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Just because the knowledge of God disappears from a nation does not mean that worship stops. In Romans 1, we see that man turns from worshipping the Creator to worshipping the creature. People will fashion an idol and continue to worship. This is a scary thing to consider. It is evidenced in the Old Testament and warned against in the New Testament. If you forget the one true God, you won't become an atheist. You will simply be worshipping something else.

Why must we be careful in determining what we decide to watch and listen to today? Pooyan Mershahi explains in this video that we must be wary how watch we watch and listen to can affect us. Christ said that adultery, lying, stealing come from the heart. 1 John 2:16 (NKJV) states: "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." There are many temptations in the world. Accordingly, we must use discernment in what we allow ourselves to be influenced by. Mark 7:20-23 (NKJV) - "And He said, 'What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.'"

Paul concludes the book of Ephesians (6:10-20) with an unexpected section about the battlefield of the Christian life. He opens with two basic commands: get yourself strengthened in the Lord, and put on all the armor He provides. These six pieces of armor represent the fullness of Christ’s provision for the Christian in a military metaphor and how each is applied to the believer. Finally, Paul ends with a word about the soldier’s line of communication with his/her Captain: prayer.

What is an essential element in the life of a Christian family? Jason Dohm explains in this video that family worship is such an essential element in the life of a family. Just as Christians need to worship God, Christian families need to worship God and learn more about Him and His ways. There is much good that comes out of this simple practice. In his family, they go around and each read several verses. They discuss what they read and they pray. The amount of benefit you get out of a simple practice is significant. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Ephesians 6:1-3 commands children to obey their parents "because it is right." Here are ten reasons why it is "right" to obey. 1. It is right because it pleases the Lord. You want God's blessing in everything you do. Imagine God is against you. Imagine God's displeasure upon you? Paul speaks to the Colossians that your honor and obedience is "pleasing to the Lord" (Col 3:20). God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5, James 4:6). The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18). 2. It is right because children need to learn it when they are young. Pride makes children think that they should be in control. Here is the reality. Children are blind to their lack of wisdom and experience. Children don't see themselves the ways mature people see them. Ecclesiastes 10:3, gives a picture of what this looks like, "Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool." Children are naturally deceived about themselves. Children want all the authority and responsibility of adults without having the maturity, the thinking process, and the financial ability to be on their own. They want the same authority as the parents, but they do not have the same wisdom and experience as parents. 3. It is right because rebellion is connected to the self-driven impulses that characterize evil – even demonic activity. God calls it "divination" (1 Sam 15:22-24). "Rebellion" is like "divination." Divination, at its core, is rejecting God and going to another source. It is despising His ways. This independent spirit of arrogance is like idolatry. Whe

God's people are often a people who suffer and endure many trials and tribulations. Of course our first response is to try and get out of the trial and escape the pain of suffering. However, God often intends these trials and sufferings as a means of building up his people and causing them to trust him wholly instead of relying on their own strength. God enables his people to go through the fire of trials so that they may be a purified and holy people, to the glory of God.

Isaac Watts hymn, “When I survey the wondrous Cross," starts out with these words, "When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.” This is what happened at the crucifixion. God poured out His wrath on His Son. He poured contempt on HIm. We deserved the contempt, but Jesus bore it. Let me make it more personal: I deserve contempt poured on all my pride. But it was poured out on our Savior Jesus Christ. In this sermon, based on Isaiah 53, I point out the many ways Christ suffered for our pride. In short, He was humiliated the way we deserved to be humiliated. He was treated the way we deserved to be treated for our pride

In this chapter reading by William Brown on "Preparing Boys for Battle," we learn of the fathers responsibility to train their sons to courageous leaders.   

In this audio message, Scott Brown provides us with some lessons that we can learn from the life of Jonadab, a man in Scripture. The honor that Jonadab's sons, the Rechabites, displayed for Jonadab was rewarded by God. They were still showing honor to Jonadab hundreds of years later. How can we likewise demonstrate honor to our parents? Deuteronomy 5:16 (NKJV) - "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

How do you know if you are a Christian? Scott Brown points out nine tests of salvation from the little, but significant, book of 1 John. 1. 1 John 1:5-7 (Walking in the Light)  5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 2. 1 John 1:8-10 (Confession of Sin)  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 3. 1 John 2:3-4 (Obedience) 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 4. 1 John 2:9-11 (Love for the Brethren) 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 5. 1 John 2:15-17 (Hatred for the World)  15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever  6. 1 John 2:24-25 (Perseverance in Doc

Jeff Pollard explains in this video that husbands and fathers need to make it a priority to read Scripture as a family and to pray together. Children ought to go to their last breath remembering that their father wanted them to walk with Christ. It's one thing to voice one's desire to be a Christian family, but it is another thing entirely to actually conduct faithful times of family worship and prayer. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) - "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:10–16 that membership in the church is all about Jesus Christ. All of what we are called to do, and to be, is summed up in Christ and will work itself out in every area of our lives. Dr. Joel Beeke calls attention to five aspects of Christ's connection to the church that reflect faithful church membership: Christ’s Word, His person, His people, His cause, and His image.