Teens and Social Media

We would never let a young child simply turn on a stovetop and begin playing with it, nor would we hand a 14-year-old the keys to a truck and expect them to have the knowledge, skill and good judgment to handle it. Likewise, we should not hand kids a smart phone or other connected device without first proactively shaping how they think about and interact with this new technology.

Five steps on what a parent can do to provide the knowledge, skill and good judgment to handle social media:

1. To start, talk with them about the biblical principle of stewardship. (Psalm 24:1)
2. Then, to keep the conversation going, develop a working knowledge and understanding of social media.
3. Use that knowledge to monitor and limit their activities online.
4. Teach safety skills online.
5. And finally, teach them personal responsibility and godly fidelity in whatever they do. (Colossians 3:23-24)

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What factors keep members coming back to their congregations week after week.

Results from seven Divisions (three African Divisions, South Asia-Pacific, South Pacific, South American, and Inter-American Divisions) show that the church doctrines were the top factor that influenced members’ decision as to where to attend, these doctrines are the top factor (54%) that influenced regular attendance.

In the North American Division, the three top factors that attracted members to attend their congregations were:

• The presentation of church doctrines (41%)
• Friends (40%)
• Worship style (35%).

Once again, it is important to note that the main reason that respondents come to (and keep coming back) to Adventist churches is because of strong doctrines; the things that make us distinctly “Adventist,” make us different than other churches – and in this case, that’s a good thing! Our fundamental beliefs are all ultimately different ways of helping people to see Jesus Christ. They need to be integrated into sermons and Sabbath school lessons, but more is needed. Church members should be taught how to apply these beliefs to their lifestyle and personal relationship with Jesus.  Full Article.

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Modesty

In our time, it’s more urgent than ever to rebut those who deny that truth is knowable. The intellectual left has long been under the sway of postmodernism, which denies that objective truth exists. Oprah Winfrey reflected this thinking (intellectual trends never remain cabined on campuses; they trickle down) when she spoke of “your truth” at the Golden Globes. In other words, you have your truth and I have mine, which means truth doesn’t exist. The populist right is feverishly denouncing all uncongenial facts as “fake news.”

Truth is not subjective. Water will freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit whether we believe it or not.  – Full Article.

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Seventh-day Adventist develops and releases a “meditation app for LGBTQ Christians, their friends, family and allies.” Full Article.

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