Suggested Resources For Family Ministry

I recently had a dear friend ask me to give him a few resources for implementing a family ministry structure in the church that he pastors. I thought that perhaps others might benefit from the list I provided.

Conceptual:

“Our church wants to begin doing family ministry”. That sentence can mean any number of things. The people in your church probably have differing ideas as to what actually constitutes family ministry. That is why you need to have a season where everyone gets on the same page as to what family ministry actually consists of. The most helpful book for doing this is 3 Views of Family Ministry edited by Timothy Paul Jones from the Perspectives Series. (Read my review here).

Though I ultimately embrace a different model, one book that will need to be considered is Voddie Baucham’s Family Driven Faith. Here he makes a strong case for the necessity of family ministry. I prefer the Family-Equipping model and so I believe that Baucham overstates a few things. However, this is a valuable resource in showing the need for doing family ministry.

Another helpful book is Trained in the Fear of God edited by Timothy Paul Jones and Randy Stinson. This books gives theological, historical, and practical reasons for installing a family-equipping ministry model.

Implementation:

If you have everyone on the same page as to what actually constitutes family ministry, and you everyone decides that the family-equipping model is the best option then you will need to figure out how to implement a family ministry strategy. There is no better book for doing this (from a family-equipping perspective) than The Family Ministry Field Guide by Timothy Paul Jones.

Another helpful resource, though honestly I think you only need Jones’ book, is The Family-Friendly Church by Freudenburg and Lawrence. This book will serve as somewhat of a vision casting book. You will see here what other churches are doing to help equip families for a “home-based, church-supported ministry”.

Day to Day:

You’ve got your family ministry up and running. Now what? Here are a few books that I have found helpful in the day to day operations of family ministry:

Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp (excellent resource for parents of teens)
Family Shepherds by Voddie Baucham (excellent resource for dads especially)
A Parent Privilege by Steve Wright (great reminder of the privilege of parents)
Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick (read my review)

SBTS

I am probably biased on this point. Forgive me. But I do think I am correct. SBTS seems to me to be leading out in the field of family-equipping ministry, thanks in part to the leadership of Timothy Paul Jones. I say this to say keep your eyes open for things coming from SBTS in this field. They are usually pretty high quality and cutting edge in this relatively new perspective on family ministry. One particular resource that you need to subscribe to is Family Ministry Today. This journal will help make you aware of new books in the field of family-equipping ministry as well as various issues that you might have.

Furthermore, I have found the folks at SBTS to be very accessible to the local church. If you have questions that arise during your implementation of family ministry contact the school.

Bottom Line:

If you are lost in all of these suggestions and you really only want to get 1 book get The Family Ministry Field Guide. If you can get two then add the Perspectives book. And be sure to keep an eye on the Family Ministry Today site.

Uncomfortable Grace is Still Grace

I forget if it was college or the latter years of high school. Whenever it was, I prayed something really stupid. You see I looked around at many of my friends that were able to do whatever they wanted to do and it seemed they were able to do it without even a tinge of guilt. Not me. I had what seemed like an angry bear of conviction that would pummel my soul and emotions whenever I would engage in sinful activities. My prayer in that day was that the Lord would simply leave me alone and let me do what I wanted to do without feeling so badly.

Stupid…stupid…stupid prayer. I was basically praying the Lord’s judgment on myself and I did not know it. I was acting like the Lord’s vineyard in Isaiah 5 and praying that the Lord would treat me the same:

    I will make it a waste;
        it shall not be pruned or hoed,
        and briers and thorns shall grow up;
    I will also command the clouds
        that they rain no rain upon it.
(Isaiah 5:6 ESV)

As I read through Isaiah 5 this morning I was reminded of my ignorance. I was painfully reminded that Isaiah 5 ought to be my story. There is absolutely nothing within me that does not deserve to be carried off and banished just as these Israelites were. I deserve for the Lord to not prune me, to lay me to waste, and to have His anger stretched out against me. I even prayed for it.

Thankfully the Lord in His grace disregarded my foolish prayer. He continued to hound me and prune me. He is molding me and shaping me into the creation of His desire. I am a vineyard…a stubborn vineyard…that He is radically dedicated to. Even His dry and painful seasons are meant for my redemption. May I think Him for every moment of His work.

If you are being convicted by the Lord today thank Him for it. Do not be dumb like I was years ago and pray for the Lord to remove His rod of conviction. Thank Him that He is still pruning you. And remember His uncomfortable grace is still grace. 

Today in Blogworld 11.09.12

Cheap eBooks

Adopted for Life by Russell Moore is only $3.03
Modest by Tim Challies and RW Glenn only $2.99
The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Bond and Lawson only .99

Brothers, Train Up the Next Generation

Ministers cannot afford to only be concerned about finishing their own race.  Mike Bullmore shows us the necessity of training up the next generation.

Did God Choose Barack Obama as President?

Dave Miller asks a very good theological question. I think Dave does an apt job of defending his position (and mine). Honestly, I do not see how a contrary position can be ultimately comforting.

Parenting is Hard for a Reason

Parenting is hard. There is a reason for that. Christina Fox explains.

Concrete buffer gone wild.  I’m not sure why I like this so much:

(HT: Patrick Schreiner)

An Slightly Less Than Idiots Guide to Week 10 #NFL Predictions

I changed the title after my stellar 12-2 performance last week.  I missed the Browns upset (almost happened though).  And I was totally off on the Titans surprising the Bears.  Every other game I picked correctly.  I was not so accurate on my other crazy picks—but they are called crazy for a reason.  This week I’m a little less confident in my picks:

Jaguars over Colts
Giants over Bengals
Titans over Dolphins
Lions over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Saints over Falcons
Chargers over Bucs
Broncos over Panthers
Baltimore over Oakland (last second FG)
Jets over Seahawks (surprising blowout)
Cowboys over Eagles
49ers over Rams (close though)
Texans over Bears (blowout)
Chiefs over Steelers (upset of the week)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Jamaal Charles
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Taiwan Jones

Other Crazy Picks:

Blaine Gabbert has a solid line with 300 passing yards and 3 TD’s
Saints beat Falcons after a last second missed FG
Doug Martin is held to under 60 yards
Jets D/ST scores 2 TD’s
Steelers commit enough dumb turnovers to keep KC in the game
Texans offense is shut down but helped by 3 bad Cutler turnovers
175 and 2TD’s for Adrian Peterson
200 and 2TD’s for Jamaal Charles
The Browns don’t lose
If I am wrong and the Chiefs lose, Romeo Crennel loses his job