Parenting isn’t easy work—we all know that. But what a lot of parents think is even harder is parenting discipleship. God has entrusted parents to be the main faith shapers in their children’s lives, and that vocation can often seem to be a daunting task. In Proverbs,  God commands parents to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). While it is clear that the job of discipleship and faith leadership is a vocation given to parents, how can the church help parents in this way?  

Hosting VBS comes with many steps: budgeting, planning, strategizing, promoting. But all of it is worth it when we think about why we do it and the impact it has on our community, bringing more people to learn about Jesus and grow in their faith! As you jump into the details of your VBS, here are some helpful tips and tricks to consider.

Second and third graders and their parents look throughout their home for pens, pencils, highlighters, and sticky notes as they prepare to dig into the Bible together at home—along with other families in their church at the same age and stage! This is just one of the ways churches can engage families in the time after their child is baptized and before their child is confirmed. This is what Milestone Ministry is all about.

In a recent Barna webinar, David Kinnaman said that the two words that best describe Generation Z (those born from around 1996 to 2010) are anxiety and ambition. The church is uniquely qualified to speak to both. Youth and young adults are looking for a source of identity they can trust and a purpose for their daily work. We know that God provides both in their baptismal identity and in our vocational theology.

One of my favorite parts of teaching church history to high school students is assigning primary sources and hearing or reading their reactions. Works like Athanasius’s On the Incarnation, Augustine’s Confessions, or Eusebius’s Church History often intimidate students initially. But there’s nothing like the moment when a student opens a presentation, sometimes with a hint of surprise in their own eyes, with “I found this incredibly relatable.” I can never hide my smile. 

Get ready to explore amazing animals, lush landscapes, stunning sea life, and wondrous wilderness this summer at Vacation Bible School. During Epic Australian Adventure: An Unforgettable Journey with Jesus, children will learn what Jesus said about Himself in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Let’s journey through each of the resources that come in the Epic Australian Adventure Starter Kit.

As a part of my blog series about church history figures, I’ll be introducing Ambrose, a remarkable man who served as bishop of Milan from AD 374 to his death in AD 397. Read on to discover the hidden gems in the life of Ambrose.

The end of the year ushers in an exciting time for all ages. We join in the history of awaiting the coming Savior during the season of Advent and then celebrate His birth during Christmas. When it comes to teaching about this time, here are four accounts you can use to teach the Christmas story to children and youth in fun and interactive ways with Christmas Lessons – Enduring Faith^® Bible Curriculum.

Healthy youth ministry extends past the congregation and into teens’ homes. When we considered what young people need, Scripture, research, and youth leaders all pointed to parents as paramount. Parents are gifted with the role of primary instructor and example for their children in the Christian faith. In healthy youth ministry, engaged parents are seen as partners. Youth leaders communicate, support, and train parents as together they look to help young people be disciples for life.

If your experience is anything like mine, you look around the world today and see a culture increasingly hostile to Christianity. Something as simple as a trip to the local library with the kids has shifted in recent years from a pleasant morning out in the community to an aggressive confrontation with anti-Christian ideology.