5:19-21.

B. One must serve God: Matt. 4:10; John 12:26.

C. Explain what it means to serve God!

D. Can’t serve two masters: Matt. 6:24.

3. How shall I serve God?

A. A perfect heart:

1. Prov. 3:1; 4:23; Matt. 5:8; Psalms 24:3-4; James 4:8.

2. We sing a song, Is Thy Heart Right with God?

B. A willing mind:

1. If I love God I have a great desire to serve Him.

2. We are creatures of choice: Deut. 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 2 Cor. 9:7.

3. Even the four great Bible invitations point to choice: Isaiah 1:18; Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 3:20; 22:17.

4. One must seek God… Who will find Him (ver. 9):

A. Today we seek health, jobs, happiness, financial security, etc.

B. Man left God; God has never left man.

C. Not a game of hide ’n seek (God is not hiding from man).

D. James 4:8; Matt. 5:6; 6:33; 7:7; etc.

5. Forsake God … He will cast you off (ver. 9):

A. We read of children being abandoned, forsaken – our “blood boils.”

B. Sometimes husbands forsake their wives or wives their husbands.

C. Nothing can compare with God casting one off forever.

1. Again, He never forsakes us, but we forsake Him

Note: “If you forsake Him…” Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 37:13; 73:19

2. John 15:1-5 (fruitless branches); Matt. 25:26-30.

6. We, too, are to build a temple to glorify God (ver. 10):

A. The church – 1 Tim. 3:14-15.

B. Our bodies – 1  Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20

CONCLUSION: Be strong and do it (ver. 10).

A sermon preached by the late Wayne Holland at:

Bayou La Batre, AL (6/17/1979)

Hiawassee, GA (6/15/1986)

Roxboro, NC (6/18/1989)

When Rachel and I lived in Romania, our mission team decided that we would take 3-4 years to mail an advertisement for Bible study into all 100,000 homes in that city of 350,000 people. On one occasion, we mailed these flyers into a neighborhood of Iasi where college students live. There was a security guard named Constantin who picked up one of those flyers and mailed it in to us. He lived in a village about 15 miles north of Iasi called Podu Iloaiei.

For five or six weeks in a row, I traveled by train up to Podu Illoaiei to study with Mr. Constantin. He was a very pleasant man to visit with. He is married and has at least one daughter. His wife and daughter would not sit in our Bible study; I studied with him through the Jule Miller Bible study series. But, his daughter, in particular would come into the living room when we finished with our study and she would ask me questions. She was in her early 20s at the time, if my memory is correct.

One question she asked me was whether we in the churches of Christ used icons in our worship and if not, why not. It was very typical of people from the Orthodox faith to ask that question of all non-Orthodox people. As I discussed with her, I pointed out that the Bible teaches that we have one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). And where the Bible speaks, we are obligated to remain silent. She pushed back, as you could imagine, but then I used this illustration that many of you will recognize.

I asked her if we could add sarmale (a Romanian dish of stuffed grape leaves) and Coca-Cola to the Lord’s Supper. She responded with an empatic “no.” I asked her why not. She said because the juice (she said “wine”) and the bread (the Orthodox church actually does not use unleavened bread) were what Jesus used and that’s what He taught us to use.

Now, even though her Bible knowledge was rather shallow, she knew enough to correctly understand that If Jesus commanded something, then anything else is without His authority.

When Jesus was tempted to worship Satan, Jesus responded with words from Deuteronomy 6:13: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matt. 4:10). Jesus also taught in John 4:24 the proper manner in which to worship God: “in spirit and in truth,” which is Jesus’ parallel to Joshua’s words in Joshua 24:14: “in sincerity and truth.” As we studied the first Sunday of this month from Hebrews 1, Jesus Himself is worthy of our worship.

Our worship of God reflects the nature of God. If God were a naturalistic God, man would worship Him through some type of naturalistic rites. If God were a philosophical principle, it could be worshipped through meditation. But because of Who God is, then our worship has to reflect His nature and what He has required of us.

Without going into further detail, the NT reveals to us that our God is approached through five acts of devotion:

1) Prayer. As we pointed out earlier, our prayers are not authorized to be addressed to God through anyone except Jesus Christ.

2) Singing. Our song service is to teach and instruct one another in the doctrines of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

3) Lord’s Supper. This act of religious devotion is uniquely attached to the Lord’s Day and through it, we are reminded weekly of the love of God and His power, His promises, and His provisions.

4) Giving. It is through our giving that we truly show that we love God supremely and that our heart is in His mission for the church of His Son. Giving shows our love and our trust in God’s provisions.

5) Bible study. When we come together to help one another understand God’s message better and then we challenge one another to live according to His teachings, then we show that God is worthy to be obeyed to the ultimate extent.

Put your spirit into your every act of worship, reflecting your love for your Savior, letting your light shine and showing the presence of God in your life.

Paul Holland

Surely God’s wisdom has preserved many letters of Paul for our consideration of what very mature Christian living looks like. In this text Paul challenges our view of both life and death. Let’s learn and be encouraged by him. Read the text.

PAUL’S VIEW OF LIFE

1. He lived rejoicing at the advance of the Gospel (v. 18). Amazingly, in the context, Paul is rejoicing that the Gospel advanced at his expense, as some taught the Gospel with malicious motives. (see vv. 15-18). Brethren, the Gospel is advancing in our day. This is something worth rejoicing in! We also have the ability to contribute to this rejoicing through our participation in advancing it!

1. He lived believing in the power of prayer (vv. 19-20). As Paul wrote this letter from his imprisonment (likely in Rome), he was hopeful of his release through the prayers of his brethren (v. 19). Note that though he was an apostle of Christ, he did not minimize the efficacy of the prayers of his brethren. He believed their prayers could avail much (James 5:16) through the agency of the Spirit of Christ. Life to us ought to demonstrate our belief in prayer and the God of prayer.

1. He lived to honor Christ (vv. 20-21). This was Paul’s number one aim. While he lived in the flesh, God would be honored with his life. He said in Romans 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Paul lived and taught that life ought to be intentionally lived to please the Lord. Some may think of this as enslavement. Paul thought of it as true life and freedom!

1. He lived knowing that he might die (vv. 20-21). This wasn’t Paul simply knowing that he might die of natural causes, but that he might die for his convictions and work for the Lord. Paul seemingly placed his life at peril at every turn, not foolishly, but also not backing down. He was determined to be faithful even to the point of dying for the cause of Christ (see Rev. 2:10).

1. He lived for fruitful labor (vv. 24-26). Paul lived, in part, for what he could contribute to the faith of his brethren at Philippi. He had a strong desire to continue to serve them for their “progress and joy in the faith.” What does another year mean for us? Consider how you can help God’s children progress in joy and in the faith of Jesus.

PAUL’S VIEW OF DEATH

1. Death meant gain to Paul (v. 21). The word “gain” means “profit or advantage.” (See the use of this word in Phil. 3:7 and Titus 1:11). In other words, at the point of death the scales would tip to his advantage! What a remarkable way to look at death! He understood the concept of the Lord recorded in Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…” Death would bring reward for Paul (see Jm. 1:12; Rom. 6:23), and it would also bring freedom from all of the ills he suffered (see Rev. 20:4).

Death also meant departing to “be with Christ” (v. 23). This was surely an unimaginable thought for Paul… dwelling in the presence of the glorious Lord! Paul knew and taught that being in the body meant being away from the Lord (see 2 Cor. 5:6, 8). Paul continually pressed toward the prize! (Phil. 3:14).

CONCLUSION

The more Paul longed to be in heaven, he was ok with his reward being delayed since it gave him the opportunity to strengthen the faith of his brethren. He also knew that the Lord would keep him through His power (1 Pt. 1:5).

What a challenge and blessing it is to see life and death a little more like Paul saw it!

Daren Schroeder

The fires in Los Angeles County are difficult to comprehend. Those who lost everything in the wind-whipped flames gazed in shock upon the ashes of their once beautiful homes. When asked, many could only reply, “It’s all gone.”

Jesus can empathize, for he had no home either. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but ^the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Mat. 8:20). After the fires, many were left with only the clothes on their backs.  So too, Jesus possessed only the robe and tunic he was wearing when he was crucified. The soldiers cast lots to see “who would get them (Jno. 19:23-24).

The Californians lamented all the personal possessions they lost in the fires.  Jesus taught that all we possess would eventually be lost to “moth, rust,” or “thieves.” Rather, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mat. 6:19-20). May all who have suffered this tragic event look to Jesus and be drawn closer to him. We do not serve a savior “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

-Dennis Doughty

First, the Bible: “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:6-9).

The ideal Christian parent will think about God’s word in the context of their parenting on a regular basis, even daily basis. As a preacher friend of mine in Kentucky, Jerry Carmichael, has said, “Think homiletically all the time.” Parents should try to train themselves to do that with their children. And do it in natural ways and in fun, creative ways.

I attended the Gulf Coast Bible camp in Mississippi one summer when I was in elementary school. One thing I remember from that camp was the class acting out the story of the Good Samaritan. I don’t know if I knew much about the parable before that, but I certainly remember the parable from that event.

There are lots of Bible story books to read with your child. Even Apologetics Press has graded readers that teach about God’s creation that can be used to train your child to read.

Once you have saturated your own mind and hear with God’s word, then you are better prepared to share biblical stories with your children. When an opportunity arises and your child is in a predicament or situation that parallels a biblical character, remind them of the story and encourage them to apply biblical principles in their own situation.

Sometimes Rachel and I did that with our girls, especially while watching Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. Like the Andy Griffith Show, there were situation ethics taught and reflected in the show. Occasionally, I would hit the “pause” button and ask the girls, “what would have been a Christian way to respond to that situation?” Of course, if we were watching some nature program, I would mock the evolutionists as I tried to help the girls understand how ridiculous the theory of evolution is. “Imagine how many birds died before any of them evolved the ability to fly…!”

Let your children hear you pray and read the Bible. Encourage your children to pray for you. Pray with them. Look for informal occasions to talk about God’s word.

If you have young children (though middle school), I would encourage you to use some books that mix science with biblical teaching. I have used these experiments with our girls and with the young people when I preached for a church without a youth minister: there are three volumes to Science and the Bible by Donald DeYoung and another resource is: Fun Science that Teaches God’s Word by Mary Grace Becker and Susan Martins Miller.

The late brother Stan Mitchell from Freed-Hardeman wrote a book titled Will Your Faith Have Children? It might have been the last book he wrote. The message is timely and relevant.

Paul Holland