Crestwood Church Blog

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace Hebrews 13:8-9

Ever since the beginning of time, mankind has been led astray by false teaching or by Satan himself. The lies started at the dawn of time in the garden of Eden. The serpent said: "Did God really say...?" bringing doubt and confusion to man, who fell because of it.

Israel was led astray over and over again, even by High Priests who were in privileged positions. The early church went through many difficulties with heresy and doctrinal divisions.

Peter writes: "...but there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them...Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money."

The bible gives us clear ways of discerning who these people are. They may:

• Teach destructive heresy
• Deny the truth about God
• Live immoral lives
• Slander the truth
• Make up lies to get hold of your money

"I am the Lord, and I do not change, Malachi 3:6. He will always be the same. His Word and the person of the Holy Spirit will always testify the truth about Jesus.

Labels: Discernment, Falsehoods, Teaching

posted by Andi - Sunday, 4 March 2007, 20:31
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Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Proverbs 22:6

Our children are a gift from God - they are loaned to us to while we have breath. As spiritual parents our duty and our joy should be to train our children in the ways of the Lord.

Here in Proverbs, the bible says to direct your children - this is asking us to lead by example. God directs us and his example is pure and perfect. The more we follow God ourselves the more we can lead our kids into the truth and the right path.

We live in a society that is very impressionable and with so many media mentors and iconic so called 'stars' to follow, our children have a great deal of discerning to do at a very young age! Often they're not capable of making the right choices.

There are so many paths that they can take. Man-made paths lead to ruin, depression, loneliness and bitterness. There is only one true path that will give our children fulfilment for now and for eternity and that is the path that Jesus stands on, saying "I am the way to the Father".

We need to remember that the greatest mentor any child can have, other than the Lord Jesus, are godly family members. Ones that can instruct, guide, discipline and above all, love, for the good of the spiritual health of the child. We need to be showing by our lifestyles the ways of the Lord. This isn't always easy, at times we are unsure of the right way and need to ask the Lord what we should do or say and live by his word. Remember the world is watching what you say and do, but above all, so are your children. Lead them on the right path.

Labels: Children, Parenting, Teaching

posted by Andi - Sunday, 18 February 2007, 21:05
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Today is Kids Sunday at Crestwood Church, a day to celebrate the gift of our children. It is so easy sometimes to forget that the kids are as big a part of Crestwood Church as anyone else. How we bring them up will play a massive part in determining their future.

Can I encourage you to join with the Psalmist and declare: "We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders."

In their youth let's teach them the truth about our Saviour, that they may grow up to know him and serve him. Whether they end up at university, become successful businessmen or go onto become famous in their own particular field, the greatest desire for our children has to be that they might know Jesus as Lord.

Labels: Children, Church, Teaching

posted by Andi - Sunday, 2 July 2006, 11:30
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