Faith Nurture

Sometimes discipleship feels like an ideal, rather than a tangible part of everyday life. These five actions will help change that as you spell out, then live out, what it means to be a disciple in your personal life, church, and community.

Perhaps the idea of Jesus having already forgiven me is much preferred to the experience of actually being forgiven — the exposure, the helplessness, the realization of repentance that this free gift requires in order to be received. 

Scripture and the church have always taken a dim view of flattery also because it perpetuates the deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins: pride. Flattery, in short, is deadly for the giver and the receiver.

We watched as the master glass-blower took a shapeless, ordinary-looking piece of glass, subjected it to the intense heat of a fiery furnace, and transformed it into a beautiful work of art.

Under stress, caregivers often let their needs slide. At times I feel overwhelmed and resentful, utterly exhausted physically and emotionally. The good news is that our love not only survived but grew deeper. 

Faith Formation Ministries is excited to connect with all who are passionate about children's ministry at Inspire 2019. Workshop topics include choosing curriculum, building a strong foundation for children and youth ministry, and more! 

From California to Thunder Bay, ON, God is at work in mighty ways and Faith Formation is grateful to be a part of it. Here's a glimpse of how we've seen God moving!  

Many of our senior high school students are getting ready to celebrate graduation! So how do we as a supporting church community celebrate with them? Here are a few ways I've seen churches do this well. 

I wonder how many times you have experienced the “Saturday emotions” of the disciples when your hopes are dashed, the future is scary, and grief and disappointment abound. 

During the past four weeks I’ve led four Sabbath prayer retreats: two for church councils on different ends of the continent, one for a CRC Classis, and one for the staff of a Christian High School.

The third annual 'Distinctively Healthy' Church Event at Grace Fellowship CRC in Pella, Iowa, focused on this idea and the need for churches to be intentional about intergenerational ministry.

I remember many years ago leaders in church saying that if anyone was discouraged or depressed, they must not be a true believer in God.  How wrong and presumptuous to think that the difficulties of life can’t and won’t weary anyone, including a hearty saint!