It takes men to raise men. We all needed the concern and direction of men other than our fathers (even if our fathers were great!).
And so we all need to be concerned and offer direction to men other than our sons. Sometimes this will be incidental: a one-hour conversation with a younger man.
Here is a great talk on being a father by Matt Chandler. Matt is a pastor at Dallas, and will be speaking in Sydney at next year’s engage conference.
Matt Chandler - The Role of Men as Fathers
It is a part of a three part series on masculinity, the first on defining masculinity, the second on men as husbands, and the third on men as fathers. The other two talks can be found here:
In this second session from the Biblical Parenting conference held on September 19-20 at Mars Hill Church, Ted Tripp shares how to give your kids a passion for God’s purpose for our lives - to glorify him.
In the second of this two part series, Barry Costello from Anglican Youthworks talks about the particularities of raising boys, as well as answering questions from the floor.
In this first session from the Biblical Parenting conference held on September 19-20 at Mars Hill Church, Ted Tripp explains how the teaching of our children must be more proactive than discipline.
You don’t have to be a parent for long to observe “the blame game”. You know what I’m talking about; when something happens to one of your kids, or they do something wrong, often the first thing they do is look for something or someone else to blame. For that matter, this trait isn’t limited to my kids but is a regular visitor in my own life as well. James 1:13-15 has some blunt words to say to me, and my kids…
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.
James says that when we are tempted, no one should say “God is tempting me” for the simple reasons that God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt anyone else. Instead James points the finger of blame, not toward God, not even towards the Devil alone, but towards our own personal desires. From our own evil desires comes temptation, and when given in to, sin and death are not far behind.
As I was reading this part of James, a few thoughts came to mind.
1. Temptation isn’t always external, but comes from the wickedness of my own heart and its evil desires. I often treat my struggles with temptation as an assault of the Devil, yet James lays the burden of responsibility at my own feet - from my “own evil desires”.
2. Temptation highlights my evil desires and shows them for what they really are. When I look under the hood of my desires, they are so often pathetic, self interested and so small. I want to impact the world and honor the Lord Jesus in all I do, but for this to happen, I desperately need God to change my pathetic and selfish desires
My kids are in bed now, sleeping soundly, and for the moment I am spared the “but Dad it wasn’t me it was her fault..” routine. Tonight as I go to bed, Im praying that God would help me to take responsibility for, and fight temptation. I need his help to teach my kids to be responsible for their own sin, not looking to blame others or God? And Im praying that God would so powerfully work in their little hearts, that their desires would be God honoring, big and bold, rather than selfish, pathetic and measly.
What adventures have you had in fighting temptation? How have you approached temptation with your kids and do you have anything to share about encouraging and inspiring bold, God honoring desires within your children? I’d Be keen for your thoughts or comments?
