Discover the expert in you.
Your teen makes many important decisions during adolescence, according to Sean Covey, author of “'The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make.” Your Christian teen can rely on his faith to help shape many of his decisions, such as when to have his first sexual encounter, if he will continue to attend church after he moves out on his own and if he will attend a secular or church-supported college.
Trendy Christian fashion requires you to be cool, hip and fun but not expose too much. Learn about trendy Christian fashion with help from the owner/creative director for Ose in this free video clip.
Searching for money to attend school can be a challenge. Some institutions bestow grants giving individuals money to attend a school. This money does not have to be repaid. Non-accredited Christian schools present a unique challenge with regard to funding. Most grants require individuals to attend an accredited school as a requirement to receiving the money. But there are a few grants available for individuals attending non-accredited Christian schools.
A float should aim to be vibrant and colorful because these characteristics make a float stand out from the rest. Though the bible and Christian history offer plenty of float ideas, an idea should be chosen if it can easily be transformed into a colorful image. In addition, the overall message of a float should be considered.
There are a few national foundations that fund Christian primary and secondary schools that work primarily with at-risk youth. In addition, there are local and regional grant-making organizations throughout the United States that also serve as funding sources for faith-based schools.
According to the Biblical Old Testament, Abraham was too old to have any children when he miraculously had a boy named Isaac. Soon after, God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son. When Abraham showed that he was willing to obey, God commanded him to sacrifice a bull instead and declared that Isaac would become the father of many nations. Since that time, many Christians have held up Abraham as an example of what it means to put God first. There are a wide variety of activities to teach children that message in programs like Vacation Bible School.
Being a Christian missionary can be a rewarding career though it offers meager earnings and little acclaim. However, those in this career combine their love of Christ with their passion for humanity in an effort their churches would say is intended to transform lives around the world. In fact, taking on a career as a Christian missionary often means disregarding the salary potential.
Young people are exuberant and creative, and many love games which allow them be both. Christian youth leaders can temper their Bible lessons with activities that encourage communication, patience and trust between members. Team up kids who don’t usually spend time together so that they can get to know each other. These games teach Proverbs 15:22 that says: “without consultation plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed."
Will the real Christian Louboutin shoe please stand up? Christian Louboutin shoes cost hundreds of dollars, but they're very popular, so knock offs of these shoes abound. In order to be sure you are purchasing a pair of real Christian Louboutin shoes, it's important to tune into your inner fashion sleuth as you take steps to be sure they are the real deal.
As a Christian counselor, you have the opportunity to help people who are in pain and who need guidance. Christian counselors operate in much the same way as secular counselors, except that they counsel people according to a Biblical worldview. Different levels of schooling, training and certification exist, and a counselor who wants people to take him seriously will evaluate his options regarding how to train to be a Christian counselor.
The function of a Christian church pastor goes far beyond preaching sermons. He relies on a variety of skills to ensure the success and health of the church. While many pastors approach their responsibilities in different ways, their functions are similar. They perform administrative tasks, train leaders and look after the emotional needs of the congregation.
The word "nave" indicates a central part of a Christian church, with roots that reach all the way back to medieval times. Interestingly, the origin of this word does not indicate a religious or spiritual term at all. Instead this architectural term indicates a part of a ship, and shares these nautical roots with the same Latin word from which the word "navy" originates.
Youth Day in the Christian churches invites youth and young adults to take an active part in the service, such as delivering the message, reading the Bible passages for the day or providing the music for the service. Some churches allow members of the youth group to plan and conduct the entire service. Youth sponsors and group members begin to plan early for the event and may seek ideas for service segments.
Financial advisers assist individuals and organizations in making investment decisions in a more personal way than mutual funds or hands-off retirement plans. Advisers meet with clients in person to develop personalized investment strategies and never make an investment without clients' express permission. Christian financial advisers operate much the same as advisers in the secular world, with the main difference being the types of financial goals Christian advisers' clients are likely to pursue. Becoming a Christian financial adviser requires you to stand out from the financial services pack and attract a highly targeted market niche.
The Christian mosaic church's name is derived from two distinct aspects of the nondenominational community. First, it represents the diversity of the church, which is made up of people from different ages, cultures, socio-economic classes and ethnicities. Second, the name symbolizes that all the church members are fragmented, but they create something beautiful despite their brokenness when they come together to worship God. The church upholds the teachings of Jesus Christ on love, faith and hope and extends its hospitality to everyone.
According to ReligiousTolerance.com, 2 billion people, or 32 percent or the world population, identified themselves as Christians in 2000. However, many denominations, sects and traditions exist within the Christian population. Because of this, Christians around the world celebrate their faith in a variety of ways. Some holidays and historical events stand out the most when it comes to celebrating the Christian faith.
The image of a horned, bat-winged, grimacing monster carved from stone and lurking on the rooftop of a Gothic cathedral has been an icon of the menacing and mysterious for centuries. But the primary role of these scary sculptures was often simply to act as a piece of humble plumbing.
The term "evangelist" comes from the Greek word "euanglistes." The word translates to "well messenger" and an evangelist is a person who brings a good message. In the New Testament, the term evangelist refers to any person -- male or female -- who teaches the gospel. This means that evangelism isn't limited to individuals that hold a church office or church staff position. Many Christians feel that evangelism is not restricted to pastors, deacons and other church officers, but is also the duty of laymen. There are certain things that a person can do to become a Christian evangelist.
The goal of Christian leadership is to serve Christ and the church by being wise stewards of the people, resources and opportunities over which you have authority. In managing leaders, establish a clear focus on Jesus Christ and his values, then let each leader engage his full vision, passion and competence within the scope of his responsibilities. A combination of encouragement, evaluation, correction and generous service will help you to fulfill your duties responsibly while helping those under your care at the same time.
Churches across the globe are consistently seeking ways to engage youth within their ministries and the community at large. A great way to achieve this is by starting a Christian youth prayer group. With temptation and peer pressure ever present, accompanied with the daily call to make a difference in the community, a Christian youth prayer group is a sufficient way for youth to not only get involved but also express their frustrations and worries.
Because cultural tradition generally defines what it means to be a devout Christian, it is essential to examine the foundations of the Christian faith to find its meaning. Dictionary.com defines the word "devout" as one who expresses devotion or piety. Although the celebration of Christmas and Easter, church attendance, and tithing is held in high esteem in modern Christianity, the Biblical text and the person of Jesus Christ can help explain what being a devout Christian really looks like. In John 14:6 (New Revised Standard Version), Jesus says that he is the way, the truth and the life, thus, a…
Jesus and the early Christian leaders taught that believers must live a moral and wholesome life following their conversion. A changed life that includes Christian virtues provides one sign of a true believer. The Bible holds many clues as to what behaviors and character traits manifest in the Christian life. In Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus says to judge people by the fruits their life produces rather than by their words. This means you will see specific fruits that identify your life as Christian.
Baptism communicates to the Christian world that you have joined their ranks as a believer. Many Christians see baptism as an outward sign of an inward process that includes acknowledging your sins, repenting and accepting Jesus as your savior. Christians choose baptism, following the example of Jesus presented in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11 and Luke 3:21-22. The early church saw baptism as an important requirement for the believer, and the modern church continues to include baptism as a sacrament that believers participate in as they begin their Christian walk.
Although most have good intentions, there are some Christian youth fellowships that are more successful than others. Vibrant, or thriving, youth groups are committed to action. They express enthusiasm and positivity consistently, according to "Building Vibrant Youth Groups," published by Montana State University. Helping a youth fellowship succeed takes encouraging and motivating youth and offering fun opportunities regularly.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church (also called the Adventist Church or the SDA Church), like other Christian denominations, has found itself divided on the issue of ordaining women as ministers. Both sides in the debate find support for their arguments in the Bible and the teachings of the church's cofounder and prophet, Ellen G. White.
A Christian wife is charged not only with behaving in a Christlike way but also being an unshakable source of love, support, guidance and strength for her husband. If you are already a Christian woman, you know that Christ has high standards for you and that being a wife means even more responsibility. Before you enter into marriage, consider some of the major traits of a good Christian wife.
Your Christian youth event is a labor of love, commitment and hard work. Create a flyer that communicates the vitality of your youth group and the Christian ideals driving the activity. Use coordinated design elements to capture readers' attention. Make your announcement stand out in their minds to help bring as many people to your Christian youth event as possible. Use desktop publishing or online flyer software to make memorable flyers.
Making a Christian craft with the theme of Adam and Eve is a basic lesson for any children's Sunday school class. There are a plethora of options when it comes to creating a craft that is fun, unique and memorable for all the children in your class. While you may have the choice of simply reading the story, a hands-on craft will be more involving and keep the children more alert during your lesson. There are many ways to tell the story of Adam and Eve through crafts.
A Christian women's retreat can be a time of relaxation, fellowship and spiritual renewal. These retreats provide women with the opportunity to bond and grow with fellow believers. Most retreats have a theme that the activities, decorations and food revolve around. There are many ways you can incorporate a friendship theme when planning a christian women's retreat.
The crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head at his crucifixion is a symbol of the suffering he endured so Christians can have their sins forgiven. During the Easter season, the crown of thorns is used in plays, in object lessons or as a decoration or craft. You do not need to buy a crown of thorns; instead, you can easily create one on your own at home.
Christian conferences are a good source of information and spiritual growth. They can also be a good source of Christian fellowship. Including activities and games at your adult Christian conference will help participants get to know each other and stay engaged in the excitement and purpose of the conference.
The country of Jordan is predominantly Muslim. Christians are a minority, representing only 6 percent of the population. Nonetheless, Jordan has a steadfast Christian culture, as the region is historically significant to Christians. The Christian culture reflects both conventional and modern influences.
Fasting was a widely respected discipline in both the Old and New Testaments. It is widely recorded that many important figures in the Bible fasted and gained spiritual growth through the process. Moses, Jesus, Paul and Daniel have all been documented as completing this process. Fasting is a means of humbling one self in front of God. King David stated, "I humble myself through fasting." Christians do not fast as a means of self-punishment or to pay for their sins. Christians fast so they can become closer to God through prayer and cleansing. There are different types of fasts Christians…
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God describes himself in relational terms, such as "husband," "father" and "friend." Like any other relationship, a growing relationship with God takes time and effort. Attending church once or twice a week is helpful, but it is like attending a group function with your husband. It cannot foster the level of intimacy that comes with spending personal time with your heavenly husband, father and friend. This personal time is often called private devotions.
The phrase "disciple of Jesus Christ" has a rich and long history, going back some 2000 years to the early Christian church. In that time the meaning of the term "disciple" has changed greatly. While there are certain qualifications to becoming a disciple that most Bible scholars agree on, there are some considerations about which scholars disagree. Knowing the history of the term "disciple," as well as the similarities and differences among scholars, will help you grasp the term better and decide whether you're a disciple or not, and what steps you could take to become one.
Preparing to become a deacon within any of the orthodox denominations inside Christianity requires careful consideration when making personal choices in your life. Decisions range from how you organize and conduct yourself with your finances all the way to matters of marriage and sexual purity. Some churches may even perform a background check on you, with your permission, to interview your current employer and others who have known you for a period of time. Preparing to become a deacon has more to do with choices made in your life endeavors than any other aspect of being chosen for the task.
The more a person engages, physically, mentally and emotionally with a Scripture, the more likely he is to retain it. According to Laurel and Associates, an international human resource development training and consulting firm, participatory learning activities are comprised of two modes, interactive and experiential learning activities. Interactive learning activities increase learning by mental stimulation and verbal expression, such as group discussion, games and crossword puzzles. Experiential activities provide emotional stimulation and physical expression with activities such as dramatization, role play, hands-on activities and physical movement. Engage in multiple, varied activities to maximize Scripture learning.
Following his baptism, Jesus was sent into the desert by the spirit to be tested. The testing proves that Jesus has the character of a true child of God. The lesson of this story is highly theological, and therefore difficult for children to grasp. However, by developing some creative crafts, this story can be easier for children to digest.
Border missions are usually taken through a church and are aimed to perform some sort of volunteer work, such as at the border between Mexico and the United States where poverty and crime can be serious issues. Before you volunteer for a border mission, you need to be aware of the possible dangers and risks, as well as living conditions, which can vary greatly from one mission to another.
Celebrating Holy Communion is important to the faith of Christians. Instead of going through the motions because communion is something you're supposed to do, learning about the importance behind Holy Communion can help you have a better understanding for the practice, as well as a deeper appreciation for it.
A devotional book is a text created specifically for spending time focused on your religious or spiritual life. The book can be a combination of written texts, ideas for the daily practice of devotion or a combination journal with a daily inspirational quote to ponder. There are published books to purchase, but it is even better to create a devotional for yourself, or a special loved one, that is specific to the topics and spiritual path that interests you.
Belief systems are an important part of many people's lives. For some a belief system defines them, directs them and is the foundation of every decision they make. The reasons people turn to belief systems are as varied as the different beliefs available. Though it may be a well known reason, belief systems do more than simply provide comfort and support for people.
The liturgical calendar lists the various seasons and celebrations in the Christian year. Some church denominations, such as the Catholics, Anglicans and Presbyterians, pay more attention to the calendar. They may use the planned schedule of scripture readings each Sunday. Other denominations honor the main events such as Christmas and Holy Week, and give less attention to events such as Epiphany or Pentecost.
Divine command theory states that God determines what is good and evil. All good actions are determined as good because God commanded them and said they were good. Evil actions are those that are either against God's commands or are stated by God as evil. In divine command theory, God's will is imposed on his willing subjects and they must obey God absolutely.
A Jacob's Ladder craft for Sunday school or vacation Bible school helps children understand and remember the story of Jacob's Ladder from the book of Genesis in the Bible. Children as young as pre-school age can make simple biblical crafts with the aid of older students or adults. While making the Sunday school craft, teachers can lead the group in a Jacob's Ladder-themed song or read the story again while little ones are busy creating with glue, crayons and scissors.
Multicultural counseling is designed to provide services to ethnic groups that might not otherwise seek counseling. Clients go to multicultural counselors to express their feelings, frustrations and concerns. As in most types of counseling, the relationship between the client and counselor in multicultural counseling is very important. With multicultural counseling, counselors should respect the cultural and ethnic factors that might come into play.
Traditionally, the concept of ritual sacrifice was important in premodern religion, whether through offerings of food like grains or through blood sacrifice of living things like livestock, wild animals, and in many cases, human beings. For many reasons, this practice has fallen out of favor among the major religions and has been replaced by innocuous or symbolic sacrifice rituals.
The term Judeo-Christian is derived from Judaism and Christianity. It refers to a set of religious and cultural influences combining Jewish and Christian values and traditions that have shaped much of the modern Western world. The combination arises from the fact that Christianity began as an extension of Judaism.
Pentecost, also referred to as Whitsunday, is one of the three great "blessed nights" of the Christian calendar, along with Christmas and Easter. Celebrated by Christians on the 50th day after Easter, the Pentecost celebration commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as a flame above their heads and gave them tongues of many languages. Pentecost activities can be performed by families, religious classes and school groups as a form of celebration of the Holy Spirit.
Mormonism is a religion founded by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830 in New York. The headquarters of Mormonism are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are more than 13 million practicing Mormons worldwide who follow a set of basic beliefs. These beliefs address the religion's view on things such as baptism, fasting and health.