Top posts of 2013: #9 - Five things to pray for pupils

At number 9 in the top 10 of the most-read blog posts in 2013 is a post from Carl Laferton, first posted on 4th September.
 

​It’s back-to-school week in the UK. Some children are starting a new school; most will be going into a new class or form. Some will have been looking forward to it; others dreading it. All of them need our prayers—so here are five things to pray for a child (or children) in your family, or your church family, as they return to school, based on James 1 v 17-21:

1. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (v 17). Give thanks for this child, for the gift from God that they are. And pray that they would grow in thankfulness to God over this academic year, not taking the good things they have and enjoy for granted.

2. “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…” (v 18). Thank God that there is a word more precious than any of the ones any child will learn or look at in school this year. Thank God that he gives new life through faith in his Son, who we meet in his word. Pray that your child will come to faith, or grow in faith, this year—and pray that you would want this for them more than any educational achievements or qualifications.

3. “…that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (v 18). Pray that your child, if they belong to Jesus, would speak and act differently to those around them at school, because they belong to God’s new creation. Pray that in them, others would see how great it is to know Jesus. Pray that they would be willing to stand out, and if necessary to miss out, in order to live as part of God’s people.

4. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (v 19). Pray that your child: would be a caring listener to classmates, noticing and giving time to those who are hurting or lonely; would speak words which point to Jesus, not to themselves; would respond to being wronged (and let’s face it, playgrounds can be horrible places at times) with love and forgiveness, not anger and revenge.

5. “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word” (v 21). Pray that the word would have more influence on your child than the world. And pray that your child would not believe the lies of the world—either the obvious ones (“Your happiness is all-important”, “Porn is harmless”, etc) or the less obvious ones (“Good grades are all-important”, “If you work hard and obey well, then you are a good person”).

Five things to pray, and five days in the school week. Why not use one of these five Monday to Friday, to pray for a child/children’s school life? And could you share these prayers with others at your church, so that your church becomes a church which prays hard for its children as they head off into the world this week, and every week?

Against gender-segregation? Great...but why?

The most interesting aspect of the whole segregated-seating debate is the issue that lies behind it.

Let me say first up, I’m not for segregated seating. Neither are most people in the country, according to the media. You’re probably not, either.

But even when we agree with each other, it’s worth asking: Why? On what grounds don’t I agree with this?

Here’s the Christian’s reasoning. God has created male and female equal, and different. God has told us when and how men and women will (or should) live differently; for instance, women have the ability to get pregnant (Genesis 3 v 15-16—I don’t think this is particularly controversial!); men are called to lead their families if they’re husbands (Ephesians 5 v 23-25—this is a little more controversial…) But, apart from where God has said otherwise, there is no difference—so it seems strange and unnecessary to seat men and women separately.... continue reading

Top posts of 2013: #10 - Five ways to talk about porn with teens

In the last few days of 2013, we're going to repost our 10 most-read posts of 2013. Here, at number 10, is a post from the end of April containing some helpful hints on how to broach the tricky subject of pornography with young people.
 

"We know from the facts and figures the average age of starting to watch pornography is about 11." So runs a sentence in a recent BBC article.

Of course, not every 11 year old is watching porn. But it seems some are. And as children progress through their teens, it is more and more likely that they will engage with pornographic material. There's so much out there - in magazines, in books and, above all, on the internet. No longer are our adolescents having to sneak mags off the top shelf and hide them under their beds, there's a whole world of explicit material just a click away. And - unless internet accountability systems are put in place - a simple "clear browser history" manoeuvre often hides the evidence from the responsible adults of the house.... continue reading

Fighting the Monday feeling

Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

Psalm 98 v 1-3

Serving Without Sinking - half off until Monday evening!

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you'll know we made a lot of this book when it came out earlier this year. But with many churches and church people absolutely snowed under at this time of year we thought it well worth reminding you of it again.

Christmas, probably more than any other time of year, is when Christians are most under pressure. Demands on everyone's time are immense - energy and big smiles are required all round - as event after event is put on. But the constant need to be here, do this, speak at that, make something else, greet this group or that can be draining.

John Hindley examines just how and why this happens in Serving Without Sinking. It is an issue he has been aware of for a very long time and knows that it isn't just for Christmas either. The good news is he also has some encouraging help, backed by Scripture, to relieve the burdens we feel. He shows us how we can maintain that joyful servant heart at this busiest of times.

Read more HERE and get the book for just $6.50 - use code dontsink at the checkout.

Remembering Nelson

The public services are over. The singing and dancing are dying down. The news crews are moving on to the next big thing.

After acres of newsprint and television interviews, now starts the long, slow, developing assessment of the life and legacy of Madiba (his Xhosa clan name), Tata (father), or as the rest of the world knows him, Nelson Mandela.

Obituaries and biographies are funny things. It's often been noted that the first to be produced are by enthusiastic supporters who write their lives as bordering on sainthood. The rough edges of their personalities are smoothed over. Their mistakes are ignored and downplayed. Those who have dirt to spill, keep silent in the general atmosphere of adulation that follows the death of a "great one". And then - perhaps 10-20 years later - comes the reaction, when critical and iconoclastic articles and biographies appear, and the difficulties that their policies have created mature and come to light.... continue reading

Christianity in the News

Same-sex weddings to begin in March

We can’t dissent against 'new gay orthodoxy’, says Christian charity

Rick Warren on homosexuality: “I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society”

Child 'training' book triggers backlash

Jesus tops list as most significant figure in history; Mohammed at 4th

High Court verdict a turning point in same-sex marriage debate

Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.

Worth a thousand words: Rescued

I hope that, whatever difficulties you’re facing today, you take a moment to let this photo put a smile on your face. This image of a child rescued from the rubble of the 2010 Haiti earthquake is one that has stuck with me. The picture is grainy, taken from a video filmed of the US rescue team’s operation. As he is pulled from the wreckage, the boy raises his arms and grins.

It’s interesting to compare the slightly different ways in which the story was reported at the time. In one newspaper, he was beaming with sheer triumph that he had survived his ordeal. According to another, the boy, initially overwhelmed by the sea of unfamiliar faces crowded around him, smiled upon catching sight of the familiar figure of his mother (or aunt, or neighbour…) Either way, the pure joy on the child’s face as he is lifted to liberty is is heartwarming—his grin is infectious.... continue reading