All my readers probably know of my affinity for series of various sorts. I like to write posts that are series, as well as read posts that are series. One can get lots of detail on a topic without having to read 10,000 word posts.

Having said that, here is a new series by my friend Elihu that I will be reposting for the next few Saturday nights. Blessings and enjoy!

image

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?….read the rest of the post here: GenNext: Raising up Christians who know the Lord