Teaching Your Child to Have an Everyday Faith w/Pastor Terry Scalzitti | Part 3
May 22
Where To Begin
We spoke earlier this about how parents are hoping that by dropping their children off at church, their children will develop an everyday faith…the problem is for the average family, church only has about 40 hours a year to influence a child…where as
The average parent has over 3000 hours of influence each year in the lives of their children. This encompasses car rides, time around the table, times during the day where parents and kids are together and where influence can happen. When a parent can use some of those 3000 hours to influence their child spiritually, we can see an everyday faith develop.
“Be Kind and Loving to each other” Catch them doing something right, and encourage the right behavior. When you connect social behavior to biblical principle, you make the bible come alive for a child/student. You can catch them being kind and loving especially with in the home with their siblings. Make sure to model this behavior with your spouse and with others outside you home.
Listen to today’s podcast for more on this topic.
Teaching Your Child to Have an Everyday Faith w/Pastor Terry Scalzitti | Part 2
May 21
Why Do Parents and Churches Struggle In This Area?
We are constantly bombarded by images. Images that would suggest a perfect family with perfect children, the “stock image family”. The problem is these are only models acting for a picture it is not real life. In real life family can be messy. There are real life issues that are dealt with. Today’s family may not look like the nuclear family of times past, it may include a single parent, step parents etc.
Parents, and churches, must move past the stereotype of what family should look like and apply faith to what their family is. Your family does not surprise God, and He doesn’t expect you to be like the stock family photo; air brushed and edited to perfection. God loves your family the way you are. Every family needs to develop their own rhythm, which works for them. When you develop this rhythm, you can begin modeling/teaching an everyday faith for your children. A faith that isn’t fake or compartmentalized but real, organic, and practical for your specific circumstances in life.
Listen to today’s podcast for more on this topic.
Teaching Your Child to Have an Everyday Faith w/Pastor Terry Scalzitti | Part 1
May 20
Why It’s Important To Teach
We live in a world where faith has easily become “compartmentalized”. Some parents have come believe that the spiritual growth of their children is up to the church. What’s the problem then? According to several research organizations, seven out of ten students that grow up in the church will leave church when they go away to college. Seven out of ten students are saying that they don’t have time for their compartmentalized faith with God. Moses said in Deuteronomy 6:6 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
Moses didn’t say talk about God’s word on Sunday, or in your prayer time, or just in youth group. We’ve been teaching a generation how to “go to church” instead of how to “be the church”. When you move from a compartmentalized faith to an everyday faith, the church stops being a building and starts becoming the body of Christ. An everyday faith begins when a parent engages and partners with the church in the spiritual development of their child. An everyday faith begins when a church partners with a parent understanding that what happens at home is just as important as what happens at church.
Listen to today’s podcast for more on this topic.
When My Child is Difficult to Like | Part 5
May 17
It’s About Love- Not Like
Love is an action word. It is not an emotion, it is something we do or something we live out. Every phase can have things not to like if we choose to focus on them. Babyhood is the constant need or sleep deprivation. Toddlers are always pushing back against the rules. Early teens are struggling with self-image or are moody. Later teens feel as though they know it all. Thankfully we can role model what Christ did for us. He loved us when we were unlovable, ungrateful, and in sin. Thankfully we also have a guide for how to love in 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
This is a great verse for us to have up in front of us especially on the hard days. Remember parenting is about communicating and modeling God’s love to our children, not about like.
Listen to today’s podcast for more insight on this topic.
When My Child is Difficult to Like | Part 4
May 16
When Parenting Gets In The Way Of My Schedule
If there is one thing that gets interrupted in a parent’s life it is their schedule. From the first day a baby comes home, life will never be as the parents once knew it. After the newborn phase we can even attempt to keep our children in a schedule but there will be changes to it as life happens, such as a child getting sick. If we are Type A personalities it may be more difficult for us when something rocks the neat little schedule we have going. The Type B personality may find it difficult that their child does need routine. Parents can’t just pick up and go where they want anymore. As children get older the family schedule may be more focused on the kids’ activities, such as sports or youth group events, etc.
One way to fight feeling resentful is to make sure that you are first and foremost taking time with God. Secondly, that the spouses are getting their quality time together. Make sure there are date nights on the schedule. During a difficult season, make sure that there are also fun times with the family. It is amazing what a little fun family activity can do to relieve stress but also help to put perspective where it needs to be.
Listen to today’s podcast for more insight on this topic.
