In the late 1980s a new cultural trend took hold that has continued until today … as a culture we started having babies before we were married. Today, almost half of all babies are born to unmarried mothers, and the median first birth happens around one year earlier in a woman’s life than her median age of first marriage. Some questions this trend has generated in me are:
- Where are the single moms? // Why aren’t there more single moms in my church? What does that say about our ability to reach the community?
- What is “Family Ministry”? // Parenthood has changed. Have our assumptions to what “family ministry” is changed?
- How can we support? // We know that kids born into a strong social network have a better shot at life. Marriage provides one of those social networks … since that is a fraying institution how does the church need to step in and support these families?
Isn’t it hard to hear a message preached against sin, such as fornication or adultery and not feel ashamed?
How do you respond to that teenager, who finds out they were conceived in sin, even though Mom is a Christian now?
The children are so finicky now, with that give it to me syndrome I deserve it
How do we nurture and still must warn the world of sin?
The church today had basically took the stand of: “Don’t mention sin, because it creates a guilt complex.” especially when you have those committing these sins in our churches.
hard heard message is sweet food for the soul Joe Absher
“Humility is the only soil grace can take root.” Andrew Murray
Something missing?
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And WHEN HE IS COME, HE WILL REPROVE the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
It’s always easy to call out someone else’s sin. Here, Jesus, in verse 9. calls unbelief sin.
Unbelief is the damning sin not who’s your daddy. And there’s plenty of unbelief. I’m guessing you won’t have to look far.
“Of sin because they believe not on me” – Jesus words