Posts by Stephen Baxley (Page 2)

When Anger Rears Its Ugly Head

Dear parents, This week in our Going Rogue series, we focused on anger and how it can destroy us from within, as well as injure people and things around us. The reality is that many good people lose control of their anger, and the results have varying degrees of consequence. Students discussed how anger most…

MIRACLES OF JESUS: Changed Lives

Dear parents, Jesus once told a parable about four types of soil that received good seed. Only one produced something fruitful. When Jesus works in our hearts, growing our faith in him and producing “fruit,” that’s truly a miracle. This week we wrapped up our series on Jesus’ miracles by talking about the miracle of…

MIRACLES OF JESUS

Dear parents, Being a Christian isn’t always easy. Cultural bullying occurs when people speak up for and follow Jesus. So Christians can be hesitant about diving into our faith’s more spectacular components. Jesus’ miracles seem to fall into that category. Although Jesus regularly did tangible miracles that blew people’s minds, we often struggle to grasp…

YOU’VE HEARD IT SAID… Lesson 3: Promises

Dear parents, We’re continuing a series that compares what culture tells us and what Jesus tells us. This week, we explored Matthew 5:33-37, where Jesus challenges our assumptions about making and breaking promises. Most people realize it’s wrong to break a vow, but students talked about how Jesus considers exaggerated promises just as sinful. At…

Dealing with Doubts: Lesson 3, Personal Pain and Determined Faith

Dear parents, Sometimes doubts need rational answers; those doubting sometimes benefit from wrestling with sound assertions and reasoning provided by Scripture, theology, science, and Christian apologetics. But sometimes the last thing a doubter needs is an “answer.” What he or she really needs is the loving presence of Jesus—because when doubts are caused by deep…

Lesson 2: Questions as a Pathway of Discipleship

Dear parents, Lots of factors can contribute to the doubts and spiritual questions teenagers face. Some are logical arguments posed by atheist friends, like “Where is the scientific evidence that God exists?” Some are philosophical questions stirred up by hard-to-face tragedies, prompting thoughts like, “If God is love and is all-powerful, then why did he…