Holiday Gift (11-30-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Would you ever consider opening your home to a struggling teenager; especially during the holidays?

The holidays are often one of the most difficult times for families in the process of dealing with a struggling teen. Instead of the blessings of joy and peace, parents deal with daily arrivals of disruption and despair. I’ve often heard parents wish for a place their teen could spend a weekend in order to provide everyone a cooling off period and time to regroup.

A teen spending a weekend with extended family or with adult friends of the family might be the holiday gift the distraught family needs most. It’ll take some carefully laid out ground rules, of course, but the invitation could be a hopeful blessing to the teen and his parents.

WEEKLY: Parents Being Thankful (11-28-2009)

WEEKLY PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Families will always have struggles. There will be conflict and tension in every home. But step back for a few minutes with Mark Gregston and consider the things you can be thankful for as a mom or dad. It’s a refreshing program with special guest, Bill Perkins.

Plead With A Prodigal (11-27-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Theologian John Piper’s once prodigal son, Abraham, wrote “12 Ways to Love your Wayward Child.”

Abraham Piper’s sixth suggestion is:

“Plead with them more than you rebuke them. Be gentle in your disappointment. What really concerns you is that your child is destroying herself, not that she’s breaking rules. Treat her in a way that makes this clear. She probably knows—especially if she was raised as a Christian—that what she’s doing is wrong. And she definitely knows you think it is. So she doesn’t need this pointed out. She needs to see how you are going to react to her evil. Your gentle forbearance and sorrowful hope will show her that you really do trust Jesus.”

>> To see the entire “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child” article, click here.

Receive Mark’s new Ten Ways to Turn Around Your Teen
107-page e-book without cost (PDF or WORD format). Share it with your friends!

Download Now 

Welcome Prodigals Back Home (11-26-2009)

Happy Thanksgiving!

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

John Piper, theologian and author of “Desiring God,” experienced firsthand the trials of the parent of a prodigal son. And it is from that son that we can learn how to love a prodigal back to God.

Piper’s son, Abraham, says this about prodigals:

“Welcome them home. Because the deepest concern is not your child’s actions, but his heart, don’t create too many requirements for coming home. If he has any inkling to be with you, it is God giving you a chance to love him back to Jesus. Obviously there are some instances in which parents must give ultimatums: ‘don’t come to this house if you are…’ But these will be rare. Don’t lessen the likelihood of an opportunity to be with your child by too many rules.”

>> To see the entire “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child” article, click here.

Receive Mark’s new Ten Ways to Turn Around Your Teen
107-page e-book without cost (PDF or WORD format). Share it with your friends!

Download Now 

Setting Expectations Too High (11-25-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Theologian John Piper’s once prodigal son, Abraham, wrote “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child.” Today we’ll mention another of his suggestions to parents.

Abraham Piper’s fourth suggestion is:

“Don’t expect them to be Christ-like. If your son is not a Christian, he’s not going to act like one. You know that he has forsaken the faith, so don’t expect him to live by the standards you raised him with. If he’s struggling to believe in Jesus, then there is very little significance in admitting that his lifestyle is wrong. You want to protect him, yes. But his unbelief is the most dangerous problem—not partying. No matter how your child’s unbelief exemplifies itself in his behavior, always be sure to focus more on the heart’s sickness than its symptoms.”

Pray For And Acknowledge Your Teen (11-24-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Theologian John Piper’s once prodigal son, Abraham, wrote “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child.” Today we’ll mention two more of his suggestions to parents.

In “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child,” Abraham Piper’s second suggestion is:

“Pray for your child. Only God can save your son or daughter, so keep on asking that He will display Himself to them in a way that they can’t resist worshipping Him for.”

And, third, “acknowledge that something is wrong. If your daughter rejects Jesus, don’t pretend everything is fine. Each one will require parents to reach out in unique ways. Never acceptable, however, is not reaching out at all. If your child is an unbeliever, don’t ignore it. Holidays might be easier, but eternity won’t be.”

>> To see the entire “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child” article, click here.

Receive Mark’s new Ten Ways to Turn Around Your Teen
107-page e-book without cost (PDF or WORD format). Share it with your friends!

Download Now

Point Them to Christ (11-23-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

John Piper, theologian and author of “Desiring God,” experienced firsthand the trials of the parent of a prodigal son. And it is from that son that we can learn how to love a prodigal back to God.

When Abraham Piper came back to God, he wrote the article “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child.”

First, he says, point them to Christ. Your rebellious child’s real problem is not their lifestyle. It is that they don’t see Jesus clearly. The best thing you can do is to point them to Christ. It is not a simple or immediate process, but the sins in their life that distress you and destroy them will only begin to fade away when they see Jesus more like He actually is.

>> To see the entire “12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child” article click here.

WEEKLY: When a Parent’s Authority is Lost (11-21-2009)

WEEKLY HALF-HOUR PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Parents today want a great relationship with their child… but many are finding out that being friends with a teen often lessens their authority. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston welcomes special guest, Deedee Mayer in a discussion to help moms and dads who have lost their authority to discipline.

 Receive Mark’s new Ten Ways to Turn Around Your Teen
107-page e-book without cost (PDF or WORD format). Share it with your friends!

Download Now

It Is Up To The Child (11-20-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Parents can teach their children spiritual things, but the decision is ultimately up to the child.  

You may teach your teen everything you know about God, and they can learn the Bible forward and backward, but you cannot force them to believe.  You can be in church every time the door opens and pray for them constantly, but they have free will to choose a different path after leaving home.

Parents must do what they can to influence the right spiritual decision in their children. But God intended for each of us to have free will.  A parent can make the right decision more inviting for the child by genuinely demonstrating Christ’s love and unconditional acceptance.

Distinguishing Between Good And Evil (11-19-2009)

TODAY’S SCRIPT:

Teens are bound to make mistakes; that’s no surprise. What is surprising is the reaction from some parents when their teen messes up.

I wish I could convince parents that parenting is more about teaching excellence than gaining perfection.

Hebrews 5:14 says, “Solid food is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.”

For a teen to understand good and evil takes practice.  For parents, teaching it requires patience and perseverance.  The goal to strive for is a competent, confident and self-controlled young adult, not perfection – because the last time I checked, only God is perfect.