DEEP // WIDE // LIGHT

Why are we doing all of this? What good is it doing? We here at First Baptist understand the priority of the Great Commission, having come from the very mouth of our Savior and our Lord ( Matthew 28:18-20 ). But I have been thinking a lot lately about how much of our efforts seem to yield so little results. We spend dollars and hours living for Christ and spreading His word. In youth ministry, this includes three different times each week when we teach from the word (Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday evening) and special events, often several per month. In children’s ministry, this includes the same three corresponding teachings, along with special events. The entire church also worships together in two main worship services each week. On top, we add evangelism such as Good News Club and Vacation Bible School and Upward and Kids Camp and Youth Camp and Disciple-Now . And more foundational than all of this is the word being planted by the parents at home and at church!...

“There is no such thing as a perfect parent.”  Whew! That felt good to get off my chest. Our children and students mean the world to us. As we parent them, their entire future feels at stake. It feels like life or death sometimes, does it not? I have good news for you.  You will NOT do it right.  I know, I know… you are wondering how this is good news. But the Bible gives us almost no examples of perfect parents (I am not convinced that Mary and Joseph count, either!). Adam and Eve, after having the distinction of being the first on earth to disobey God, raised a son who would murder his brother. Isaac’s son, Jacob, swindled his brother for the inheritance and fooled dad into giving him the family blessing. This same Jacob would love one of his sons more than the others, leading to jealousy and the sale of his son into slavery. King David’s sin led to the death of one of his children. King Solomon’s family fell apart completely, leading to the divi...