Lifestyle Discipleship: Good Followers Make Good Fathers

Blog Admin October 19, 2022

Lifestyle Discipleship: Good Followers Make Good Fathers

By Matt Steele

In his excellent book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp writes:

The only safe guide is the Bible. It is the revelation of God who has infinite knowledge and can therefore give you absolute truth. God has given you a revelation that is robust and complete. It presents an accurate and comprehensive picture of children, parents, family life, values, training, nurture, discipline. All you need to be equipped for the task of parenting.

Brothers, we must be men of the Book if we are going to undertake the task of parenting in a way that honors God and blesses our children. We will not succeed if we parent by our own power.

Pastor John Piper comments, “Dad should take the initiative to make sure that plans, processes and people are in place to build a vision of God, truth and holiness into the lives of the children.” That’s how we bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The great news for all of us is that we don’t do this on our own. We have one another (the Church) for help and support. We are a family together

Let’s look together at just one verse and see what it says about parenting. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN TO ANGER

What are some ways in which it is possible to provoke our children to anger? Inconsistency in discipline is one way. Hypocrisy is another. Whenever someone tells me they have an angry child, I always ask them to tell me about their own anger issues. Our kids will always learn from our example. What are your children learning from you?

BRING THEM UP

This phrase means to provide for, especially with nourishment. We are to raise our children with an overtone of care. This is the same phrase that Paul uses in Ephesians 5:29 when he writes, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.”

Love must be our attitude and posture as we give discipline and instruction to our children. We have an excellent model for how to do this: our Heavenly Father. He is the one who is working all things together for our good. Do our children know that we are attempting to work all things, including discipline and instruction, together for their good? Brothers, if we do this, we will show them what our God is like.

IN THE DISCIPLINE

Discipline is the set of actions that we take in order to give our children the facilities, skills and character to live their lives for the glory of God. This same idea is found in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

It is also found in Hebrews 12:7-8:

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

We show, with our words and our actions, how to walk in a way that is Christ-exalting. We also show the consequences of not doing so. Fathers, if you and I are not students of the word of God, devoted to prayer, and active in Christian community, this task will be too much. We will operate with insufficient power and offer our children nothing but flawed, worldly wisdom.

AND INSTRUCTION

This phrase is not about teaching our children. It is about warning our children. See how it is used in other passages in Paul’s letters:

Colossians 1:28 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all

1 Corinthians 4:14 – I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

We must be actively warning our children of the consequences of living a life without regard for God and His word. If God truly has given us everything we need for life and godliness (and He has) we owe it to our children to give and teach them this insight.

OF THE LORD

Finally, we see the direction we should be pointing our children: the Lord. Our parenting should always be through the Lord, and for the Lord.

Fathers, in order to be active disciple-makers in your home, you must guide all your works and ways by God’s word, depend on God’s wisdom and strength, and make everything in your life about the glory of Christ. The most important work that you and I have to do is raising up the disciples that the Lord has given us in our own homes. Let us live and raise them in such a way that they grow to see Christ as their greatest treasure and the goal of their existence.

Matt and Laura Steele have been married for 24 years. Parents to 6 kids, they are blessed to have both biological and adopted children. The Steeles have also spent time as foster parents. Matt is employed by Cepheid as a Manager of Sales Training and Development, while Laura homeschools the kids. The Steeles are from Texas and moved to Raleigh from Lake Villa, IL. Matt and Laura are graduates of Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Matt has a Masters from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Matt and Laura are certified Biblical counselors.

Discipleship, Equipping Leaders, Lifestyle, Parenting

An Unhurried Life

Blog Admin March 9, 2022

AN UNHURRIED LIFE

By Denise O’Donoghue

Jesus’ life was characterized by an unhurried style of living. Yet he accomplished much. In fact, he accomplished every task he was given by the Father, but he didn’t rush to get it all done. He lived a simple, purposeful, unhurried life. Does that describe your life or my life?

Do any of these words describe your day-to-day life: Busy. . . Over-committed. . . Fast-paced. . . Stressful

Sound familiar? And doesn’t all this perpetuate a life of worry and anxiety?

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

Let’s just take one quick look at a day in the life of Jesus. Matthew 9 tells the story of an important man, Jairus, asking Jesus to come to his house because his daughter was dying. As Jesus was heading to Jairus’ home, a woman from the crowd who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years touched his robe. Jesus, without rushing, immediately stops to engage the woman and heal her. “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (Matt. 9:22). Only then does he continue on to Jairus’ home where we learn his daughter has now died. “Don’t worry,” Jesus tells them, “She is not dead, only sleeping.” Then Jesus takes her hand and tells her to arise.

How would you have responded to Jairus? “Sure, Jairus, I’ll go with you because I don’t have anything else to do.” How would you have responded to the woman? She was clearly another interruption. And even if I handled the situation well, I would be consumed with worry over what I should be doing (you know, my to-do list). I know my answer, and it’s not something to brag about.

What was Jesus’ secret? How did he live an unhurried life that seemed to welcome interruption (a stark contrast for most of us)?

The simple and powerful secret to Jesus’ unhurried life was his closeness to our heavenly Father.

A VIBRANT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FATHER IS KEY

As with any relationship, there are some key ingredients that go into making it a valuable one. You must spend one-on-one time with the person in order to know them, and there must be mutual love between you and them. It was because of Jesus’ love for his Father and vice versa that he was able to accept the Father’s will for his life as his own will. Surrendered completely!

If you’ve ever doubted God’s love for you, let the truth of God’s Word speak to your heart: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” 1 John 4:10. And John 3:16 reiterates this.

So how do we fall deeply in love with God? We do this by spending one-on-one time with him just like in any relationship.

In reading his Word, we come to learn not only who God is, but his character and his will for our lives. His Word is where he reveals himself to us. But we must be willing to invest in the relationship. How much time do you spend each day getting to know the Father and his will for your life?

Jesus clearly knew the Father. In fact, Jesus tells us he came from the Father (John 8:42). Jesus’ knowledge of the Father didn’t keep him from continuing to spend intentional time with him. We consistently see Jesus prayerfully seeking the Father. From Matthew we see some key times when Jesus drew away to be alone in secret with the Father:

In grief, after the death of his cousin, John the Baptist (14:13)
In exhaustion, after a full day of ministry (14:23)
In anguish, when he cried out in to the Father in prayer before his pending arrest, death (26:39, 42, 44)

We know that Jesus prayed and we see in Matthew 6 that he gives instructions for where and how we are to pray—in secret (6:6) and according to the model prayer he gives in 6:9–13.

The secret to an unhurried (unworried) life, therefore, is a relationship with the One who has given us life, loved us unconditionally, and promises to never let us go. I certainly don’t do this perfectly, but I can tell you that my best days are the days that start with one-on-one time with my Father in my secret place.

"The secret to an unhurried (unworried) life, therefore, is a relationship with the One who has given us life, loved us unconditionally, and promises to never let us go."

OUR CHALLENGE

I want to challenge us to examine our lives. Where can we grow our relationship with the Father? Will you identify one change that you are going to make and then ask him to help you? He is faithful and will do this because he desires to spend time in secret with his beloved.

Denise has served as the Director of Women’s Life and Assistant Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she taught graduate courses in ministry to women. Prior to serving at Southeastern, Denise was a student there and earned both her MA in Biblical Counseling and Doctor of Education. Currently, she serves as Director of Counseling Development. Denise and her husband Rod have been married 46 years and have two married daughters and six grandchildren.

Blog, Discipleship, Lifestyle

Striving Together

Blog Admin February 23, 2022

Striving Together- An IDC Blog

By Kent Bass

Welcome brothers and sisters of Imago Dei Church! I’m happy you’re reading this. I know many things vie for your attention. Work, school, spouse, kids, social media, and household chores are probably a small sample of all of the planets orbiting in your universe. While none of those things are inherently bad, any one of them can pull our attention and focus off of thinking deeply about Jesus. Ultimately, your pursuit of loving Christ is why we have started this blog. We know following Jesus is hard. Loving your spouse and children is hard. Loving your neighbor as yourself is hard. Making disciples is hard. Practicing hospitality is hard. Serving needy people is hard. Bearing the burdens of others is hard. However, one of the many great things about the gospel is that we don’t have to do any of these hard things alone. God has given us his word, his Spirit, and his people to equip us for a life of faithfulness.

We want this blog to serve as a regular reminder that you are not following Jesus alone. The gospel creates community. In fact, our “togetherness” is essential for a life worthy of the gospel. Here is what Paul says to the church at Philippi:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (Phil. 1:27-30).

According to Paul, one of the marks of a life worthy of the gospel is togetherness. “Standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for faith in the gospel.” When you read this blog, we want you to remember that your brothers and sisters are striving together with you. Striving with you in your sins and failures. Striving with you in grief. Striving with you in despair and depression. Striving with you in fear and anxiety. Striving with you in broken relationships. Striving with you in chronic pain. Striving with you in evangelism. Striving with you in parenting. Striving with you in spiritual warfare.

Maybe you are reading this and thinking, “I’m not really striving with anyone.” Maybe you are reading this and thinking, “It doesn’t really feel like anyone is striving with me.” If either one of those realities are true, then let me encourage you to press in. Engage the members of your growth group or a pastor. Don’t sit back and wait for someone to figure out that you aren’t ok. Striving requires intentionality, so be intentional.

As you are seeking to strive with others for a life that is worthy of the gospel, let me offer three encouragements.

Encouragement #1- You Can Do This!

Brothers and sisters, God has not called you to a life that you are unable to live. He has graciously given you “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). You have his living and active word (Hebrews 4:12). This word is profitable for you; it makes you complete and equips you for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). You have his Spirit, whom God has given to you as a guarantee of your salvation in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Spirit empowers you to understand the very mind and will of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)! Additionally, you have God’s people, a family of brothers and sisters given to you to encourage you as you faithfully follow Christ. This leads to the second encouragement…

Encouragement #2- We Can Do This!

Isn’t it amazing that we get to follow Jesus together? What a gift! So, let’s live this life of faith together. Let’s grow together (Ephesians 4:1-16). Let’s hurt together (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Let’s rejoice together (Romans 12:15). Let’s love God together (Colossians 3:12-17). Let’s strive for faith together (Philippians 1:27). You are not supposed to do this alone. The God who lives in perfect heavenly community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has called us into community with others. One of the ways we live out the imago dei is through relational engagement with other believers. I know our community isn’t perfect. Imago Dei isn’t a perfect church. I’m not a perfect pastor. But don’t let your differences or the sins of your brothers and sisters push you away. Let’s strive together. Let’s be eager to maintain unity and peace (Ephesians 4:1-3). We need help to do this, and that leads me to my third encouragement…

"You are not supposed to do this alone. The God who lives in perfect heavenly community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has called us into community with others. One of the ways we live out the imago dei is through relational engagement with other believers."

Encouragement #3- God Will Do This!

We don’t serve a god of fragile hopes. We serve the Lord God, who reigns supreme. We serve the God who is doing all the things he has promised us he will do. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Paul continues this line of thinking in chapter two of Philippians, encouraging the believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Because “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Brothers and sisters, God will do this. In light of what God is doing in our midst, let’s strive together for faith. As you read these blogs, we hope you will be encouraged to follow Jesus with your family of faith here at IDC. Let’s be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ together. Let’s grow up into Christ together. He who calls us is faithful; he will surely do it.

Kent is a native of southern Illinois and a graduate of the University of Illinois. He holds an MA in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He met his wife Hope at a Christian sports camp in Pennsylvania in 2007. They got married in 2010 and have three kids: Silas, Anna, and Grace. He is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and loves talking about the intricacies of the golf swing. As a pastor, he loves having a front-row seat to watch how Jesus transforms people’s lives.

Blog, Community, Discipleship