Raising Godly Boys Minute

A young boy was playing with his pet goldfish, when he accidentally killed it. Scared he would get in trouble, the boy, named David, lied about what happened to his fish. Immediately, he felt guilty. He confessed the lie to his mom as tears streamed down his face. His mom said, “David, Jesus loves you no matter what you have done.” That little boy was David Frey, who grew up to be the lead singer of the Christian band Sidewalk Prophets. He wrote a song about that experience, called “You...

Did you listen to your parents, or did you listen to your friends? Friendships can define a boy’s life. More than that, friendships in a group can provide identity. There is a reason sports teammates will fight viciously for one another on the field. It’s also why gangs are so prevalent– it gives boys a sense of belonging, and can drive them to do things they know are wrong. How can you help your son choose? It doesn’t have to be left to chance. You can give him god...

Show. Don’t just tell. In Philippians 3:10, Paul says, “I want to know Christ.” He isn’t talking about head knowledge. In both the Greek and Hebrew languages, the word knowledge is experience based. Paul was saying that he longs to experience God in all of His glory. That should be our heart’s cry as Christian parents. We can take our son to church and tell him about the importance of a relationship with Jesus. But the best way to teach our boys is to show them. Let your son see you mee...

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” But how? How do we as parents give our sons the chance for glorious triumphs? Break free of the tyranny of screens! Go outdoors, and teach your son to test his mettle against a lofty mountain p...

Your son craves four things. First, he craves belonging– to “fit in.” Second, he wants a sense of competence. He needs to feel “good enough.” Third– boys need to know their worth. And the fourth thing that boys crave is a sense of autonomy. They want freedom and independence. The next time your son is upset or angry, it may be a good idea to go through this list in your head. Which craving is your son lacking? Then, once it’s identified, help your son find age-appropriate, healthy, ways...

How can you train your son into good character, character that will last, character that will see him become a man of responsibility and action? The allures of society can drown your son in ease of life, pleasure, and infinite time-wasting. Many young men simply fail to do anything with their lives. It doesn’t have to be this way. Irving Stone wrote of Michelangelo in The Agony and the Ecstasy, “...his own integrity… forced him to do his best, even when he would have preferred to do ...

It was just three simple words. Evangelical Louis Palau was fighting terminal lung cancer. During that time, someone asked him, “After you pass away, if you could send a message down from heaven to all believers, what do you think you would say?” Palau thought for a moment, then responded with three simple words: “Go for it.” That kind of God-rooted courage is one of the most important traits to instill in our son. When he’s little, this looks like letting him climb and explore in age-...

What is your son afraid of? In today’s world, there is a lot to fear. School, friends, teachers, and classes are just a few. Social media and today’s culture pile on enough to scare most adults, let alone children. But the bible says, “God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Anchor your son in the word of God. Lead your children to godliness by example. Give them righteous mentors that will train them in the way they shoul...

“Raising boys is an extreme sport. That’s why I wear workout clothes every day.” That’s a lighthearted quote from the blog Simply Well Balanced, but it sure has a lot of truth in it! Raising a son is a good way to rack up the steps on your fitness watch. But let me affirm you— if you’re letting your boy be wild– you’re probably doing it right. Let him run around like crazy outside. Show him how to make mud pies. Watch him do tricks on his bicycle. Go fishing together, and let him hold the...

In today's directionless culture, how can a boy know which way to go? As a boy, Luke climbed a 13,000-foot peak. It was terrifying and exhilarating! Just below the summit, the path went through a channel cut into the rock by ferocious winds. Protecting him from being swept off the rock face were steel cables mounted deep into the rock, secured there by the forest service. Confident of the steel cables' protection and seeing the summit, heI forged ahead and ...

A perfect parent would raise a terrible son. If you’re like many of us, when your head hits the pillow at night, your mind buzzes with the ways you could have been a better parent to your son. But Ali Worthington, author of the book Remaining You While Raising Them, says to stop beating yourself up. She says even a perfect parent can raise a son who doesn’t know how to apologize or deal with a friend’s bad day. Our creator God is so kind and powerful that he can use even our weaknesses as...

How do you feel about your son's friends? Do they make him a better person? Do they encourage him to do the right thing? Do your son's friends show him how to serve selflessly? Scripture says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This is doubly true for boys, who are still moldable clay, waiting to be formed by whatever-- and whoever-- is around them. More than listening to the same music and watching the same movies, boys learn from each other, and ...

Disciplining your son takes courage. Whether your son is a toddler with a squeaky voice or a teenager with floppy hair, disciplining him can be quite a challenge. You may be met with a tantrum, eye rolls, or even the dreaded “I hate you!” Sometimes, the response from your son might be so harsh that you wonder if discipline does more harm than good. But don’t lose heart. Saying no and laying down consequences is an act of love. When your son hurts your feelings with his response, ask...

Here’s a simple language shift that can reach the heart of your son. When your boy is bickering with a sibling or a friend, your instinct might be to say “Son, you need to be kind.” But author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs says that you might need to say something else. Dr. Eggerichs is widely known for his writings about how a man’s deepest desire is for respect. He says that desire starts when boys are very young. So much so, that if you tell your son to be kind and loving – that concep...

Why does your son need to learn courage? Does he need to stand up for himself? Stand up for others? Stand up for what is right? In today’s world, he will need to do all of these and more. English poet and playwright Sameul Johnson said, “Where courage is not, no other virtue can survive except by accident.” Lead by example. Give your son godly mentors. Provide opportunities for him to test himself with the rush of a downhill bike course, a hard-fought game of sports, or ...

It was just three simple words. Evangelical Louis Palau was fighting terminal lung cancer. During that time, someone asked him, “After you pass away, if you could send a message down from heaven to all believers, what do you think you would say?” Palau thought for a moment, then responded with three simple words: “Go for it.” That kind of God-rooted courage is one of the most important traits to instill in our son. When he’s little, this looks like letting him climb and explore in age-a...

Have you ever had a mentor or teacher that you wish you had listened to? In a whitewater course, two seasoned veterans taught the intricacies of draw strokes, pry strokes, reading a rapid, and the joy of eddy turns. But five minutes onto the river, one boy panicked, ignored the calls of his mentors, and ended up capsizing his canoe in the middle of a rapid and wrapping it around a large rock, while everyone else eddied up safely on the other side of the river. Teach your son to liste...

David Thomas, a psychologist, was attending an elderly grandpa’s funeral. David watched as two of the man’s grandsons approached the casket. One boy, who was six years old, cried loudly. Beside him stood another boy– fourteen years old– who was holding back his tears. David overheard some adults express concern about the crying six year old. But David was more worried about the silent older boy. While the six year old was clearly processing his emotions, the fourteen year old was bo...

What is Black Friday, really? What is it about? Pursuing hard-to-find items only available for a short time is a treasure hunt to many. How can you use Black Friday to teach your children about faith in Christ? The bible says few find the path to salvation, and this short life is the only time we have to find it. In some ways, Black Friday is like the man who found a hidden treasure in a field and sold everything he had to get it. Give your children every opportunity to know t...

What is your son thankful for? The Pilgrims were thankful to be alive. They fled from religious persecution, faced the terror of the North Atlantic in a tiny ship and potential starvation when their supplies ran out. Today, your son faces new and harsh challenges to his faith and even his identity as a male. How can you help him navigate past his obstacles into godly, thankful manhood? Model Christ for him. Live out your faith. Teach him to love the word of God. Al...