FAMILY PLUS Children's - May 27

Hey everyone!

This week we are talking about a subject that I know you will want to take advantage of...the 5th Commandment - obeying your parents! One of the most common ways we see our kids struggle in this world, especially at the elementary age, is obedience to their parents. I believe this is a constant struggle because our kids have to make those decisions every day of whether or not to obey our commands.

Here are the details to this week:

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Life Application: I can obey my parents.

Memory Verse: Colossians 3:20

Prayer for the Nations: Dominican Republic

I want to challenge you this week to reflect on your parenting. Try to answer the question, "When my kids disobey, why do they disobey?" In answering this question, I want you to start with your parenting (Mt 7:3-5). How do you parent? How does that affect your kids positively and negatively? 

Here is where I am at in my thinking...As I think about Carter, it is obvious that he knows he is not supposed to touch the fire place. Yet he continues to try to push the boundaries Katie and I have set. Often times he will crawl halfway to the fire place, stop, and turn around to see if we are watching. He does this several times a day. How do I respond to this almost continual disobedience? I can have a short temper at times, so I have to be very careful how I respond. I want to respond as God responds to me as His child. I want to respond with love (1 Cor 13:4-7), age-appropriate discipline (Heb 12:5-6), and communication (The whole Bible-tell your kids why just like God has told us why). Does this mean the child will automatically change their behavior? Not at all, but that is why God has made love  patient, kind, etc. Also, this is why we must always discipline and communicate for the sake of the child becoming more Christ-like and understanding God's plan for their life.

This is a particularly tough challenge for me this week. One of our interns just commented that I was breathing really hard while I was thinking through this. Let me pray for us.

God, you are our Father. Help us as parents of the next generation to lead our families to new heights in their relationships with you. When times are hard, be our rock! When we want to give up, lift us up! When we reach a new height, may all glory be given to you! Father, may we turn our eyes to you and persevere for the sake of the future of this next generation.

Take note of this upcoming opportunity!

Radical Families: Surrendering to God’s Plan for Your Family

Led by Craig & Barbara Webb, Tyler & Casey McNutt, Ron & Lynell O’Reel, and Henry & Patti Webb

How can you address "bad attitudes" in your family?

What behaviors and attitudes characterize a "Christian" family?

How do you finally resolve the recurring problems characteristic to your family?

Join these four couples for a time of teaching and open discussion of marriage, parenting, caring for aging parents, busyness, dysfunctional families, and more.

Wednesday evenings in June from 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm Room 121/123 in the Fellowship Hall

Let me know how I can be there for your family.

Jared Norris

Children's Minister

The Glade Church

FAMILY PLUS Children's - May 19

Hey everyone!

Last Sunday we learned about how we can learn from our families about God. This week we are going to continue our teachings about the family by talking about how God is faithful to provide for our families.  

Here are the details:

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7 (Elisha and the Widow's Oil)
Life Application: I can trust God to meet the needs of my family.
Memory Verse:  Psalm 62:8a “My people, trust in him at all times.” 
Prayer for the Nations: Denmark


Think for a second about how God has provided for your family. These are important stories that your children need to know. Children need tangible evidence of God's work in their world, and you [parents] are a MAJOR part of their world. Show your kids the evidence of God in your life!


2 tangible challenges for families this week (feel free to only choose 1)


Challenge 1:


Looking back on my life there are key points that I want Carter to know about Katie and I. I call these our "God stories". 


I want Carter to hear the "God story" of how we prayed and prayed for him for months before God blessed us with a pregnancy. 


I want Carter to hear the "God story" of how we prayed for 9 months for God to provide a job where Katie could stay home with Carter, and Michael Eubanks called me out of the blue because he had received my resume.


You have stories like this! I've heard some of them. Tell your "God stories" to your kids because they connect God's provision to your kids at a personal level, a family level.


Challenge 2:

If God has blessed you with more than you expected or maybe you want to take a front row seat in creating your own "God story" by blessing another family, then this is a great challenge for you. I have a friend who received a little more money this month than expected. This is what they did. They gathered the kids around the dinner table and discussed options of how they would use the money for God's glory. As a family, they choose how they would use the money. This activity will help your family see that God has given your family more than needed; therefore, your family can be a blessing (Gen 12).


Jared Norris
Children's Minister
The Glade Church