Posts Tagged ‘parenting’
What should I tell my son who has a fear of death?
Question: What should I tell my son who has a fear of death like me? He is only six but seems to be afraid of the concept of death. Answer: In order for you to help him, you will first have to conquer your own fears. “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me…
Read MoreChildren Do Come with Manuals!
by Jefferson David Tant Some months ago, my wife and I bought a new car. Well, it is about five years old, but it was new to us. Thankfully, it had an important document in the glove box — an Owner’s Manual. I don’t think I will ever learn about all the gadgets that the…
Read MoreHonor Your Father and Mother
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Honor-Your-Father-and-Mother.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:1-3 I. One of the Ten Commandments of the Old Law is brought to the New Law intact. It is the commandment to honor our parents A. The word “honor” in this passage means to fix a value on something, to consider it a prized possession. B. The original Hebrew…
Read MoreShould I let my children watch Ghostbusters?
Question: Jeff, I have kind of maybe a silly question here, but here it goes. One of my kids (a 7-year-old boy) has an interest in the Ghostbusters. I use to watch those movies on TV in the past when I was a kid. They were heavily edited back then, and I didn’t realize some…
Read MoreBoredom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Boredom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The child has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, VCR, a huge collection of video tapes, every piece of sports equipment known to man, his own telephone, a fully loaded computer with Internet access — but he doesn’t have anything to do. He’s bored. A. Boredom is…
Read MoreMy husband doesn’t want more children
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton! My husband told me more than once that we could have another child, but then he said he can’t psychologically take on the responsibilities of having another child. I’ve openly and honestly told him why I would like another child and that it was hurtful for him to break a promise…
Read MoreWhat do you do about an adult child who remains a homosexual?
Question: If a child, who is an adult, wants to live a homosexual life, does not want to listen to God’s word, and does not claim to be a Christian, can a parent still talk to them? Can they visit their parents? Can they have a meal together? The parents are members of the Lord’s…
Read MoreWhat I Would Say To My Children
by Jefferson David Tant Raising children is, I believe, one of the greatest responsibilities God has given us. By God’s design, a man and a woman have created something which will never cease to exist — a spirit that has been made in the image of God. Can you imagine the awesome feeling of responsibility…
Read MoreShould I stay with my husband or my children?
Question: Good morning brother Hamilton I don’t want to say I am a fan, but I learned a lot from the lessons, sermons, and questions and answers on the La Vista Church of Christ website, and I am still learning. Glory to God for such initiative. I am grateful for having such a platform where,…
Read MoreDiscipline in the Home
by Irven Lee Truth Magazine, February 17, 1983 Children do not have the ability at birth to understand the language of their parents. We all realize this, but we should also understand that these little people do not know the commonly accepted rules of etiquette, nor do they recognize property rights. Each child seems to…
Read MoreFirearms and Teaching Children
by Matthew W. Bassford In 2010 and 2011, I became the father of two extremely inquisitive children. In 2019, I also became the owner of a firearm. Naturally, I gave some thought to how these two areas of my life should interact. Should I keep my gun locked away from my kids and forbid them…
Read MoreNot Too Young
Author Unknown Recent research has revealed what teenagers truly desire from the adults in their lives. The Search Institute study found that teens want parents and other older influencers to do the following: Look at us. Spend time talking with us. Listen. Be dependable. Show appreciation for what we do. Relax. Show that you’re interested.…
Read MoreA Christian and a Young Parent
by Larry W. Bailey After Solomon died, Rehoboam was to be made king of Israel. The people asked him for more consideration than they had received in the past. Rehoboam asked counsel of the “old men, that stood before Solomon” (I Kings 12:6). However, I Kings 12:8 tells us “he forsook the counsel of the…
Read MoreIf I Were a Young Parent
by Gardner Hall It is God’s will that young married couples be parents if possible. “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (I Timothy 5:14). “Not withstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity…
Read MoreWhen I Grow Up
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/When-I-Grow-Up.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:19-38 I. Have you noticed how the world sets up different standards for children and adults? A. You can’t smoke until you’re a certain age B. You can’t drink until you have reached 21 C. In some ways it makes sense, we want to protect our children while they are young…
Read MoreWhat My Parents Taught Me
by Jefferson David Tant Vanguard Magazine, November 1982 All parents teach their children — consciously, subconsciously, positively, negatively, by example, by word. Children are even taught to be what their parents fail to teach. In our generation, many parents have abdicated their teaching roles to TV, schools, their children’s peers, and other influences. I am…
Read More“I Don’t Want My Kids to be Different”
by Greg Gwin The Beacon, January 22, 2013 Although most Christians wouldn’t say it in so many words, many parents seem to be very concerned about things that might make their kids look ‘different.’ They are concerned about raising their children in strict, disciplined ways that might make them stand out in contrast to others.…
Read MoreThe Tie that Binds
by Dixie Bowman Sentry Magazine, December 2000 Earthly relationships often inspire and encourage us as we live our lives as Christians. While this is not another article about marriage, divorce, and remarriage, I would fail in my effort to write concerning relationships if I did not first mention the most intimate association of mankind, and…
Read MoreA Passage To Ponder: Ephesians 6:1-4
by Ken Weliever In a 2014 sermon, Steve Malone asked “What do the following have in common?” 90% of homeless and runaway children 63% of youth who commit suicide 80% of all rapists 85% of children with behavioral problems 71% of all high school dropouts 75% of all teens in chemical abuse centers 85% of…
Read MoreParental Abdication
by Jefferson David Tant There are many things that tend to discourage and dishearten those who are striving to teach others, but few things can do the job more effectively than when members allow their children to put school activities and/or selfish desires first in their lives. We wonder if it is possible that some…
Read MoreChildren Are Special
by Doy Moyer According to Jesus, children are special and need to be protected. In Mark 9:36-37, we read this: And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever…
Read MoreEleven Days Old
by Jefferson David Tant (Note: While going through some old documents, I came across this article which was written in 1990. It’s a bit nostalgic, but there are some good points worth considering even today.) It was my turn to babysit while the others were busy. As long as I sang to him while we…
Read MoreA Father’s Gift
by Jefferson David Tant Fathers are often clueless about gift-giving for their children. That’s Mom’s job. But when we think of gifts, we usually think of material gifts—toys for toddlers, clothes, games, and sports equipment for teens. Or maybe the ultimate gift for a teen—a car! Many who are reading these words are prosperous by…
Read MoreObscenity and Profanity
by Marc Hinds I was ten years old in 1982 when I went and saw Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction blockbuster, E. T. It was the first time I remember hearing foul language. To make matters worse, it was a teenager in the movie who said it. While I was shocked, my parents were horrified. Over the…
Read MoreGod’s Mornin’
by Whit Sasser Cameron S. Smith tells a wonderful story. It is about the only white person in the state of Georgia buried in a cemetery reserved exclusively for African-Americans. This man had lost his mother when he was just a baby. His father, who never married again, hired a black woman named Mandy to…
Read MoreHas the Media Desensitized Us to Sin?
by Jason Moore Biblical Insights, July 2007 Yes … and no. It is so that the media fills the airwaves with programs, movies, music, ads, games, and even news reports of sexual indulgence, sexual perversion, sexual innuendo, violence, irreverence, godlessness, shamelessness, and other deviant and damnable behaviors. It is true that every form of human…
Read MoreMy four-year-old hates God
Question: Good morning. I have a few questions I am needing guidance on. My mother passed away a year ago. Then close to her one year, my grandmother passed away. I have a 4-year-old son who is struggling hard. We are a church family but now he does not want to go to church ever…
Read MoreThe Battlefield: Your Family
by Mark Broyles Biblical Insights, July 2007 “And there arose another generation after them, who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). How could that happen? How could Satan get such a position of strength among God’s people in such a short time? The nation…
Read MoreTV May Be Bad for Children!
by Floyd Chappelear Stand, October 1993 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …” (Proverbs 23:7). Image by Vidmir Raic from Pixabay Learned thought patterns can lead to sociologically unacceptable behavior, liberals have finally learned. According to an article by Mike Woods (Scripps Hoard pl; j News Service), “some kids spend more time watching TV…
Read MoreWhat Will Your Children Remember?
by Lowell Blasingame The Psalmist said that a man’s children are “a heritage of the Lord,” (Psalms 127:4). Most admit that there is something badly wrong with parents who do not love and value their children as such. Parental love motivates us to be concerned about our children’s welfare and seek what is best for…
Read MoreHe Restrained Them Not (Iverson)
by John Iverson Do you think juvenile delinquency is an evil that is peculiar to our day? If so, then you would do well to read your Bible, particularly such passages as are found in the book of First Samuel. I Samuel 2:1 Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media Eli was a judge in Israel and…
Read MoreMy daughter, whom I had from an affair, ignores me
Question: In my younger days, I met this woman and got her pregnant after a prolonged friendship. We were not ready for marriage and we went our separate ways. Later, both of us married to other people. I followed up on our daughter and even got her a job where she met her future husband.…
Read MoreHow do I start being a good parent?
Question: Hello, I am a babe in Christ. I was just baptized last month. My life has changed very much since then, and I have no desire to go back to the way I was. I still have struggles, but I am trying to live a Christian life. A major problem that I have right…
Read MoreFathers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Fathers.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreHow do I deal with my son declaring he is a homosexual?
Question: Good Morning I’m struggling. Not long ago, my son announced that he is gay. We are members of the Lord’s church and have been all my life, and he has been all his life. I have told him from day one that I do not support his decision and I cannot allow him to…
Read MoreFatherhood
by Alex Krutov Becoming a Father This is something, I wanted to write for our son’s 1-month birthday. It is hard to believe that Levi is going to turn 1 month old in a few days. Where did the time go? Yes, many people told us, do not rush the time and enjoy every moment…
Read MoreShould couples knowing they have a high probability of passing on a genetic disease try to have children?
Question: Hello Sir, I came across your notice/ Q&A on this subject. I will attach images of the Q&A I’m commenting about. I would like to know personally why would you imply that would would hope parent would trying to have their own kids knowing there is a possibility that they can birth a sickler?…
Read MoreHow do I find someone to spank my teenage son?
Question: Hello, I have a question. I’m a single mother of a 16-year-old boy and I don’t want to spank him, though he needs it and nothing else seems to work. Any recommendations or ideas of who I could reach out to who might be willing to mentor him? Because I am single, I do…
Read MoreHow do I explain to my son that his friend is sinning?
Question: One of my sisters in Christ is a teen girl (age 19). She is also my son’s best friend. I know her well, and I follow her on social media platforms. She recently posted a picture of herself with a friend who is a girl. Her written post attached to the picture included calling…
Read MoreAm I to Blame for a Wayward Child?
by W. Frank Walton Introduction One of the most heartbreaking parts of life is for a parent to lose a child to the world (II Samuel 18:33). Guilt probes the sensitive conscience of a loving parent, “Am I to blame?” The Bible clearly teaches a balance of parental duty to influence a child (Proverbs 23:26),…
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