Tag Archive - Steve Wright

Connecting Church & Home Conference 2010

August 22, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

I was able to attend portions of the Connecting Church & Home conference at Southern Seminary the past weekend.  I am always encouraged by hearing David Michael, Jay Strother, Steve Wright, and Timothy Jones–four men that I count as models in ministry.  It was also good to hang for a few minutes at the seminary bookstore with my friend Tony Kummer.  Here are some links to his coverage of the conference.

Connecting Church and Home Conference- August 20-21, 2010 from Southern Seminary on Vimeo

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Thursday Book Club: ApParent Privelege

January 28, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

ApParent Privilege. Steve Wright with Chris Graves.  Inquest Ministries: Wake Forest, NC.  175 pages.  $14.99.

Steve Wright, as a follow-up to his book on the new reality in youth ministry, ReThink, spoke directly to parents in his book, ApParent Privilege. Steve, pastor of student ministries at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, along with his wife, Tina, have 3 teenagers under their roof.  In this book, they give practical and theological advice to other parents who are, with God’s help, trying to raise sons and daughters in the 21st Century.  His premise is that the parents hold the biblical mandate to be the primary spiritual shapers (disciplers) of their own children.

From the outset, I would highly recommend (and or give) this book to everyone who is expecting a baby, has a baby, toddler, child, or teenager.  No matter what age, it is never to late to start training your children in the ways of God.  Over the past 2 ½ years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Steve and Tina, and know they practice what they preach. Continue Reading…

Dads, the Old Testament ends with a message for you. God wants your kids. So, God wants you.

December 31, 2009 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Here are the famous final words of the Old Testament:

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.  He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.“  Malachi 4:5-6

One pastor, Steve Wright, observes, “Of all the ways that the Old Testament could have closed, notice how with laser accuracy it zeros in on one particular group–fathers” (ApParent Privelege, 135).  The passage promises a messenger like Elijah who would bring reconciliation of family conflicts within the Jewish community.  And it warns that the land will be cursed if the fathers do not respond to this messenger.  But how will they be cursed?  What is at stake if the fathers disobey?

Throughout the book of Malachi, the prophet has called fathers to turn in repentance toward Him and turn back to their community, their wives, and their families.  The consequences are clear.  By their actions, the fathers will either become a curse and source of warning for their children, or their repentance will be a source of blessing for their children.  And their children will be claimed by God as godly offspring:

“If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.  “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants” (Malachi 2:2-3a)

“The LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.  Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth” (Malachi 2:14b-15)

God wants dads to reconcile with Him and with their families, because he has a claim on their children.  He desires godly offspring.  He wants the next generation to know Him and  treasure Him, keep his commandments, and not forget him.   And family conflict is an obstacle that gets in the way of kids knowing Christ.  Conflict with your spouse can be an obstacle to your kids growing in godliness. Continue Reading…

A Parent’s Influence

December 31, 2009 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

  • An extensive study of 272, 400 teenagers conducted by USA Today Weekend Magazine found that 70 percent of teens identified their parents as the most important influence in their lives. Twenty-one percent said that about their friends (peers), and only 8 percent named the media (from Wayne Rice and David Veerman, Understanding Your Teenager, Lakeside, CA: Understanding Your Teenager Books, 1999, 118).
  • MVParents.com says, ‘Nearly three out of four parents believe their children’s friends and classmates have the most influence… Yet contrary to what parents think, kids say mom and dad have the biggest impact on the choices they make’ (MVParents.com is a web site of the Coors Brewing Company).
  • In a national survey, 1, 129 middle school students were asked what the greatest influence in their life was, and parents topped the list.  The results were: parents–37 percent, friends–22 percent, church–11 percent, youth pastor–7 percent, and music–5 percent.  Adult volunteers, schoolteachers, culture, and the internet each scored 2 percent or less.  A national survey of 923 high school students yielded very similar results (Southern Baptist Convention survey, taken from www.sbcstudents.com/annualsurvey/2007ParentYouthRelationships.pdf).
  • MTV and the Associated Press released a study on influence of parents that said, “So you’re between the ages of 13 and 24.  What makes you happy?  A worried, weary parent might imagine the answer to sound something like this: Sex, drugs, and a little rock ‘n’ roll.  Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.  Turns out the real answer is quite different.  Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question… Parents are seen as an overwhelmingly positive influence in the lives of most young people.  Remarkably, nearly half of teens mention at least one of their parents as a hero” (“MTV and the Associated Press Release Landmark Study of Young People and Happiness” at www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/research).

Research statistics found in Steve Wright and Chris Graves, ApParent Privelege, InQuest Publishing, 2008, pages 17-20.

Gospel-Centered Kids Min @ Band of Bloggers?

April 18, 2009 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Band of Bloggers is “an informal fellowship of gospel-committed writers seeking to encourage faithfulness in what is spoken of Christ while raising the standard of discourse to reflect the character of those called to blog worthy of the gospel to which we have been called.” I’ll be there, along with Sojourn Director of Operations Bryce Butler, Sojourn Director of Communications Bobby Gilles, who blogs regularly at the Sojourn Music site, and our resident video master Drew Layman. If you’re coming, please say “hi.”  This third Band of Bloggers luncheon conference (my first) features some of our favorite bloggers talking about how to blog for the glory of God and the edification of the church, how to improve your writing and make your website more visible, and more.

Speakers for the event are Tim Challies, Steve McCoy, Timmy Brister, Tullian Tchividjian, Mike Anderson, Justin Taylor , Eric Johnson, Owen Strachan, and Tony Reinke.  I’m really excited about one of the free book give-aways, ApParent Privilege by Steve Wright (InQuest Ministries).  From what I hear, this is a great book on family ministry.

What other fans of gospel-centered children’s and family ministry will be at the Band of Bloggers?If you are planning to be there, drop me a line in the comments below. I’d love to meet you.

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