Heartaculturist

Jesus said explicitly in Luke 18:16-17:
"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God."
I just finished teaching earliteens today. I absolutely love to teach this age group. This age group is a time of vital spiritual importance. It is the time of life when the seeds that parents have planted now become the child’s personal responsibility to water and grow. Sure the parent must still assist the child in this growing process – but it is here that the child must learn the tools to grow and cultivate a spiritual life.

It was at twelve that Jesus pronounced to Mary and Joseph that he must be about his father’s work. It is at this time our kids must set out to develop and grow the seeds of the fruit of God’s spirit that lay dormant in our lives without water* and nurture**. Inversely, it is at the age of 12 the devil through the guises of the world turns up the heat of temptation to scorch those seeds. The average age most kids start experimenting with drugs, alcohol and sex is 12-13. The enemy knows if he can capture and destroy young minds by entrapping them in a life of self indulgence (sex, drugs) and self entitlement he can scorch the seeds of the spirit.  Making this time of life important in the great controversy. 

You hear often lamented “Young people are leaving the church in droves. The future of the church is at stake and something has to be done about it.” Even more frightening the future of the church is the future of the individual! I believe the church will prevail until the end of time…Jesus predicted that when he said “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail (Matthew 16:28). But Jesus gave one of the strongest admonitions to those who hinder the development of children (and new believers) when he said, ‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. God is not nearly as concerned about the church as he is about the spiritual development of His children!

I am committed to teaching the tools of "hearticulture" (the development of the seeds that have been planted in the young Christian heart. With the primary focus on the why and the how. Giving each child that I can the vital tools to sow a beautiful lifelong love with the giver of all that is good. To expose the “environmental” hazard that will destroy the sowing, reaping and harvest of the heart. I pray that more teachers, pastors, churches, and parents will take up the challenge and build a commitment to join the master Gardener in the development of eternal life.

*Water of life = John 4:10
**How to grow: 2 Peter 3:18

1. In order to grow we need to eat—The Bible



2. In order to grow we need to breathe—Prayer


3. In order to grow we need good spiritual hygiene—Confession of sin


4. In order to grow we need a caring family—Fellowship


5. In order to grow we need regular exercise—Service


6. In order to grow we need protection—Temptation


7. In order to grow we need to give—Stewardship