Tag Archives: biblical living

Discipline that Develops the Heart

By caryschmidt | August 28, 2010

Ten Biblical Principles for Winning Your Child’s Heart
How do you discipline your children? Here are ten Biblical principles for handling discipline biblically and in a way that truly develops the heart of your child.
Discipline that develops the heart…
1. Is Controlled and Premeditated—It doesn’t fly off the handle or out of control.
Proverbs 16:32, “He that is [...]

Posted in family | Also tagged adolescence, counseling, family, parenting | Leave a comment

Ministry Idea: 3 Questions

By caryschmidt | August 22, 2010

Are you looking for a good way to get to know your students or those to whom you minister? Here’s a quick and simple way to get a glimpse into the heart and cause someone to think more deeply.
This past week, in our 12th grade Sunday school class and at our Single Life retreat, we [...]

Posted in ministry & outreach | Also tagged college and career, counseling, student ministry, teaching | 4 Comments

Who Is Increasing In Your Life?

By caryschmidt | July 30, 2010

The final message of Spiritual Leadership Conference 2010 was brought by Dr. Don Sisk and entitled “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease.” It was awesome! It profoundly impacted me, and I wanted to share a synopsis of it here. Perhaps it will encourage you.
Taken from the statement of John the Baptist in John 3:30, Dr. [...]

Posted in christian life, leadership | Also tagged devotional thoughts, ministry | 3 Comments

Are Revolutionaries Starting to Recant?

By caryschmidt | July 27, 2010

It’s no secret that in the past few years, George Barna and people like him have given up on the local church (the flawed model they invented) and have documented a revolution of people leaving the organized church to simply go and be the church. While there are a lot of biblical problems with this [...]

Posted in ministry & outreach | Also tagged church staff, local church, ministry | 1 Comment

The Road to Adulthood Gets Longer

By caryschmidt | June 16, 2010

New Data on the Growing Distance Between Youth and Adulthood
The New York Times ran a fascinating article yesterday entitled “The Long Road to Adulthood Is Growing Even Longer” by Patricia Cohen. The article reinforces a growing body of research, much of which I wrote about in Life Quest: Braving Adulthood with Biblical Passion. The point [...]

Posted in ministry & outreach, student ministry, uncategorized | Also tagged college and career, counseling, family, parenting, student ministry | Leave a comment

Influence vs. Control

By caryschmidt | June 3, 2010

Sometimes we get mixed up in ministry. We forget that our responsibility is not control it is influence. God never gave us control of people, their lifestyles, or their choices. He created free will, and gives each individual responsibility for their choices. I fear, out of good intentions, some spiritual leaders cross the line and [...]

Posted in leadership | Also tagged counseling, danger, leadership, local church, ministry | 3 Comments

Skeptics, Spectators, and Servants

By caryschmidt | May 19, 2010

In John 11, the amazing story of the raising of Lazarus unfolds. Not long ago, I was studying this passage and it occurred to me that there were three distinct groups of people at this resurrection, and those groups are still pretty much “alive and kicking” in today’s local churches.
Picture the scene—Jesus has waited for [...]

Posted in christian life, ministry & outreach | Also tagged devotional thoughts, leadership, local church, ministry, team | 1 Comment

Three Lost Boys and a Local Church

By caryschmidt | May 10, 2010

A Story of the Power of Local Church Ministry
Opening scene—a young family of five is running late to church on a Sunday morning. Three lost, long-haired, little boys (all younger than seven years) sit quietly in the back seat of the car, while a frustrated mom and dad debate over “why” they are late. The [...]

Posted in family, ministry & outreach | Also tagged devotional thoughts, family, local church | 3 Comments

A Walk Through Divine Artistry

By caryschmidt | April 30, 2010

Fifteen minutes west of our church campus, God does something amazing every spring, and I wanted to share it with you. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and this year in particular it has captivated my attention. Perhaps this devotional moment will encourage you.
After a long winter of excessive rain, the desert has blossomed, once [...]

Posted in christian life | Also tagged devotional thoughts | 3 Comments

Why Young People Stay Faithful

By caryschmidt | April 19, 2010

Have you ever wondered what contributes to young people staying faithful to the things of God, while others wander away? What contributes t0 two kids in the same local church, hearing the same preaching, ultimately going dramatically different directions? Ultimately, it’s free will—everybody makes their own decisions. But what influences those decisions?
One of our youth [...]

Posted in family, student ministry | Also tagged adolescence, family, local church, parenting, student ministry, teaching, teen life | 1 Comment

New Podcast-4 Attributes of a Spiritual Christian

By caryschmidt | April 7, 2010

The April edition of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast has posted from Dr. Paul Chappell. This lesson is entitled “Four Attributes of a Spiritual Christian” It’s a great challenge to Christian leaders, encouraging them to take inventory of their own spiritual lives. This lesson was taught to our staff and served as a great reminder that [...]

Posted in books and resources | Also tagged church staff, leadership, podcast | Leave a comment

To TV or Not To TV?

By caryschmidt | March 29, 2010

To TV or not to TV? Many Christians wrestle with this question. Many choose to not have a TV at all. Others choose to have limited TV and tight controls. Yet others open the floodgates completely. Regardless of where you are on the TV decision, this experience was too powerful not to share.
For several years we’ve [...]

Posted in family, media & tech | Also tagged danger, family, media & tech, technology | 6 Comments

Before You Criticize Your Pastor…

By caryschmidt | March 15, 2010

Ever noticed that some people relish the criticism of pastors? Like kids and candy—they addict themselves even though it’s rotting something in them. While choosing voluntarily to stay under his leadership, they commit themselves to finding and exploiting every possible imperfection. I’ve never understood this thinking. Selecting a pastor, only to proceed to condemn the [...]

Posted in christian life | Also tagged church staff, danger, leadership, local church, ministry, satanic, team | 8 Comments

Great Books for Christian Parents

By Cary Schmidt | March 8, 2010

Frequently someone asks what books I would recommend on youth ministry or parenting. They are generally the same books. While there are some good books on youth ministry, the most helpful to youth ministry are those on the family. Whether you are a parent or a youth pastor, I would urge you to read everything [...]

Posted in books and resources, family, student ministry | Also tagged adolescence, book review, books, family, parenting, student ministry, teaching, teen life | 6 Comments

Andrew Murray on Trials

By caryschmidt | March 6, 2010

This quote about trials from Andrew Murray found its way to me through Dr. Mark Rasmussen. Perhaps it will encourage you!
“First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.”
“Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to [...]

Posted in christian life | Also tagged counseling, teaching | Leave a comment