Churches that Forgot to Do Sunday School
Thursday, August 21, 2008
When Fathers Engage
Hypothetically speaking, let's suppose that you were a pastor. And, you came to a city and found a population of fathers disengaged, disinterested in their own children's spiritual condition. They weren't really disciple-ing their children. They weren't teaching their children's God's Word, not really loving their children much. There was little vision in these guys, outside of a little tele-vision for watching the games, and drinking beer. They were more interested in their cars than in who was dating their daughters. What would you do? You'd probably have to start up Sunday Schools, Youth Groups, Vacation Bible School, Children's Church, and Church Daycare Programs.
We talk to a pastor who came to a city and found just the opposite - fathers who loved God, loved their children, and loved to disciple their children as they sat in their house, as they walked by the way. It was a paradigm shift, that turned into a whole different kind of ministry.
Four hundred years ago, a ship landed on the shores of New England bearing a fledgling band of people, committed to living life by the principles of God's Word. Now four hundred years later, their vision has almost faded. Liberty is dying. Humanism dominates. The family, by all indices, has disintegrated. But there still beats within the hearts of a remnant in this nation, the principles of the First Mayflower. In this 300 page manifesto, author Kevin Swanson lays out a vision by which the values of faith, family, and freedom may be salvaged for at least one nation for future generations. The voyage of the Second Mayflower is just beginning.
For families who see the Bible as "core curriculum," Kevin Swanson introduces the brand new Family Bible Study Guides Series. Family worship is a time when parents fulfill their Deuteronomy 6:7 and Ephesians 6:4 responsibilities to teach and disciple their families. This guide will help parents lead their families in a study of the first 41 Psalms, including convenient categorization and contextualization of each psalm, an exposition of the psalm explaining the meaning in simple terms, an application of the psalm for family life and children, and much more.