Comments on: Kingdom Families http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families ALERT: Dr. Köstenberger’s blogs are now becoming available in Spanish. We will continue to add new posts as soon as they can be translated. Click on “Espanol” above Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:31:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stacy http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-84978 Stacy Wed, 20 May 2009 18:17:01 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-84978 Hi, Are you still having your family bible study? We would like to start one at our church. Do you have any resources you have found helpful? This post was from 2007 so I am thinking that since then you might have learned some things to share with those who would like to try it. Thanks, Stacy Hi,
Are you still having your family bible study? We would like to start one at our church. Do you have any resources you have found helpful? This post was from 2007 so I am thinking that since then you might have learned some things to share with those who would like to try it. Thanks, Stacy

]]> By: Intersected » Blog Archive » Family Worship at a Church gathering http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-84202 Intersected » Blog Archive » Family Worship at a Church gathering Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:43:55 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-84202 [...] This is a great idea from Andreas Köstenberger, about his church, Richland Creek Community Church, and its Kingdom Family Sunday School class, which is focused on households, whether families, singles, widows, divorced, and others. We are a multi-generational group of believers because we believe that in this way we can best reflect the type of learning and growing Christ desires for his church in the body of Christ. We study the Bible together, are interconnected with each other during the week through prayer and fellowship gatherings, and actively engage in and support evangelistic and missionary efforts through outreach, prayer, giving, and help. We would love to have any interested individuals or families join us. We are looking for a few kingdom families who share our vision of multi-generational, aimed at reaching entire households. [...] [...] This is a great idea from Andreas Köstenberger, about his church, Richland Creek Community Church, and its Kingdom Family Sunday School class, which is focused on households, whether families, singles, widows, divorced, and others. We are a multi-generational group of believers because we believe that in this way we can best reflect the type of learning and growing Christ desires for his church in the body of Christ. We study the Bible together, are interconnected with each other during the week through prayer and fellowship gatherings, and actively engage in and support evangelistic and missionary efforts through outreach, prayer, giving, and help. We would love to have any interested individuals or families join us. We are looking for a few kingdom families who share our vision of multi-generational, aimed at reaching entire households. [...]

]]> By: Andreas Köstenberger http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-25394 Andreas Köstenberger Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:34:58 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-25394 Bonnie: Thank you for asking. As you can imagine, there is no "typical" way, but let me give a few examples. A single girl in her mid-20s recently gave us a missions report about her recent trip to Southeast Asia. Especially those of us who are parents of teenage daughters in the group were very grateful for her role model and inspiration. In general, women participate in the Bible study just as men do, contributing to the discussion. They also help with refreshments, crafts and activities for smaller children, send cards and e-mails to visitors and members who were absent from the class, and help organize socials (such as a forthcoming "Harvest lunch" after church next Sunday). All in all, this is an attractive setting for those who believe the church, as the "family of God," should model family life of brothers and sisters of all ages in the Lord in an integrated way (rather than the usual segregation into age groups). I hope this helps! Bonnie: Thank you for asking. As you can imagine, there is no “typical” way, but let me give a few examples. A single girl in her mid-20s recently gave us a missions report about her recent trip to Southeast Asia. Especially those of us who are parents of teenage daughters in the group were very grateful for her role model and inspiration.

In general, women participate in the Bible study just as men do, contributing to the discussion. They also help with refreshments, crafts and activities for smaller children, send cards and e-mails to visitors and members who were absent from the class, and help organize socials (such as a forthcoming “Harvest lunch” after church next Sunday).

All in all, this is an attractive setting for those who believe the church, as the “family of God,” should model family life of brothers and sisters of all ages in the Lord in an integrated way (rather than the usual segregation into age groups). I hope this helps!

]]> By: bonnie http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-24911 bonnie Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:11:03 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-24911 Thanks for this thoughtful post. As this is worked out practically, I wonder how singles fit in, especially single childless women and single female parents. As fathers lead in worship, how do the other women (married and single) participate? I do understand the model advocated, and I agree that this is more biblical approach. I just wonder what this looks like on a typical day. Thanks for this thoughtful post. As this is worked out practically, I wonder how singles fit in, especially single childless women and single female parents. As fathers lead in worship, how do the other women (married and single) participate? I do understand the model advocated, and I agree that this is more biblical approach. I just wonder what this looks like on a typical day.

]]> By: Alan http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-23507 Alan Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:11:43 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-23507 Thank you for this very thoughtful post. In the ten years that I served as a youth minister, I became increasingly more disenchanted with the compartmentalizing that accompanies the way in which we attempt to minister to families. I look forward to later posts on how Kingdom Families develops as a working model in a local church. Thank you for this very thoughtful post. In the ten years that I served as a youth minister, I became increasingly more disenchanted with the compartmentalizing that accompanies the way in which we attempt to minister to families. I look forward to later posts on how Kingdom Families develops as a working model in a local church.

]]> By: Jason Parker http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-23460 Jason Parker Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:34:57 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-23460 Thank you for posting these thoughts, Dr. Kostenberger. Our church is striving to learn and grow in this area, as well, and we appreciate this stimulation to biblical discussion. Thank you for posting these thoughts, Dr. Kostenberger. Our church is striving to learn and grow in this area, as well, and we appreciate this stimulation to biblical discussion.

]]> By: Singles » Kingdom Families http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-23423 Singles » Kingdom Families Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:56:00 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-23423 [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThese, in turn, are typically divided into people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, Singles, Seniors, and so on. Then there are separate men’s and women’s ministries. How is this arrangement supposed to strengthen families? … [...] [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThese, in turn, are typically divided into people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, Singles, Seniors, and so on. Then there are separate men’s and women’s ministries. How is this arrangement supposed to strengthen families? … [...]

]]> By: Andreas Köstenberger on Kingdom Families | Said At Southern Seminary http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-23335 Andreas Köstenberger on Kingdom Families | Said At Southern Seminary Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:07:43 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-23335 [...] Andreas Köstenberger has posted a new article on Kingdom Families. He says: Every church, when asked, will of course say that they are supporting families. But is this necessarily the case? In many (if not most) churches what we actually find is a highly age-segregated model . . . I believe many churches need to take a look at this question and squarely face the possible negative implications of this kind of approach to ministry with regard to families. [...] [...] Andreas Köstenberger has posted a new article on Kingdom Families. He says: Every church, when asked, will of course say that they are supporting families. But is this necessarily the case? In many (if not most) churches what we actually find is a highly age-segregated model . . . I believe many churches need to take a look at this question and squarely face the possible negative implications of this kind of approach to ministry with regard to families. [...]

]]> By: Todd Pruitt http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/blog/the-church/kingdom-families/comment-page-1#comment-23325 Todd Pruitt Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:56:54 +0000 http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=137#comment-23325 Great post. I appreciate your humble approach to the subject. Our church is currently conversing on this very topic. Most of us raised in evangelical churches never experienced family and generational integration. As a result, most of us never saw a pattern of the older members of the community mentoring and discipling the younger members. Our older brothers and sisters are segregated into senior adult departments where they are treated to a regular diet of banquet, game nights, and fall foliage tours. I have met precious few men and women who have experience mentoring younger adults. It simply has not been a part of the American church culture (for the most part). I applaud the approach you are taking with the forming of an integrated class. I appreciate the care to affirm those who are single, widowed, or divorced. They are often left out of meaningful involvement in such approaches. Press on and blessings! todd pruitt Great post. I appreciate your humble approach to the subject. Our church is currently conversing on this very topic. Most of us raised in evangelical churches never experienced family and generational integration. As a result, most of us never saw a pattern of the older members of the community mentoring and discipling the younger members. Our older brothers and sisters are segregated into senior adult departments where they are treated to a regular diet of banquet, game nights, and fall foliage tours.

I have met precious few men and women who have experience mentoring younger adults. It simply has not been a part of the American church culture (for the most part). I applaud the approach you are taking with the forming of an integrated class. I appreciate the care to affirm those who are single, widowed, or divorced. They are often left out of meaningful involvement in such approaches. Press on and blessings!

todd pruitt

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