Thursday Thoughts for Parents: "Look Both Ways"

Thursday parenting featured

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Look Both Ways, given on March 11, 2018.

Imagine a street here in Louisville that your family frequently drives on, and then imagine having to cross that street on foot as a child alone with cars zooming by. Could be dangerous, right? This past Sunday, Pastor CJ shared with us a story from his childhood where he did just that. While he chose to disobey his mother and cross that busy street alone, Pastor CJ was prudent to teach us the importance of not only looking both ways while crossing a street but of looking both ways in our new life in Christ as well. 

For the Christian, it is a matter of critical importance to look back to what Christ has accomplished in His first appearing and to look forward to what will take place when He appears again. By looking both ways we are being graciously trained by God in His School of Grace, in the grace of Jesus that has saved us. Isn’t it a joy and comfort for us to know that the Holy Spirit as our Helper teaches us how to live in a relationship with God. He not only saves us by His grace, but He also trains us by His grace! 

Read Titus 2:11-15 

Discuss:

  • Pastor CJ likened our looking both ways as a Christian as being a pupil in God’s School of Grace. In verse 2, what does our Bible tell us we are being trained to turn away from? In that same verse, what are we being trained to turn to as a Christian?
  • What are some specific ways you see that we as a family are saying, “No” to ungodliness and worldliness? What are some specific ways you see that we as a family are saying, “Yes” to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” in the days we live?
  • What fruit of God’s grace do you see in your family members as they grow in God’s grace? Knowing this, how do you think we might encourage each other to look both ways in Christ this week?

Pray:

Thank the Lord for giving us the gift of His Word to teach us, our pastors to shepherd us, and our Church family to come alongside us as we look both ways toward Christ this week.

 

[Post by Carl Hirst]