What is love? From Mark Buchanan, in the sermon “The Greatest of These,” PreachingToday.com
Fall/Winter 2012
A group of children were once asked, “What does ‘love’ mean?” Here are some sample answers: Rebekah, 8, said, “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time—even when his hands got arthritis, too. That’s love.” Billy, 4, said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Bobby, 7, said, “Love is what’s in the room at Christmas, if you stop opening presents and listen.” Nikka, 6, said, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate.” Tommy, 6, said, “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Cindy, 8, said, “During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me, and I saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. And I wasn’t scared anymore.” Jessica, 8, said, “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.”
Features
8
Contents
Teach faith @ home
Do you want to know how to build up the faith of your children at home? Writer Ben Phillips offers time-tested principles for doing just that!
10 Top 10 lies parents tell themselves
Here’s one “top 10” list that may just open your eyes to some subtle worldly influences that threaten to creep into Christian parents’ lives.
12 Bull’s-eye parenting: The end is where we begin
To minimize parenting regrets, writer Bill Newton encourages parents to be intentional in how they raise their children.
More . . . 4 Post from the editor 6 A merry heart 14 When they turn away: Drawing your adult child back to Christ
17 18 20 22
Choosing a church home How to pray big for your child Blending: A family work in progress ookie-cutter Christian family is so C overrated
24 From head to heart 26 Christian family truths to live by 28 The 12 lessons of fatherhood
5