Bible Studies & Teachings for Parents and Families
"He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Malachi 4:6
Join us for a Bible Study! Come up higher. Get edified. Receive peace and knowledge. Get wisdom. Be refreshed and rejuvenated. Seek the truth and grow. Then, be ready to share your experience and your growth with others. Pass on the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Scroll through the topics listed below and when you find one that piques your interest, click on it and dig in - enjoy. We hope you will download our mobile app and continue to join us each week as we continuously add more and more teachable content daily!
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2
BE GRACE TO YOUR WORLD!
GET THIS! We can't lose Grace; it's just not possible! Grace is the unearned and unmerited FAVOR of God! You can't earn it, so you can't lose it!
John 14:16 - "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;"
MONDAY: The Grace Space
TUESDAY: Grace and Mercy Meet and Reflect God's Love
WEDNESDAY: What Does Grace Look Like?
THURSDAY: What Does Grace Cost Us?
FRIDAY: Restoring Your Grace to Become Grace to Your World
Laying Our Life Down as a Living Sacrifice
But How? How to Love God above all things! Again, the Bible is clear on this subject. The Bible tells us that there is nothing that compares to God... nothing, not even close. And, without a doubt, I agree - without hesitation.
"and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31.
Tuesday's Message: Through Grace We Can Love Anyone, Starting With Ourselves
Wednesday's Message: The Purpose of Righteousness - Called as Ambassadors of Reconciliation
Thursday's Message: What Does Love Require - Only to Receive
Friday's Message: Laying Our Life Down as a Living Sacrifice
You Already Have Everything, God Did It All For You Through Grace!
Grace Supplies Everything, Forever!
Yes, according to the Word of God, we already have everything we will ever need, all provided through the Grace of God. Jesus is the Grace of God poured out and offered as a gift offering to be received. So our job is simple, RECEIVE Christ and be SAVED!
Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"
Monday - The Best News Ever!
Tuesday - When Does Eternal Life Begin?
Wednesday - What is a Sinner and Why Does It Matter?
Thursday - If I Do Not Have Love?
Friday - I ALREADY HAVE IT! GOD DID IT ALL
I Am Blessed if I Am In Christ, Period!
The word "Blessed" is one of those fantastic, grandiose words tied directly to the quality of our lives. Similar words would be "air," "food," and "shelter," as they are right up there with the importance of our being "blessed." The truth is, and even Wall Street knows, we all want to be blessed!
1 Thessalonians 5:23 - "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (BLESS) you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
MONDAY: When “Nothing” is Our Truth
TUESDAY: Bless Those Who Curse Me?
WEDNESDAY: When Your Enemies Are Thirsty, Give Them Living Water to Drink
THURSDAY: What is Truth?
FRIDAY: I AM BLESSED IF….
Finding The Absolute Goodness of God (Grace, Mercy, Good, Goodness, Loving Kindness, Kindness)
We recommend you savor these Scriptures, read them yes, but really soak on them and make them yours. Memorize them if you must, but certainly meditate upon them constantly. These Scriptures reflect the TRUTH and REALITY for every believer. Read More...
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
Study and Meditate and Pray Scriptures of Grace
Read and Soak and Meditate on Grace Scriptures - Grace is a FREE GIFT of God’s supernatural Favor and Merit and Power represented as the Absolute Goodness of God. Read, meditate, and pray these Scriptures daily and come to know the Grace of God. Read More...
â??â??Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Love God and Your Neighbor Above All Things
Most mature Christians know the Scripture "Mark 12:30" by heart. But do we really know it? Seriously, do we really know what it is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do we even stop to think about it? What about Mark 12:31? Do we believe we can love our neighbor as ourselves? Is it possible? What would it look like to fulfill both verses, 30 and 31, in your life if it is possible? Read more...
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
The Purpose of Seeking Righteousness
We Are Called to Be His Ambassadors of Reconciliation. God has made "Believers" righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ so that His love for All man could be displayed through us IN faith.
It's for His glory and our redemption through His grace. Meaning, through God's free gift of love for us (grace), His sacrifice of love, we ARE reconciled to God. And, having been reconciled to God through Grace, we received the complete wholeness from God (meaning we are made whole and complete, lacking nothing).
But, more importantly, God wants us to be His messenger of His love to the world as if God was reconciling the world to Himself through us, in grace. Read more...
"that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19
Through Grace, We Can Love Anyone Starting With Ourselves
Receiving the Grace of God requires us to know "grace" is a gift from God and it is nothing we can ever earn or deserve or capture on our own. We can give Grace once we've received it, and giving grace is a good thing. So, receiving all the grace we can get on a daily basis is one of our highest priorities, or it should be! Can you imagine? Read more...
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
What Does Love Require? Only to Receive It!
Love does not require anything from us; love is a gift given to us by God; it is something we are to RECEIVE from Him.
Love is a funny thing. As it pertains to COST or REQUIREMENT, true love will cost you everything. However, if you are truly willing to "LOVE," it means you are willing to lay down everything for the best interest of others. Read more...
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you... This I command you, that you love one another." John 15:12-14,17
Laying Our Life Down as a Living Sacrifice
But How? How to Love God above all things! Again, the Bible is clear on this subject. The Bible tells us that there is nothing that compares to God... nothing, not even close. And, without a doubt, I agree - without hesitation. Read more...
"and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31.
Are You Weary, Going From One Crisis to Another
THEN, BY ALL MEANS, GET SOME GODFIDENCE! Perhaps you are even in a crisis right now, a big crisis. “Crisis” plus “weary” is not good. Not a good combination for anyone, especially a parent of a troubled child. Perhaps life has hit you hard, and you feel confused and lost as you live in endless chaos. If that’s you, you are not alone. But don't expect to stay there, we can help!
Based on your past experience, you know that to get through your current crisis, you must have plenty of strength and power, or you'd better have plenty of outside help. Read more...
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Are You in a Crisis?
Being Godfident is to live by faith in the absence of fear. Where faith exists, fear flees - it has to! In fear there is no faith, faith can’t exist in the presence of fear. It's one or the other!
Being Godfident and having Godfident children should mean everything to us, it does to me. Being Godfident grants us God’s kind of peace, the peace that goes beyond our understanding.
Placing our confidence in God’s ability and His plan and His purpose for our lives casts out all fear! Fear and faith cannot coexist. To receive God’s righteousness as a free gift of faith, means we trust in what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ. Read more...
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Are You Godfident and Do You Practice Godfidence
Being “Godfident” means one believes in the word of God, every word, and they believe it with all their heart. A Godfident person believes that God loves them unconditionally, and He’s already provided everything they will ever need IN Christ.
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20
Having “Godfidence” is believing salvation has come through Jesus alone, it came as a free gift of GRACE from God, WHILE simultaneously losing all faith in one’s own ability to EARN salvation. Read more...
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:27
Better Decisions Fewer Regrets by Andy Stanley
As the old adage goes, “good decisions lead to better decisions.”
It's no secret that the decisions we make in our lives determine the direction and quality of our life. These can range from simple to complex and cover a wide range that makes up the entirety of our lives: from relationships, finances to career moves, and everything in between. All it takes is just a few good or bad choices to completely change our lives for the better or, as Andy Stanley adamantly warns his readers, for the worst.
But what if we expound on this notion to its truest and most philosophically grounded roots? Surely making "better decisions" to better oneself is simplistic as it is arbitrary, right?
Yet, as Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets informs its reader, when approached with authenticity, willingness to break beyond one's metaphysical hang-ups, and truly explore life's most profound yet seemingly unassuming questions, a person can truly grow in ways they could never have otherwise imagined. Read more...
This is Andy Stanley’s basis for ‘Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets,’ in a nutshell.
The Clearview Parent Survival Kit
Get a new understanding of the “crisis.” Get a new heavenly perspective. A new attitude. Counterintuitive: GIVE yourself through a crisis.
Two kinds of CRISIS. A personal self-caused crisis that generates grief through unbelief and doubt and scarcity thinking, AND, the kind of CRISIS that happens whenever the Kingdom of God is Advanced on earth. Advancing the Kingdom of God will guarantee to create CRISIS. Read more....
You are not alone. Partner with the Absolute Goodness of God. Phil 1:6. Rejoice always. Do not let your heart be troubled. 2 Tim 2:11 and Romans 6:8. Living beyond yourself, living beyond your crisis, living through the crisis.
What is a Christian Parent to Do with a Rebellion
What You Can Do with Your Rebellious Teen! Let us cut right to the chase. What troubles Christian parents most is when their rebellious teens reject not only the church, but also God.
Even though the Bible says not to, we cannot help but fret about their salvation. We blame ourselves. We wonder what we did wrong. And we wonder what we can still do… if anything. Read more...
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20
Suffering, "It's In the Script" and God Has a Plan to Redeem It
What are you willing to do to serve others? So, are you ready to serve others and give away what you have received? If your sins have been canceled by Grace, is it time to go share the good news to others who need good news? How else will the lost be found?
Why don't we share the good news of the Gospel with others, especially those who are suffering? Is it that we fear rejection? It is for me.
I also struggle with my worthiness. Why would someone listen to me, especially those who hate Christians and despise what I stand for? Read more...
“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Colossians 2:13-15
What Are You Willing To Do To Serve Others
How far are you willing to go in your service to others? So, are you ready to lead others to find and receive the total cancelation of their sins? If your sins have been canceled, it's time to go spread the good news, right? It's time to take on the sufferings of Christ in the service of others.
Billy Graham once stated, “The record of our bad deeds, including our defective good deeds, along with the just penalties that each of us deserves, must be blotted out–not balanced!"
This is why Christ suffered and died so that we would be saved. Jesus willingly endured the suffering of my damnation and yours so that we could be saved. Now, can we do the same for others? Can we love those who hate us? Can we serve those who despise us and say and do all kinds of things to harm us? Read more...
“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Colossians 2:13-15
Can We Be The Example of Love, Compassion, and Kindness - BEING KINDFUL
Jesus, our perfect example of love, compassion, and kindness. Look around you. What do you see? I see opportunities everywhere. In all the chaos and uncertainty in our country and around the world, I see nothing but opportunity.
I see the opportunity to share the love of Jesus to a hurting world! Can we hold on to and focus upon love, compassion, and kindness in the midst of the storm, in the middle of the battle, while being attacked from inside and out? I hope so because more "love" and "compassion" are what the world needs more than ever! Read more...
"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20
Where is God When We Get Sucker Punched By Life?
This is the second of ten articles exploring the purpose of, and reason for, “suffering.” My hope is that you will take this deep dive with me and actually add to the discussion.
I believe we can learn from each other IN LOVE, and I certainly don’t have all the answers.
“Suffering” is not a fun subject, but it gets at the core of eternal life. So, in other words, it’s important, and "in suffering" God promises us that we find freedom. Read more...
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." John 14:12
Suffering... Why Must it Happen This Way?
Why is there suffering? This is the first of 10 articles where I hope to get into a deep discussion with you regarding the meaning and purpose of suffering. Specifically, your suffering.
Have you ever been let down by someone you loved and trusted? Of course, you’ve been let down! Just like me and everyone else, you too have been let down by someone you trusted, even loved. But why? Why does God allow it?
According to the Apostle Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians, Jesus suffered so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. At least we know why Jesus suffered! Jesus, being filled with the love of God suffered out of His love for us! Read more...
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
Pondering 2020 as We Move Forward Boldly in HOPE for 2021
The importance of looking back, albeit briefly, so we can focus on what we've learned. As I look back on 2020 I definitely see the Lord's Favor! Yes, I see the Lord's Favor in 2020 and I expect it to continue strong into 2021!
"What? Are you crazy?" No, I am not crazy. Let's go back a few thousand years. Let's think about how Jesus' disciples must have felt seeing their Lord arrested, tortured, and crucified. "It was not supposed to go down like this!"
Let's put ourselves at the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus some two thousand years ago and speculate upon how His disciples must have felt. Can you imagine what they must have felt after Jesus was crucified? I can't, but if I could I might have felt their great sense of loss. But was it? Read more...
"To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn," Isaiah 61:2
I Woke Up Like This
I woke up like this, by Levi Lusko while preaching at Elevation Church. If you woke up today, you woke up with God's favor - period, it's a fact.
God’s favor isn’t limited by us or by our failures, as a matter of fact, there is no limit to God's favor. God loves to lavish us with His favor, so if you woke up today you can honestly say, "I am blessed, and, I woke up this way. Meaning, I didn't do a single thing to earn or deserve God's favor, but I am definitely "favored" and the evidence is overwhelming!"
The truth is that our failures in this life have no impact on God's favor, and sometimes the more we fail the more we see God's favor. Read more...
We learn about Jacob in the book of Genesis. Jacob, as we come to learn was the second born twin of Isaac, and Isaac was the chosen son of Abraham. Basically, Jacob was the twin brother of Esau, the firstborn grandson of Isaac.
The Secret to Joy by Ben Courson
Philippians 1:3-5... The Secret to Joy! Joyful prayer is the secret to being filled with joy. Being in the presence of God is joyful, praying for others in the presence of God is also "joyfilling."
Let's get real, everyone is looking for the "secret" to Joy. Everyone wants joy, great joy even. And, if you have some joy, it seems you'll always want more - and that's not a bad thing. It's all right to seek and receive more joy! As a matter of fact, there is no limit to how much joy one person can have, so seek all you can get!
Even though everyone seems to want more joy, some people claim to be joyless. Some people look to be joyless. The joyless people consider themselves blessed to receive any level of joy, even if it's rare. Read more...
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10
What is God's Will for My Life?
The Big Question... What is God's Will for Me?
The answer to the biggest question of all time, which is "what is God's will for my life," is simple. We are to give thanks, to be grateful, and live a life of gratitude! Seriously! It's that simple.
"in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
So, What is my purpose? It's to give thanks! Do I have a destiny? Yes, you do, and it is too 'give thanks continually!'
Seriously, "Why am I here, why do I exist, and is there a plan? The answer is an emphatic YES! It is to give thanks and be grateful and to live a life of gratefulness! Read more...
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;" Hebrews 12:28
We Can Have the Joy God Wants For Us
Is This You? You look in on your sleeping baby one night, and you are filled with bliss beyond imagination as you watch his or her tiny chest rise and fall with each tender breath.
You cannot believe how blessed you are to have such a beautiful gift in your life, and you profusely thank God.
Then suddenly, a thought of doubt interrupts your reverie. You wonder if you are up to the task of raising this baby, followed immediately by a memory of something someone told you about crib death.
In a panic, you check again to see if your baby’s chest is actually rising and falling as you thought. You watch for moments, even doubting what you are seeing, checking again and again... Read more...
“As children, we learn to armor ourselves against being vulnerable…in adulthood, we have to show up and let ourselves be seen. To do so, we have to take our armor off and put our weapons down.” Dr. Brene’ Brown, The Power of Vulnerability
Pastor Furtick Has it Right; We are BETA Blessed
“The doctor told my mom and dad I would not make it through the night.” Barron, M.D., Riverside General Hospital, 1957
64 years ago, just past midnight, after hours of trying to protect both my mom and me from a disastrous birth after only 7 months of pregnancy, the doctor told my mom and dad I would not make it through the night.
Cries of denial and unrelenting tears accompanied nurses when they placed my tiny 3-pound body into an incubator, fully expecting to have to arrange for disposing of my remains before the sun would dare to rise.
My mom tells me it was nearly two months later before they could bring me home from the hospital. She said I guess, God had other plans. Read more...
“We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
For We Are His Workmanship His Masterpiece
On January 1st, a student walked into the open doorway of my office and asked if she could “hang out.” My office is more like a conference room; it's huge.
I had plenty of other things to do, and none of them required complete privacy, so I said, “sure.” My door is always open.
The student sat on the couch across the way and began working on an art project she had to do for a group. The office was quiet except for the sounds of my typing and the crackling of the fireplace. Read more...
"and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:19
The Cure for Entitlementitis
What is Entitlementitis? Entitlementitis is the belief that one has “special inherent rights and privileges over everyone else and is constantly deserving of special treatment even at the expense of others without conscious.” One with “Entitlementitis” is blinded to the detrimental damage of their perpetual state of selfishness.
The Cure for Entitlementitis is to Create, Establish, and Sustain “Kindfulness." Everyone is "entitled" to some degree, and no one escapes the battle. No one escapes the negative impact either. Entitlementitis is not a disease that affects the Clearview students only, no way. Entitlementitis infects and impacts everyone, including parents, staff, and even you. Read more...
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
The Cure for Entitlementitis Part 2
A Continuation from "The Cure for Entitlementitis" (Part 1) If you have not done so already, go read the first article titled, "The Cure for Entitlementitis." It's a good read.
From Part 1 we learned that "Entitlementitis" is the belief that one has “special inherent rights and privileges over everyone else and is constantly deserving of special treatment even at the expense of others without conscious.” One with “Entitlementitis” is blinded to the detrimental damage of their perpetual state of selfishness.
In Part 1 we also touched upon the cure for Entitlementitis, which is to Create, Establish, and Sustain “Kindfulness!” In Part 1 of "The Cure for Entitlementitis," we concluded that "Entitlementitis" cannot live and is not welcomed in a culture where people truly love one another and lift each other up above themselves.
And, because of the potential "eternal" outcome, we drew the conclusion that it is very important that EVERYONE knows the truth (How to fight to win) about selfishness and freedom in Jesus. Read more...
"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." James 2:26
An Open Discussion About Race and the Christian Faith
The topic of race is an inherently polarizing and challenging subject to talk about openly. Please make no mistake, while it may be uncomfortable, It is a subject that must not be avoided.
For far too long, those of us who are white, in particular, have avoided the very mention of race because it invokes the inevitable discussion of racism in and outside of the church. While many of us find the very notion of judging another person based on the color of their skin to be repugnant, we must not rest on our views and personal laurels and act as if the topic of race relations -- namely, how minorities are mistreated, even within the walls of the house of God -- isn't a systemic and cultural issue. Read more...
"We, as Christians, are in a polarizing and divisive time in our nation's history. But political leanings, parties, and infighting aside, there's one thing we as followers of Jesus must all agree on: there is no room for racism in the Christian faith." Micah 6:8
Praying Healing Scriptures
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10
“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” — Psalm 30:2
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” — James 5:14-15
Read more...
“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD…” — Jeremiah 30:17
Pray Deliverance Scriptures
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalms 34:4
Read more...
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17
MORE BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER RESOURCES
Scriptures Testifying to The Absolute Goodness of God
