daddy4ms

This post originally appeared at www.1corinthians13parenting.com/blog on November 5, 2014.   As I watch the news and listen to people’s opinions about what is wrong in the world, I can become discouraged. Part of my discouragement comes when I see us dealing with symptoms rather than the root. What do I mean? An example is bullying. This is a real problem. However, will bringing awareness, making posters, role playing, wearing a specific color, or banners on Facebook bring an end to bullying? Maybe. I think we are focusing on the symptom rather than the root. How can parents help our kids get to the root? At Hesston MB where I am a pastor, we have a banner that describes the process of discipleship. This process we discovered by reading DiscipleShift by Jim Putman & Bobby William Harrington 1 . They write, “We see that a disciple is a person who 1. Is following Christ (head), 2. Is being changed by Christ (heart), 3. Is committed to the mission of Christ (hands)....

Today, I am posting over at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting. Check out my post on getting to the root rather than treating the symptom.  I refer to banner in our church and it is posted below. Click here

Let me first state that I am not an expert on this topic.  The counseling community has been doing this for years.  However, when it comes to those in the church, we seem to forget this as we deal with situations and our own sin. What am I talking about?  Fixing symptoms rather than the roots. Three Scriptures that I want to share are: 10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV) 3  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5  We destroy...