Family

At Pilgrim Bible Church, we believe strongly in the priority of discipling and mentoring children in the Lord. We believe this priority is clearly stated in Scripture, therefore our ministry to our youth is principally governed by the following Biblical command:

“ ...fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

The priority of a child's discipleship is clearly presented in this text. Children must be lovingly nutured by their parents, through the leadership of the father. Ultimately, this is the youth ministry of Pilgrim Bible Church. This is why the ministry to youth at PBC is not set upon particular programs for children, but rather it is grounded in the priority of building up parents so that they can carry out the needed ministry of discipleship to their children. Such an important principle does not preclude certain events and activities for our youth, but it does establish the foundation of our ministry to our youth and their families. Therefore one of the ongoing ministries of PBC, which seeks to build up our families in Christ, is a series of instructions concerning the institution of marriage and child training called, “The First Institution”. Within the body of Biblical instruction offered here at PBC, the following principles are regularly advanced for our members:

1. The centrality of the love of Christ and the worship of our Triune God in all aspects of marriage and child training.

2. The importance of the roles of the husband and the wife in marriage and parenting. The husband's leadership and the wife's support as his helper are indispensible components to a healthy marriage and family.

3. The priority of fathers leading their homes by the Scriptures through times of family instruction/worship. Of the many things that Ephesians 6:4 teaches us, one of the important lessons that cannot be missed is that fathers are the shepherds and priests of their homes and must take seriously the priority of leading their homes for the glory of God.

Our culture is rapidly changing from day to day, and yet the principles of God's Word have not changed. In this changing world there are many things which families can involve themselves in, things which may advance a child's education and physical strength. However, there are so many possibilities in this present age that parents often find themselves overextended and overcommitted, while falling short of the simple instructions of Ephesians 6:4. But the greatest legacy that parents are to seek in their children is the spiritual one, such that by the sovereign grace of God, their offspring would be more than their descendents in the flesh, but spiritual offspring who love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

The challenges to this priority are many in our contemporary culture filled with philosophies of career-worship, materialism, self-esteem and the exaltation of countless other forms of man-centered living. In order for the family of God to successfully sail through the storms of this life, they must trail behind the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is such a great need for reformation in our nation and world. We must return to the priorities of those Reformers of old who embraced Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, being grounded in the Scriptures alone: all for the glory of God alone. At the end of our lives, nothing else will matter at all; not our wealth, education, power, prestige or influence in this world. In that final day of judgment men will be measured by whether they trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, or not. For the children of God who did trust the Savior, no deeds in this life will have any value, save those which were accomplished by the power of God and for the glory of Christ. Such a simple truth as this is powerful and life changing for those who know the Savior.

With this in mind, let parents be consumed with the priority of living for the glory of God such that they spend their days commending their children to the Lord, through their prayers and through their training, knowing that their frail lives are as a fleeting breath. And may husbands and fathers find their true satisfaction in the spiritual growth and maturation of their families as they labor as priests and shepherds in their homes.