In a class of our size, no doubt there is a great diversity of financial situations. Some struggle under a weight of debt while others enjoy the opportunity to save and even invest. This week will be the fourth in our series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This week, our very own Eric Ostrander will lead us in a class by the title, “Your Family and Finances: How to Make the Most of Your Money.”

From Eric to our class,

Here are some general financial statistics concerning Americans. Financial trouble is the number one cause of divorce, the average American family owes more than $7,000 in credit card debt, and two in five Americans have more debt than assets.

Now here are some statistics for Christians. Christians have rated personal finance as their number one source of stress and 60% of Christians could only live one month before going into debt if they lost their job.

Do you know that the Bible says more than twice as much about money as it does prayer and faith combined? In fact, love is the only subject that the Bible speaks about more often. Almost two-thirds of Christ’s parables were concerning money and possessions. Why is this, it is because the way we view and handle money is very important.

We will take a look at what the Bible has to say about some basic financial principles and also discuss some practical ways to live by those principles. Then there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have concerning finances.

Among the members of our class are people from a diversity of schooling backgrounds. Some of us came to faith in Christ by the Christian witness of teachers, families and friends involved in the public schools. Some of us were educated at home by our own parents, who gave themselves to our discipleship with diligence and great intentionality. Others of us were educated within some kind of Christian school arrangement and enjoyed learning the Bible and other subjects from a Christian perspective in a Christian environment.

There are delights and dangers that come with each of these learning environments and a child’s education is something about which Christian parents must think carefully and Christianly.

This Sunday is the third in our series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This week, Dr. Wellum will lead our class in the topic, “Your Family and Educational Choices: Discerning The Best Fit For Your Family.”

Helping us to steer clear of both passivism and legalism, here is an outline from Dr. Wellum of this Sunday’s teaching time,

1. First we will examine the Biblical data on the responsibility of parents to teach and disciple their children — in all areas of life.
2. Next, we will discuss how do parents fulfill this responsibility in the larger discussion of schooling and academic preparation. We will then look at various options that are before us today: 1. public schools; 2. Private schools; 3. Home schools and their varieties — e.g. consortium, etc.
3. How do we decide between these options given the biblical mandate to raise our children? We will look at specific factors and issues that need to be considered, both in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
4. Discussion.

Looking forward to thinking carefully about these matters with you.

Redemption in Christ entails the transformation of human desires so that God’s people love what God loves and desire what he desires. Ironically, while some couples desire the blessing of children, infertility and pregnancy loss are reminders to us that we are, with the entire cosmos, “groaning together in the pains of childbirth” as we wait eagerly for “the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:20-23).

This Sunday will be our second in a series by the title, “Timely Topics for Young Families.” This week we address the topic of infertility and pregnancy loss. Our guest will be Dr. Bill Cutrer. Dr. Cutrer attends Highview Baptist Church with his family and is a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In preparation for this Sunday’s visit, Dr. Cutrer sends his greetings,

Greetings in the name of our Lord,
I’m honored to be invited to speak to you on the topics of infertility and pregnancy loss this Sunday. These problems are sadly very common, with many couples facing these tragedies as the first major crisis as husband and wife. We’ll consider the definitions, diagnosis, and treatment options available to couples in the midst of this pain; hopefully encouraging them and equipping you to minister God’s grace to the hurting families. Men and women process this pain so differently, that marriages suffer deeply, and the Christian community can genuinely make a huge impact for good. Come with questions, be comfortable with some difference of perspective, and let’s honor the Lord together.

In His Grace, Dr. Bill Cutrer

Dr. Cutrer comes to us an an expert in this area both as a medical doctor and as a Christian theologian and counselor. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dr. Cutrer’s background and ministry, the the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary website provides a helpful overview,

Dr. Cutrer is a the first medical doctor to join the faculty at Southern. After a successful medical career as an obstetrician, he served as senior pastor of Wildwood Baptist Church in Texas and as director of the Christian Medical/Dental Society in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He has been a guest lecturer at numerous colleges, churches and institutions. In addition, he has had conferences on various topics, including Medical Marriage Seminars, Ethics in Medicine and Wellness Lifestyle. Dr. Cutrer has been the author or co-author of several publications, such as When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden: Encouragement for Couples Suffering from Infertility, and has had extensive missionary experience in a variety of countries.

Tragically, the curse of sin entails “pain in child bearing” and, for some, the struggle or inability to conceive new life at all. May the struggle of some to be “fruitful and multiply” rebound to God’s glory in a greater manifestation of “the fruit of righteousness that comes trough Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:9-11). There is glory on the other side of every cross.

Looking forward, with you, to Dr. Cutrer’s visit,

Trent

About once year we will take a brief pause from the exposition of Scripture to apply the scriptures in a focused way to a few specific topics of timely importance.

From October 21 to November 18, we have much to look forward to. During these five weeks, we will give our attention to five timely topics for young couples.

October 21 - Your Family and Missions:
Nurturing a Family of Goers and Senders.

This Sunday, the Ostranders will lead our class in embracing a vision for mission minded families. In addition, Eric and Amy will lead us in learning about and praying for the Swensons, a missionary family to China who lived in Louisville and attended our class a few years back.

October 28 - Your Family and Infertility:
Understanding Infertility and Reproductive Options.

Guest speaker, Dr. Cutrer will lead us in considering the reality of infertility and the reproductive options available to infertile couples. This will be a help to those who are currently or will struggle with infertility. In addition, this will equip each of us to comfort and counsel those who struggle to enjoy the blessing of a full quiver.

November 4 - Your Family and Educational Choices:
Discerning the best fit for your family.

Dr. Wellum will lead our class in thinking carefully and Christianly about the schooling options available to parents for their children’s education. Dr. Wellum will outline the various options with their strengths and their dangers in an effort to help each of us better understand the direction that is best for our specific family and our specific situation.

November 11 - Your Family and Finances:
How to Make the Most of your Money.

Eric Ostrander will lead us in understanding how we can best glorify Christ in the wise saving, spending and investing our money.

November 18 - Topic TBA.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” - 2 Timothy 3:14,15

These were Paul’s words to Timothy and, by extension, to each of us today. But while believers today may take any exhortation to know the Scriptures to include the Old and New Testaments, in this context Paul could have meant no other collection of writings but that of the Old Testament. According to Paul, from Genesis to Chronicles, the Old Testament Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”

This morning Dr. Wellum introduced our next book of study; The Book of Minor Prophets. In light of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, just how do these twelve books point us to Christ? That’s the question we will be asking from now until the end of September as we study a book a week through the collection of books known as The Minor Prophets.

Each week, on this front page, we will remind you of the current book of study so that you can read with your spouse in preparation for next weeks class.

July 15 - Hosea
July 22 - Joel
July 29 - Amos
Aug 5 - Obadiah
Aug 12 - Jonah
Aug 19 - Micah
Aug 26 - Nahum
Sept 2 - Habakkuk
Sept 9 - Zephaniah
Sept 16 - Haggai
Sept 23 - Zechariah
Sept 30 - Malachi

So, this week, lets read Hosea in preparation for this Sunday’s lesson from that book.

Looking forward to a greater enjoyment of Jesus Christ through this study of The Book of Minor Prophets.

-Trent