The RenewaNation Blog
Wisdom for shaping how children see the world
Practical, biblical insight for parents, pastors, and educators — 338+ articles on family discipleship, church ministry, and Christian education.
Articles
The RenewaNation ReviewFoundational Principles of Biblical Earth Stewardship
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. All creation belongs to Him (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 24:1). Though God reveals Himself in creation, the Bible, and His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, He is distinct from and transcendent over creation (Rom. 1:25). Those who deny the Creator/creature…
The RenewaNation ReviewHow to Help Children Understand and Defend Their Faith
You have helped train your children or grandchildren in the Christian faith. They are familiar with key Bible characters and stories, and they have even memorized Scripture passages. You’ve explained the gospel. They know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose again. They have even…
The RenewaNation ReviewSolzhenitsyn’s Prophecy
On June 8, 1978, a man with a craggy face and a beard came to Harvard University, where I was then a graduate student, to give the annual commencement address. The man was not a Harvard graduate. He was not a professor. He was not an American. He did not speak English. His address, given in his…
The RenewaNation Review2021: A Pivot Year for Charitable Giving
Where will charitable giving go in 2021? It’s a critical question. Why? In recent years, total charitable giving has run in the $400 billion range. The nonprofit sector contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy, accounting for over 5 percent of GDP.1 The 2020 Nonprofit Employment Report…
The RenewaNation ReviewA New Way to Measure Success in the Church and School
I was privileged to be a senior pastor for more than eighteen years. I was driven by a passion to see people come into a relationship with Christ and develop into fully devoted followers of Jesus. These passions and a strong sense of calling were the driving forces behind my reason for entering the…
The RenewaNation ReviewAm I a Good Steward with God’s Money?
For many Christians, handling money in the right way can be a challenge. In this culture of easy credit, some families find it difficult to manage their income and expenses properly, and some even find themselves a slave to creditors. Whether you are just starting on your financial journey or are…
The RenewaNation ReviewTraining Your Children to Worship Corporately
Gospel-centered, Bible-saturated corporate worship is supremely important for your family and children. Hundreds of worship services with Mom and Dad during the child and teens years is extremely impactful. Let your children see you prioritize gathering for weekly worship over all other life…
The RenewaNation ReviewThe Key to Kingdom Marketing: Telling the Story
Someone has said, “We write a story every day by the words that we say and by the things that we do.” As believers, we have the most incredible story ever told. As educators, we tell that story through Kingdom education. The question to be answered is, “What story will our school families and…
The RenewaNation ReviewThree Step Process for Strategic Planning
“Strategic planning” is one of those terms that just gets thrown around. The variety of perspectives on strategic planning, its processes, and its outcomes seem infinite. The problem is that you can end up drowning while trying to grab hold of this big idea while people keep saying, “We need a…
The RenewaNation ReviewThe Pilgrims’ Experiment with Socialism
The Pilgrims and economics don’t usually fall in the same textbook chapter, but maybe they should. The story of the Pilgrims shows us sacrificial commitment, self-government, and an example of honest relations with Native Americans. William Bradford, in Of Plymouth Plantation, describes their…
The RenewaNation ReviewWhy Do We Teach History?
Dr. Bryan SmithEducation isn’t just about math, science, and English. It’s also about history. But have you ever wondered why? The answer is obvious with the other subjects. How can you function in the modern world if you don’t know math and science and how to communicate? But history? Think about…
The RenewaNation ReviewThe Brewing Storm of Tax-Exempt Status
On the surface, life seems normal for Christian schools and organizations. But challenges lie ahead with a brewing storm. There’s a growing movement to label Christian schools and organizations as hate groups, affecting their tax-exempt status and funding.