Great Praise

For last night's Christian Education team meeting devotional, we looked at this week's Fighter Verses - Psalm 96:4-5

God is great! God is to be greatly praised!

This week's Fighter Verses devotional, How to Praise God Greatly, gives three attributes of great praise.

Mightily
Seriously
Abundantly

The first three verses of Psalm 96 help us see what these words look like.

Mightily.  

It is with passion.  "Sing a new song!" "Sing!" "Sing!"  "Bless!"  "Tell."  "Declare!"

Seriously.  

It is about serious things.  Salvation.  His glory.  His marvelous works.  These are no small things. 

Abundantly.  

It's origin, lenghth. and audience are great.  All the earth sings to the Lord.  We tell of his salvation from day to day.  We declare his glory among the nations and the peoples.

In planning the Christian Education at Trinity Baptist Church, living life wherever, or working a job, a believer's life should greatly praise the great God of the universe.  

As it relates to the children's ministry at Trinity Baptist Church, we want to help parents and kids praise God greatly.  

While we want children to have fun in the classes, even more importantly, we want to remind the children God brings to us that God is to be greatly praised.  Parents and families can help with this by asking the children what they learned about God and from God's word.

The "did you have fun?" question is not the most important question to ask.  "What did you learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and from the Bible?" are better questions.

Kids and families Intentionally Discipled Zealously. 
That word ZEALOUSLY can be explained using mightily, seriously, and abundantly.

Our God is Great and we want to communicate that through the information we share, activities we do, love we show, and resources we share.  

May we help the next know and love God!

Here is a specific example of how we are trying to do this.
From this past Sunday's children's church lesson (3/26/23)

The curriculum lesson theme was God wants us to show respect to others.  This is a good goal. 
But an even better goal is God wants us to show respect to others because of who God is, what God has done (1 Samuel 12:24), and what he has commanded (Matthew 5:44). 

Inspire Worship

 

"The ultimate reason for devoting ourselves to the discipleship of the next generation is for the glory of God."

Throughout 2022, there were 6 posts about the other commitments.  Each of them points to this final commitment - inspired worship.

The Bible is the story of God's glory!  

So, Bible teaching is showing your students God's glory and how to live for God's glory.
During this Winter 2022/23 quarter, our study of the Judges has focused on God's faithfulness and power as he used various judges and foreign nations to show the Israelites and the world God's sovereignty. 

Our Bible lessons, no matter the age group, should make much of God. 
"Our children don't need their self-esteem stoked up.  They need to see God in His glory and grandeur." (Zealous podcast)

It is my prayer that Trinity Baptist Church would embrace the fact that the goal of our children's ministry, and every other ministry, is the glorification of God.

And this is why the shelves in the entryway of the Kids' wing were changed recently.  Through the teaching of God's Word at church and home, we need to glorify God and help our children do the same.  This is why we need to give the gift of God's Word. 

If you didn't check what the three pictures on the bottom shelf are, they are from Visual Theology, and contain the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Yellow - 6:4 - 6  "Hear, O Israel:  The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  You have shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart."

Blue - 6:7   "You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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."

Green - 6:8-9  "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates"

This is why your first question for after church needs to be "What did you learn about Good?" 

As we work towards Kids and families Intentionally Discipled Zealously (KIDZ), remember the description of zeal shared in the initial Zealous post.  "Zeal is so much more than enthusiasm and excitement.  'It is the result of a heart on fire for the glory of God that is uncontainable and spills out in zealous evangelism, discipleship, service, and good works.'" (p. 13)

Other Resources:

• Commitment #7 podcast (12 min)

Praying with Dependence on God's Sovereign Grace

This is the sixth of seven posts from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  Podcasts and other links are at the bottom of this boast.

For more about this series of posts go to the Introduction post

These posts will contain a summary of the commitment along with some ways we are trying to implement that commitment at Trinity Baptist Church.  

The sixth commitment is "Praying with Dependence on God's Sovereign Grace."

Throughout this sixth chapter, the connection to prayer and dependence on God is repeated.  Parents, pastors, and teachers cannot escape their responsibility for nurturing the faith of the next generation.  At the same time, there is no way to escape God's sovereignty - people are "saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (80).  Ephesians 2:8-9 shows us that salvation is the gift of God so that no one - no child, no parent, no pastor, no grandparent, no Sunday School teacher - may boast.

• We need to pray.
• We need to pray for leaders and learners.
• We need to prayerfully plan.
• We need to prayerfully teach.
• We need to prayerfully and patiently trust in the LORD to do the work.

I want to share a couple of quotes from this chapter and some explanations

"Even when we are zealous for the discipleship of the next generation, we are woefully unequal to the task before us."

We can develop the best vision statement, foster partnership between the church and home, teach God's word well, proclaim the glorious gospel, and develop an awesome discipleship plan.  We should do all of these things.  BUT we need to remember that, ultimately, salvation belongs and comes from our God.  Pray shows this commitment.

"Our best efforts have no power to raise our children from spiritual death to everlasting life."

We can faithfully and truthfully proclaim how we are raised from death to life but we cannot make it happen.

We can faithfully and truthfully proclaim the one who raises sinners from death to life, and we are not the one who does this.

Some specific prayer tips from this chapter are

Pray at home for the next generation.
Pray at church for the next generation.
    Teachers praying for students
    Volunteer intercessors praying for teachers and students
    Corporate prayer for the children's ministry
    Parent-led prayers.

Praying with Dependence of God's grace podcast link.

Disciple the Mind Heart Will

This is the fifth of seven posts from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  Podcasts and other links are at the bottom of this boast.

For more about this series of posts go to the Introduction post

These posts will contain a summary of a commitment along with some ways we are trying to implement that commitment at Trinity Baptist Church.  

The fifth commitment is "Disciple the Mind, Heart, and Will"

The first sentence of this fifth chapter is important to remember.  "It's not enough for children just to know what the Bible says and teaches,"  Michael says we need to INSTRUCT the mind, ENGAGE the heart, and INFLUENCE the will.  

Another way to think about it is HEAD, HEART, and HEARTS.  The children hear this in children's church.  The youth hear this in their meetings.  And this is a continuous theme in the current Bible Study for Spiritual Growth Class.  

HEAD:  Allowing the Word to shape my mind

• What does this passage teach me about God's nature?
• What does this passage teach me about myself in relation to God?
• What does this passage teach me about doctrine or the Christian life?

HEART:  Allowing the Word to shape my affections

• What does this passage tell me to feel?
• What does this passage tell me to love?
• What does this passage tell me to hate?

HANDS:  Allowing the Word to shape my actions

• Do I have any sin that needs to be confessed?
• Is there an explicit command that needs to be obeyed?
• Is there an example that I need to follow?
• How can I advance God's kingdom based on this passage?

From Visual Theology by Tim Challies

Bible teaching and Bible study, not just for children but for all of us, needs to increase our knowledge, stir our hearts, and change our attitudes and actions.  

God,

Helps us grow in our understanding of you and your word.
Helps us grow in our passion for you.
Helps us grow more godly in the choices we make and the things we do.

Amen.

Other resources:

• Commitment #5 podcast
• Understanding and Treasuring the Bible podcast 

Proclaim the Gospel - part 2

This is an additional post on the fourth commitment - Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ - from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  

For more about this series of Zealous posts go to the Introduction post

Be sure to read the First Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ post that was written before TBC's VBS to help VBS leaders better understand the Gospel.

A faithful, clear proclamation of the Gospel is NOT linking EVERY Bible lesson to Jesus. 
If you try to do this, "it will be fanciful, because you'll come up with really clever ways of doing things that aren't really there and it'll keep you from seeing important things that are there." (p. 57).  A gospel summation is not the end goal.  A gospel foundation is.   

A faithful, clear proclamation of the Gospel is NOT merely a specific method or program.
The Bible is what children, and adults need not a specific curriculum or program.  Scripture is what is able to make you wise for salvation.

A faithful, clear proclamation of "the Gospel is shaped and defined by essential truths found throughout scripture." (p. 56)  The 10 Essential Gospel Truths in Zealous go through essential teachings.

A man-centered Gospel begins with how great you are and how much God needs you.  
A Biblical understanding of the Gospel begins with how great God is and how sinful we are.

The ultimate goal of heaven is not walking streets of gold or seeing loved ones.  The ultimate goal of heaven is God, which is why we must begin with God's sovereignty.

Proclaiming the Gospel

This is the fourth of seven posts from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  Podcasts and other links are at the bottom of this boast.

For more about this series of posts go to the Introduction post

Each post contains a summary of a commitment along with some ways we are trying to implement that commitment at Trinity Baptist Church.  

The fourth commitment is "Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ"  

"The most God-centered, gospel-focused curriculum and the most funded, age-appropriate, parent-integrate program in the world cannot raise our children from spiritual death...  Ultimately, the salvation of children is in God's hands."  (p. 59)

I am writing this post the week before Trinity's VBS and we are praying God would use the excitement and teaching during this unique week of the summer to help kids know what it means to be saved.  At the same time, we need to focus on faithfully teaching God's Word, clearly proclaiming the Gospel, and glorifying God in all we do and say.  Our goal is not to get kids to say a prayer or make a decision.  Our goal is faithful teaching and clear proclamation.

"We are to lay a solid, deep foundation by clearly and patiently presenting the key essential truths of the gospel found throughout the Bible." (p. 60)  This is done during Vacation Bible School, weekly in Sunday School and Children's Church, and regularly during family conversations.

Tracts and Gospel presentations can be helpful resources that point people to the truth of God's Word and the glorious hope found in the Gospel.  However, we must also remember that these tracts and types of presentations are merely attempts to summarize or illustrate the amazing truth that is the Gospel.  There are several reasons why we are using Matthias Media's Who Will Be King?  Gospel booklet in VBS.  First, it begins with God, the creator and the ruler.  Second, it ends with God.  The question "Who will be king?" is not just a momentary, fire-insurance decision.  It is a response that shows a clear understanding of who God is, what sin is, why we need Jesus, and how we should live in response to these truths.

Truth 78's The 10 Essential Gospel Truths expands these points even more.

1. God is the sovereign Creator of all things.
2. God created people for His glory.
3. God is holy and righteous.
4. Man is sinful.
5. God is just and is right to punish sin.
6. God is merciful.  He is kind to undeserving sinners.
7. Jesus is God's holy and righteous Son.
8. God put the punishment of sinners on Jesus so that His righteousness might be put on them.
9. God offers the free gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Jesus. 
10. Those who trust in Jesus will live to please Him and will receive the promise of eternal life - enjoying God forever in heaven.Jesus

Every lesson we teach the kids at Trinity Baptist Church needs to be communicating one or more of these truths. 

• Two Ways to Live, which is the adult version of "Who Will Be King?"
• Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ podcast link
• The 10 Essential Gospel Truths pdf
  Free God is the Gospel ebook
• Free God is the Gospel ebook

Commitment #4 podcast

Foster Robust Partnership

This is the second of seven monthly posts from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  The podcast and other links are at the bottom of this boast.

For more about this series of posts go to the Introduction post

These posts will contain a summary of the commitment along with some ways we are trying to implement that commitment at Trinity Baptist Church.  

The second commitment is "Fostering a Robust Partnership Between Church and Home." 

"The church is not primary, and parents are not sufficient." 

Trinity Baptist Church wants to help parents joyfully pursue the Living God.  Parents are responsible for the discipleship of their children.  "The church is not primary."  The church has been given the Great Commission - to go into all the world and make disciples.  Individual family units cannot do this on their own.  "The parents are not sufficient."

The children's ministry at Trinity Baptist Church has acknowledged this both/and relationship between the family and the church.  We want to continue doing this and grow in our parent equipping ministry.  What does this mean?  First, as a church, we need to pray for the children and families God has brought to us.  The second part of this equipping ministry is providing resources for children and parents to grow more and more into the image of Christ.  This website, the curriculums we use, the books near the check-in station, and other many other resources are not meant to replace God's Word but they are meant to help families learn and live out the truth of God's Word. Third, we want to train parents on how to use these resources in a way that is helpful to individual families.  

Podcast:  Fostering Partnership Between Church and Home

Article/Video:  Should Childrens Ministry Be Church-centered or Family-centered

Embrace a Biblical Vision

This is the first of seven monthly posts from the book Zealous: 7 Commitments for the Discipleship of the Next Generation.  Podcast and other links are at the bottom of this boast.

For more about this series of posts go to the Introduction post

These posts will contain a summary of the commitment along with some ways we are trying to implement that commitment at Trinity Baptist Church.  

The first commitment is "Embrace a Biblical Vision for the faith of the Next Generation." 

In our children's ministry, and in every ministry, we don't want to focus on doing something.  We want to focus on where we are going so that what we do has the end goal in mind.  In Zealous, David Michael writes,

Vision-oriented parents, Christian educators, and church leaders think about and act according to what they want to be true of their children in 10, 20, or 40 years hence.  Their priorities are shaped by asking questions like: 

What do we want our children to know and understand about God and His Word? 

What do we want them to understand about the gospel?  

What marks of faith and spiritual maturity do we want them to have? 

There are more questions on page 27. 

Our goal and the answers to these questions must be found in the Bible.  David Michael uses Psalm 78 to show what a Biblical vision looks like. 

Verse 4 says "tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD and His might and the wonder that he has done."

We need to MAKE MUCH OF GOD.  Don't just talk about God but rather glorify God so that the coming generation does the same.

The psalmist writes in verse 7 that we teach the next "so that they should put their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments."

We need to make much of God WITH THE GOAL OF A GROWING HOPE IN GOD throughout their lives.

Our children's ministry needs to make much of God so others will grow in the hope found in God. 

To put in more familiar words, we want to help families Joyfully Pursue the Living God.  I am not suggesting we develop a new mission or vision statement.  We need to live out the truths we find in God's Word. 

It is my prayer that children, parents, and our whole church family would grow more and more into the image of Christ (Col. 1:28).  "Him we proclaim, warning EVERYONE and teaching EVERYONE with all wisdom, that we may present EVERYONE mature in Christ."  (emphasis mine).

Pastor Dave 

Other Resources:

• Commitment #1 podcast (27 min)
• A Vision for the Discipleship of the Next Generation video (12 min)

 

Zealous Introduction

Haven't read the introduction?  Read this page before clicking on a specific commitment.
Already read this Introduction page?  Click on specific commitments..

Commitment #1: Embrace a Biblical Vision for the Faith of the Next Generation 
Commitment #2  Foster a Robust Partnership Between Church and Home
Commitment #3  Teach the Breadth and Depth of the Whole Counsel of God
Commitment #4a  Proclaiming the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ - pt. 1
Commitment #4b  Proclaiming the Glorious Gospe of Jesus Christ - pt. 2
Commitment #5  Disciple the Mind, Heart and the Will
Commitment #6  Prayerful Dependence on God's Grace
Commitment #7  Inspire Worship of God, for the Glory of God

On February 22, 2022, Trinity's Christian Education team began working through the first of seven commitments for the discipleship of the next generation found in the book Zealous.

Hopefully, these discussion times will spill over into what we are doing through our Christian Education ministry.  Every month, a summary and some thoughts about that month's commitment reading and discussion will be shared on this blog.

Here are some key thoughts from the introductory chapter entitled "What is Zeal and Why Does It Matter?"

Zeal is so much more than enthusiasm and excitement.  "It is the result of a heart on fire for the glory of God that is uncontainable and spills out in zealous evangelism, discipleship, service, and good works." (p. 13)

I would love to see Trinity continue to grow in its zeal for God and for the discipleship of one another.  As a church, we need to pray that God would grow this zeal in each of us.

There are two passages we need to remember as we seek to grow in our zeal for God and the discipleship of one another.  Michael develops each of these verses more in the first chapter of the book.

The first is Deuteronomy 6:5  "You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your might." (emphasis mine).  Verses 6 and 7 expand upon this idea of zeal for the teaching and discipleship of the next generation.

The second verse is Colossians 1:28 "Him we proclaim, warning everyone {including our children] and teaching everyone [including our children] with all wisdom, that we may present everyone [including our children] mature in Christ." (emphasis the author's)

If you are interested in learning more about the 7 commitments there are three ways you can find out more.

1. The Zealous podcast https://anchor.fm/truth78/episodes/Zealous-podcast-introduction-e13g46m/a-a60bhdg
2. Free PDF version of the book:  https://www.truth78.org/zealous
3. I have paperback copies of the book.  If you are interested in one call, email, or text me.