Teach from Love E-Book

Sam Sorbo

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 252

Beschreibung

Learning and transformation happens when education goes beyond books into the heart. Teach from Love is an inspirational and educational devotional for families to explore and embrace the godly qualities we want for our kids (and for ourselves). It contains thirty-six pairs of weekly character themes designed to be read five days a week for the thirty-six weeks of a school year. Each day includes a Scripture, a short reading, a prayer, and two questions for family discussion. Your family will: - Explore Scripture and engage in meaningful discussion. - Grow in godly qualities, discovering how to implement them into their daily lives. - Understand how to deal with less-desired traits. - Learn how they can best imitate and follow Christ. Teach from Love is an encouraging, valuable resource to draw families together and closer to God. Gather for as few as ten minutes or enjoy extended times of family discussion and learning. Pursue true Christian living together, and in the future your children will recall and appreciate this valuable time of connection.

Leseprobe

Sam Sorbo offers brilliant, inspired, and thoughtful devotional reflections in Teach from Love for any family or school group interested in drawing closer to God. I commend Sam and her ability to open up the truth of Jesus Christ and His Word written.

—TED BAEHR, founder and publisher of Movieguide®,chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission,educator, and media pundit

We removed the Bible from public schools but failed to consider how children would come to learn godly characteristics. In this devotional, Sam Sorbo uses parables and Bible stories to introduce strong values for discussion within families and classrooms. Parents, teachers, and school administrators—this is for you!

—EVERETT PIPER, president,Oklahoma Wesleyan University; author, Not a Daycare

Teach from Love is a great devotion for any family seeking to raise godly adults. The verses and questions to discuss with your family during the school year will greatly benefit you and your children’s souls.

—ROBERT BORTINS, CEO, Classical Conversations;chairman, Homeschool Now USA

We have allowed the ungodly to rule! We have allowed them to influence our culture, dictate our norms, and educate our children. We have seen the results and are pushing back the darkness. Sam Sorbo has given us an excellent tool in that pushback. Teaching the way Jesus taught, using parables and stories, Sam allows you to absorb the issues and information deep within your spirit. She provides great insight to equip truth seekers.

—MASON WEAVER, Mason Media Company

Teach from Love is for families everywhere. Sam Sorbo has scratched where most families itch, having created a family devotional that begins and ends with the school year. The chapters are focused, each daily lesson is fully supplied, and every page is designed to instill godly character in the hearts of your children. As a dad who has longed for a resource like this, the search is over with Teach from Love.

—TODD WILSON, founder, Familyman Ministries

Teach from Love empowers today’s Christian family to grow daily in the grace and knowledge of God. Sam Sorbo delivers a powerful, practical tool that’s perfect for kids, families, and classrooms everywhere.

—BILL BLANKSCHAEN, author, co-author ofYou Will Be Made to Care, homeschooling father of six,and former Christian school principal

BroadStreet Publishing ® Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Teach from Love: A School Year Devotional for Families

Copyright © 2017 Sam Sorbo

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5548-2 (softcover)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5549-9 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Stock or custom editions of BroadStreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

Cover design by Chris Garborg at garborgdesign.com

Typesetting by Katherine Lloyd at theDESKonline.com

Printed in the United States of America

17 18 19 20 21 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated to my loving

husband, Kevin, and our three incredible children,

Braeden, Shane, and Octavia.

Contents

Foreword

Welcome

Week 1Boldness and Fearlessness

Week 2Virtue and Moral Excellence

Week 3Attentiveness and Dedication

Week 4Obedience and Devotion

Week 5Loyalty and Faithfulness

Week 6Patience and Self-Restraint

Week 7Thoroughness and Diligence

Week 8Virtue and Purity

Week 9Self-Control and Self-Discipline

Week 10Discernment and Discrimination

Week 11Determination and Drive

Week 12Enthusiasm and Joyfulness

Week 13Humility and Humor

Week 14Faith and Prayerfulness

Week 15Thankfulness and Appreciation

Week 16Honor and Privilege

Week 17Compassion and Care

Week 18Hospitality and Generosity

Three-Week Break

Week 19Decisiveness and Resolve

Week 20Resourcefulness and Initiative

Week 21Truthfulness and Candor

Week 22Orderliness and Management

Week 23Flexibility and Grace

Week 24Reverence and Respect

Week 25Responsibility and Accountability

Week 26Dependability and Reliability

Week 27Contentment and Fulfillment

Week 28Endurance and Fortitude

Week 29Sensitivity and Sympathy

Week 30Forgiveness and Mercy

One-Week Break

Week 31Gentleness and Tenderness

Week 32Creativity and Vision

Week 33Meekness and Modesty

Week 34Justice and Righteousness

Week 35Service and Selflessness

Week 36Wisdom and Insight

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Foreword

I loved school. I was a complete jock, playing football, basketball, and baseball, and also getting in a few rounds of golf when I had the chance. My father was the junior high science teacher, and I had three older siblings go through the system before me, so I was involved even before I got there. I boasted perfect attendance, I drove a powder-blue Mustang that I bought with my paper route money, and I still maintain several of my high school friendships today. To call my high school years the halcyon days of scholarship, sports, and social life might even be an understatement.

My wife, Sam, loved learning but hated the institution. With an exceptional mind, she was bored and reportedly socially awkward, and school became for her a source of anxiety and discomfort. She often stayed home, claiming illness; however, because her grades were excellent, she was never reprimanded.

Our little boy not only took after me with his social skills but also surpassed my highest expectations. He made friends with everyone; in the grocery store, he would strike up a conversation with someone in the vegetable aisle from his seat in the cart. It was with excitement that we sent our oldest child to the local public school. By the middle of second grade, though, we realized that things were not quite what we’d hoped for. The ethics and values Sam and I had learned in school had faded or disappeared, and the academics were less rigorous than we expected. Because we travel a great deal as well, we decided to try home education.

That decision led us on a journey of discovery that continues to inspire and astound us. On this journey, we have come to understand the incredible gifts of moral principles and faith that are frequently overlooked in our schools today. Our shared Christian heritage is something to be treasured, not ignored. Indeed, it is something that requires continual vigilance and nurturing.

Our schools define their goals as “college prep and career readiness,” but is that all we desire for our offspring? There is much more to life than a job, and more to education than a mere career or continued schooling.

This devotional intends to help guide the school family to focus on what God wishes for each of His children, so our kids may discover His purpose in their lives.

Conversation leads to relationship, and relationship is what life is all about. That is the most important thing we can teach our children, so they may find a closer relationship with their Creator in heaven.

Kevin Sorbo

Welcome

Little children, let us not love in word or talk

but in deed and in truth.

JOHN 3:18 ESV

Dressed in a floral shirt and jeans and carrying a giggling toddler on her hip, a harried woman approached the table where I was about to sign copies of my book, They’re YOUR Kids: An Inspirational Journey from Self-Doubter to Home School Advocate. She asked me, “Do you think the schools really aren’t capable of instilling good morals in our children?”

My talk at this church event, explaining the enormous benefits of home education, had run late, and I was just sitting down to sign books. Although my signing line was growing, the woman before me was clearly distraught, compelling me to address her concerns. My brief presentation had not entirely convinced her, so I approached it from a different angle.

“If I enroll my child in art classes, will he learn calculus?”

She looked at me, confused, then shook her head. “No.”

“It’s really that simple. We do not ask the schools to teach anything related to God. On the contrary, schools often teach notions that are antithetical to belief in God, so how will godly values enter the classroom?”

“I don’t know. I guess just by the Golden Rule or something, right? I mean, kids learn kindness and sharing and respect for the teacher and stuff in school.”

“True. That’s mainly true. And it’s true that in art class, my son will learn some math—proportions or geometry, perhaps, but not linear algebra or differential equations. It really just depends on how in-depth you want your children to be with God.”

“Well, maybe they should just get that education at home,” she challenged.

No argument from me on that point. “Of course, you’re right. Education—all education—starts at home.”

Satisfied, she smiled, placed her book on the table in front of me, and asked me to sign it, To Amber, It’s WORTH it! Sam Sorbo.

After that encounter, it dawned on me that there ought to be a training handbook for teaching biblical values to our children on a daily basis. Obviously, the Bible is the best resource on that topic, but sometimes, for busy families, it’s shrewder to have something broken down and organized into little nuggets to chew on each day. All families, whether they home school or enroll their children at some scholastic institution, can and should shepherd their children in morally grounded values and ethics. Private Christian schools and teachers, in general, would similarly benefit from this kind of approach.

I reflected on my class of seventh graders (I shepherd a Challenge A class through Classical Conversations, a national home school program, one day each week). I write a word on the board that expresses a moral characteristic, and we begin our weekly full-day seminar with a short devotional. First, I ask the class for definitions of the word, and then antonyms. These I also write on the board, then I take all suggestions from the students, encouraging them to simply blurt out their ideas. I call this workshopping the concept. Once we have a comprehensive understanding of the moral quality, we examine what it looks like in practice, and also how life appears when this characteristic is absent.

Through workshopping the word patience, I discovered that anger is its opposite. Think about that for a moment. What a revelation my students presented me!

The value in this study seems indisputable, but organizing it was my next hurdle. I intended this book to correspond with the school year. Therefore, there are thirty-six chapters for that many weeks. I have chosen seventy-two character qualities that any Christian should strive to exhibit, organizing them into groups of two for each week.

Why two? God gave us two eyes for binocular vision and two ears for surround sound, affording us enhanced perception of His three-dimensional world. Using two words encourages intense comparison and more profound discussion.

Challenge your children to contribute to the exploration of these terms and why God honors them. Select a time when you can regularly find fifteen minutes to pursue this devotional: early morning, peaceful evening, or quiet bedtime.

In this devotional, each week begins by introducing the two words, including a short assessment of how they relate to each other. I encourage you to take a little extra time discussing each of the characteristics, comparing and exploring them and their context with your children, setting up the Monday story. You could do this on Sunday on the way home from church or at lunch, or you could just use it Monday to launch your study. On the final page of each week, there is space for note-taking. Recording some of the observations during your initial discussion may prove interesting to review at the end of the week, but you can also use it throughout the week’s study.

Each weekday begins with a Bible verse that relates to the words of the week. Then follows a story or commentary that demonstrates one of the words, or both in concert. Read all this to your family, followed by the short prayer. Encourage older children to contribute by having them read aloud. Take turns. Use the questions/prompts at the bottom of each page for discussion with your children. Offer your own answers to bolster their confidence in sharing. They will likely bless you with their insights and sagacity.

Later in the week there will be a short Bible story illustrating the topics of the week. We know that God has provided a blueprint for human morality through fascinating characters and their stories in the Bible, and we can all learn from their behavior and their relationships with the one true God.

The Friday page summarizes the work you’ve done during the week to explore and embrace the qualities God desires in all His children. Those may be the most thought-provoking and insightful questions.

Last comes the final “Annotations” page where you’ve jotted down the clever or surprising things your children have shared with you, as well as any of your own discoveries. It is those moments I encourage you to savor, so be sure to avail yourself of this space to record anything during the week that seems significant—and even some stuff that doesn’t. This study should be fun. You could also use the blank space to note goals or ideas you seek to implement as a family. At the end of the year, won’t it be fascinating to see how you and your children have grown in the Lord?

There are two breaks—three weeks mirroring the Christmas and New Year holiday, and one week in conjunction with the Easter/spring recess.

My prayer for your family, as you embark on this journey exploring godly characteristics, is for you to grow your relationships with one another and our Creator. If we want a closer connection to God, and to act more Christian in everyday life, it isn’t enough to simply desire it. We need training—a plan to follow.

As you seek to emulate Christ, allow this little book to serve as a roadmap for your entire family or class, to pursue Him in a more focused and intentional manner.

Sam Sorbo

Boldness and Fearlessness

Week 1

Monday

Stand Strong

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 NKJV

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. Corrie’s family was Christian, and as such, they believed the Jews to be God’s chosen people. When their Jewish neighbors were forced to go into hiding like many other Jewish families, the ten Boom family sheltered them. The fearlessness of Corrie’s family came from the knowledge that they were doing what was right in God’s eyes.

Food was scarce and only available with a ration card at that time. Corrie shared with her family that she knew a man who worked at the rations office. She went to his house one night to ask for her family’s cards. When he asked how many she needed, she surprised herself with her boldness, answering, “One hundred!” He gave them to her, and she supplied every Jew she could with a card.

Corrie didn’t show a spirit of fear; instead, God gave her boldness and the power to save many lives. This week, allow God to fill you with boldness and fearlessness to accomplish His purposes.

Lord, give me courage and fill me with the power to do great things for you. Make me bold as I serve you.

In what situations do you experience fear?

How could boldness make you a more effective Christ follower?

Tuesday

No Limits

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

ECCLESIASTES 11:4

Panphobia is the fear of everything. Individuals who have this disorder can experience feelings of anxiety and panic as a result of every passing thing. They often go years without leaving their homes due to fear of the unknown in the world around them. This impedes their ability to have normal relationships or hold jobs; their overcautiousness limits what they are able or willing to do. Imagine if the ten Boom family had been too afraid to hide Jews in their home. What if the Wright brothers hadn’t been bold enough to attempt to build a flying machine?

In Ecclesiastes 11, King Solomon warns that being too consumed with watching the wind prevents people from planting their fields (for fear the wind will blow the seeds away). He also observes that if farmers are overly concerned with the clouds in the sky and worried about whether it will rain, they will never reap what they’ve sown. Fear is the ultimate straightjacket, but when we allow God to fill us with His power, love, and boldness, there are no limits to our abilities.

Lord, help me to recognize fear and acknowledge it as satan’s way to put boundaries on God’s people.

Who do you think has lived a fearless life and why?

When was a time that fear kept you from doing something God called you to do?

Wednesday

Five Stones

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants

to speak your word with great boldness.

ACTS 4:29

David was the stereotypical little brother, wanting to hang out with his big brothers, but he was too small and had other obligations. While his older siblings were off fighting for King Saul, David tended his father’s sheep.

One day, the armies of King Saul were in the Valley of Elah and facing the Philistine army. One of the Philistines was a giant—literally. According to the account in 1 Samuel 17, he stood nine feet six inches. Every day this giant, Goliath, swaggered into the valley between the two sides and shouted taunts at the Israelite army and mocked their God.

David’s father, Jesse, sent him to bring food to his brothers in their camp, and David heard the insults Goliath yelled. Filled with anger over Goliath’s disrespect of the Almighty, David volunteered to fight the enemy. The shepherd boy was just a lad, so King Saul had doubts, but no other fighters were brave enough to offer. When David declared the Lord would help him do it, Saul conceded.

David gathered five smooth stones and did what he said he would do—he slayed the giant. His boldness came from God. When you are in God’s will and are fighting for Him, there is no reason for fear. God will grant courage and provide the stones.

Heavenly Father, give me the boldness of David when it comes to living for you.

What are the “giants” in your life?

What “stones” has God given you to slay them?

Thursday

Bragging Rights

“But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have

the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who

exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in

these I delight,” declares the LORD.

JEREMIAH 9:24

Have you ever met someone who was overconfident? Someone who couldn’t stop talking about how great she was and how much she had accomplished? Confidence is a great quality to have, but too much can turn people away. No one wants to be around a know-it-all or a braggart. This week’s character traits, boldness and fearlessness, are admirable, but without the right motivation or heart behind them, they can be destructive.

The ten Boom family showed boldness. Their courage derived from service to God, not self. David’s fearlessness in the face of a giant came from his confidence that the Lord would help him and his desire to quiet the blaspheming Philistine.

Arrogance, or overconfidence, is often rooted in self: “I want you to know how great I am.” Instead, we should focus on how great God is. As the prophet Jeremiah said in today’s passage, if you are going to boast, boast about the Lord. He is the one who deserves all the glory.

Father, help me keep my boldness and fearlessness rooted in you. Thank you for being such a great God.

When was a time you experienced someone who was overconfident? How did that impact you?

How can you balance being bold with being overconfident? How does God fit into that process?

Friday

Just a Little Extra

In the same way, faith by itself,

if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

JAMES 2:17

Extraordinary is just ordinary with something “extra” added. Both Corrie ten Boom and young David had something in common: they started as ordinary people who were willing to take action for the Lord. The power of Almighty God was the “extra” in their lives. With God, anything is possible.

It’s one thing to believe that, but a whole new level of faith is required to put action behind that belief. Combining belief with action allows boldness and fearlessness to shine.

These two invaluable qualities are behind some of the greatest missionaries ever known—the apostle Paul, Lottie Moon, Eric Liddell, Jim Elliot, and George Muller, to name a few. In their own power, they could not have spread the gospel in the amazing ways they did. Through the power of God, these everyday Christ followers became extraordinary soul winners for the kingdom of Christ, and honorable examples for the rest of us.

God wants all of us to combine our faith with action. Will you give God your ordinary and allow him to give you the something “extra”?

God, motivate me to put action behind my faith, and give me boldness and fearlessness in my walk with you.

Where is God calling you to add action to your faith?

When you stepped forward boldly in faith, what happened next?

Annotations

Combining your faith with action often necessitates both boldness and fearlessness. When God is the root of your confidence and courage, nothing is impossible.

Virtue and Moral Excellence

Week 2

Monday

Checking the Weather

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

ROMANS 12:2

Right after six-year-old Kenny got back from the store with his new white tennis shoes, the rain began to fall. Although he had fun with his friends, jumping through the puddles and splashing around, the mud ruined his shoes, leaving a lasting stain. Kenny learned the hard way to stay on the sidewalk when it rained.

In the same way, following the crowd may not only leave you with muddy shoes but could also result in a tarnished reputation. The Bible says not to “conform to the pattern of this world.” Instead, we are to conform to moral excellence and virtue, embracing a high standard of what is right in the eyes of God—staying out of the mud, spiritually.

A mucky mess happens when water hits dirt. You may not be walking through puddles, but a higher standard may be to avoid the rain altogether. The Bible tells us not to murder, but Jesus goes further, telling us not to even think angry thoughts about our brother. Jesus modeled that virtuous higher standard for us. As Kenny learned, walking through puddles in white sneakers isn’t a good idea—and neither is following the crowd when they lead you into areas that could tarnish your reputation.

Lord, help me protect my virtue and live with moral excellence.

When have you “walked in mud” when you should’ve “stayed on the sidewalk”?

What does a virtuous person of high moral standards look like to you?

Tuesday

Be Different

So I say, walk by the Spirit,

and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

GALATIANS 5:16

Turn on prime-time television and you’re likely to find numerous examples of sin and indulgence. They are the exact opposite of this week’s characteristics—virtue and moral excellence. The root of sin is self, and indulgence means giving in to one’s self. The common denominator? You guessed it—self. “Be true to yourself.” “Follow your heart.” “Take time for you.” These are just a few of the misguided philosophies prevalent today.

While none of these are inherently wrong, they do distract us from where we should focus—on Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Living a life of moral excellence means dying to our wants and desires, and choosing to put God first.

That’s not an easy or popular choice. Sometimes it involves choosing clothing, music, and movies that honor God, when we really want to wear, listen to, or watch something else. In this crazy me-first world, choose to be different.

Lord, show me areas where I need to deny self, and give me a desire for moral excellence.

Would others be pointed to Christ through your clothing, television, and music selection? Why or why not?

In what areas do you struggle to deny self and strive to be different?

Wednesday

Wise Choice

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,

in your faith supply moral excellence,

and in your moral excellence, knowledge.

2 PETER 1:5 NASB

Jimmy left the grocery store and noticed a wallet lying on the ground. It had money in it and an ID. He’d spent more on groceries than expected and that money would help make ends meet. He could pocket the money without anyone knowing, but having moral excellence, he chose to return it all to the store. He knew the money wasn’t his to take.

Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t pay, but it does make you feel good. The Holy Spirit grants a feeling of peace over the situation. Circumstances arise daily, both at home and at school, when you must make a choice about whether you will have integrity or indulge in self. Living a virtuous life means not choosing to take a shortcut when running a race, letting a clerk know if they haven’t charged you enough, cleaning up messes you are responsible for creating, and owning up to the mistakes you’ve made. Having integrity is choosing the right thing even when no one is watching.

Sometimes that choice is the hardest to make properly. Many voices in society today urge us to serve ourselves instead of our heavenly Father. Jimmy made the strong choice to do what was right in God’s eyes, to honor Him before self. Choose moral excellence; your reward is eternal.

Father, please help me honor you in all my decisions through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When was a time when you had to choose integrity or self?

How does having moral excellence create an eternal reward?

Thursday

With Honor

Do you not know that your bodies are temples

of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received

from God? You are not your own; you were bought

at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19–20

Imagine a world without leaders—no teachers, no police officers, no governors, no Congress, no president. That’s what would happen if we lived in a world without virtue and moral integrity. President Dwight Eisenhower reportedly said that the supreme quality for leadership was undoubtedly integrity. He held that without it, no real success was possible, not on a football field, in an army, or even in office.

Moral excellence and virtue lead to trust. When Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum, the tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid temple taxes. Peter unwittingly answer yes. Knowing this, when Jesus saw Peter, he pointed out that kings of the earth don’t collect taxes from their own children. In other words, as the Son of God, Jesus viewed the temple tax as unnecessary. Even so, having integrity, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish with enough money inside it to pay both their taxes. Christ recognized that choosing virtue and offering payment even when He didn’t rightfully owe it would set a good example and draw others to His leadership.

God, help me to live with integrity and walk as a godly leader.

What can you do to show leadership qualities in different areas of your life?

How can Christian leaders make a difference in the world?

Friday

Whatever

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things

are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are

pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are

of good report, if there is any virtue and if there

is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NKJV

True, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy—that’s quite a list of characteristics! Today’s Scripture passage tells us to meditate on whatever reflects those descriptors. Meditate means to focus your thoughts for an extended period. Like a bag of tea, good thoughts need to steep a while to help create a rich flavor. By choosing to think about the positive, you are controlling your behavior by first controlling your thoughts. This is the first step to living a life with virtue and moral excellence.