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Writing to the Youth 

6/26/2016

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CHILDREN, FATHERS, & YOUTH
Terry R. Baughman

“I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.… I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:13–14).

    Each segment of society has their strengths. Children give us joy for life, faith for salvation, and hope for the future. Youth are endowed with energy and strength to accomplish great tasks. Elders are blessed with the wisdom of years and provide instruction and direction for others to follow. 

    The Apostle John focused on the strength of youth in these passages. He wrote to the young and outlined three qualities evidenced in them:
    1. You are strong. The young are physically stronger than any other age demographic. Young men are primarily the ones who enlist in our military and become the soldiers who fight our wars. When there is a job that requires labor and strength the young are recruited and employed. The same attributes have merit in spiritual pursuits, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” (Ephesians 6:10).
    2. The Word of God is in you. Recognize that physical strength is not sufficient for spiritual battles, but through the power of the Spirit and the Word of God. There is no victory that will be denied to those who war in the Spirit.  Paul noted that, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). He wrote in another letter, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Our youth can take dominion in spiritual conflict and be victorious through the power of the Word of God that is resident in them.
    3. You have overcome evil. It is time for the youth to arise and take dominion over the spirits of this age. It is time to take the battles out of the living room and into real life, out of the digital fantasy of video games into the reality of spiritual conflict. Youth can fight this battle. They have the strength to overcome the evil of “this present world” and the blatant evil of this generation. They have the power of God resident in them and the faith to overcome the wicked one.

    In every stage of life we can develop in our relationship with God. John wrote to the children, to the young, and to the elders. He commended them for their devotion, their dominion, and their faith. He left us a pattern to follow (1 John 2:12-14):
    —Be “children of God” in devotion, believing in God for salvation, “Your sins are forgiven.”
    —Be victorious “youth” in dominion, “You have overcome the wicked one.”
    —Be “fathers” or elders in wisdom and faith, “You have known Him who is from the beginning.”

    John did not write to condemn, but to commend the believers. As an elder statesman in the primitive church he writes with conviction and courage to encourage all those who follow Christ. 

Scripture:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 6/26/16

6/25/2016

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Click the link below for a PDF copy of this week’s bulletin:
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Writing to the Fathers

6/19/2016

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CHILDREN, FATHERS, & YOUTH
Terry R. Baughman

“I
 write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.… I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning…” (1 John 2:13–14).

​
As one generation passes off the scene, another rises up to take their place. Children grow to maturity. Young couples become families and middle aged parents become elders. With the passing of the oldest members of the family the next generation is forced to step into the forefront of seniority.

The cycle of life has had God’s promise of continuance ever since the destruction of the antediluvian world, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). God set a rainbow in the clouds as a reminder of His promise and said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations” (Genesis 9:12).

God’s plan and promises never cease. He is the one eternal God and His bond is His word. He does not depend on the frailty of humanity to guarantee His covenant or to uphold His commitments. The writer of the Book of Hebrews stated, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself” (Hebrews 6:13).

Our assurance of God’s perpetual promises is based on the immutability of His character and the consistent evidence of His eternal existence. There is steadfast confidence in our elders as they rely on their knowledge of the One “who is from the beginning.” Those who know God recognize their dependence on Him. He is the only One “from the beginning,”the sole guarantor of His everlasting word.

Fathers who seek God will find Him to be a source of strength as they provide leadership for their families. As much as fathers wish to be trustworthy, dependable, and honest in their leadership, they will sometimes fall short of their aspirations. Fathers who learn to lean on God will find they will be more consistent as they understand the true source of faithfulness is their trust in God, the One who is greater, stronger, older, and wiser than us all.

Fathers who respect God will earn respect of those they lead. Authority comes to those who learn submission. Submission produces humility. As we begin to humbly submit to our authorities others will find they are able to trust us with their submission. Paul pointed to the submission of Christ as our example, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us”(Ephesians 5:1–2). He continued with instructions to the family order, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1–4).

Fathers who love God are worthy of special honor today and always.
​
Scripture:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 6/19/16

6/18/2016

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Writing to the Children

6/12/2016

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CHILDREN, FATHERS, & YOUTH
Terry R. Baughman
“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. … I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father” (1 John 2:12–13).

John was the elder statesman, the patriarch of the Apostles and the only surviving member of the original Twelve. He wrote as a father to his children. It was an endearing and instructive letter meant to be shared with the believers of many congregations. He wrote of the light that had come into the world, of the love of God, and redemption from sin. Some passages sound like a reflection on his earlier Gospel and emphasize the purpose of Christ’s message, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

John wrote to the children of God who had come to know the Father and had been forgiven of sins. John warned them to refrain from sin, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.” Then he offered a remedy for sin, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

Fathers are vital in the spiritual growth and development of believers. There is God-ordained authority vested in Fathers. Society and culture have attempted to minimize the role of fathers and blurred the lines of distinction between the sexes. In an effort to bring equality the unfortunate result has been the devaluation of men and the deterioration of the family unit. Coming back to biblical patterns and the teaching of spiritual principles will enhance the family structure and restore the divine order in our families.

Fathers must be respected in the family structure and they must take responsibility for the leadership of their homes and children. Paul also wrote as a father to the Corinthian believers saying, “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.” Paul was concerned that, “You do not have many fathers” (1 Corinthians 4:14–15). The role of the father must be restored to bring harmony to the family unit.

In our culture there are many broken homes, divorces, and blended families. There is no easy fix and it will always be less than perfect. However, fathers can begin by taking responsibility for their children, seeking to spend time with them and giving them the attention they crave. If a father finds himself in the position of leading other children (rather than his own) he can still be a positive leadership mentor in their lives. Mothers should attempt to bring the father (or a father figure) into the circle of influence for their children. Children should be taught to respect their fathers and honor those in leadership over them. From the most basic pattern of leadership and respect that is fostered in the home, a child will grow to understand the love of the Heavenly Father and the value of obedience to Him.

The Gospel message begins at home and the knowledge of God is seen through the family. Let the love of God be experienced as we love our children, our families, and others.
​
Scripture:
“My little children, … if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 6/12/16

6/11/2016

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To Learn 

6/5/2016

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MEMORIALS THAT MATTER
Terry R. Baughman
​

“And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:20–24).
    While memorials serve as a monument for remembrance they also afford opportunities to teach. When we teach there is also the potential for others to learn. Until the lesson is learned we have not adequately taught. Repetition is the key to learning. When we hear a lesson repeatedly there is greater retention and more assurance that the lesson will be learned. 
    Twice Joshua mentions the children in the future asking, “What are these stones?” He mentions it once in verse 6 and here again in verse 21. The double mention lends weight to the importance of the lesson. It was like he was saying, If you didn’t get it the first time let me tell you again! 
    We can learn from the experience of others, both from their mistakes and also from their accomplishments. When others fail in their pursuits and suffer the consequences of their failure a lesson is taught. More than a lesson taught, this is to be a lesson learned. If we learn from their mistakes we can avoid repeating the same errors in our own lives. 
    On the other hand, lessons of faith and victories are memorials from which we can learn valuable lessons. Stories of those who faced difficulties and prevailed serve to build our faith and strengthen our convictions. 
    Joshua summed up the reason for the lesson in the statement, “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:24). Not only can our lives be enhanced by learning lessons of faith from the victories of the past, there is a lesson to be learned by all who hear the story of God’s faithfulness and power. These are lessons that will be extended to “all the peoples the earth.” The learning outcome will be a knowledge of the Lord, an understanding of His might, and a respect for His greatness. 
    Memorial serve as an opportunity to spread the fame of our God. The prophet Isaiah declared the word of the Lord, “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations …, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19). One of the greatest reasons for establishing a memorial of the acts of God is to be a witness to the world and spread abroad His glorious fame. 


Scripture:
“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have” (2 Peter 1:12 NIV).

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    Author

    Terry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ.  See his complete bio at trbaughman.com 

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