Today’s church service really made me stop and think — especially as a parent and as a man trying to grow deeper in my faith.
We’re reading through the Gospels leading up to Easter, and today the focus was on a powerful moment in Luke 2:41–52 — when 12-year-old Jesus stayed behind in the temple while Mary and Joseph unknowingly traveled a full day without Him.
Imagine that. Losing the Son of God.
But what stood out wasn’t just that He was in the temple. It was what He was doing there.
He wasn’t preaching. He wasn’t correcting scholars. He wasn’t taking over the room.
- He was listening.
- He was asking questions.
- He was learning.
Jesus was curious.
Sometimes we tell this story like young Jesus was lecturing everyone, but Scripture actually says He was sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. He had a hunger to understand. He wanted to know the heart of His Father.
And that didn’t happen by accident.
Mary and Joseph weren’t scholars. They weren’t theologians. They were humble people who made it a priority to go to Jerusalem every year for Passover — a 70+ mile trip on foot. They led their child toward worship. They pointed his mind toward God’s Word.
They didn’t indoctrinate Him. They nurtured curiosity.
That’s a big difference.
Indoctrination says, “Don’t question. Just believe.”
Faith says, “Seek. Ask. Knock.”
In a world full of voices — social media, AI, opinions, propaganda — our kids are going to hear everything. The question is: are we grounding them in truth before the noise gets loud?
One of the biggest takeaways for me today was this:
Faith isn’t meant to survive alone.
Even Jesus went to synagogue regularly. He wasn’t a rogue teacher detached from community. He was tethered to the people of God.
That matters.
We live in an age where church attendance can feel optional and Bible reading can feel outdated because “we can just Google it.” But that’s dangerous. If we outsource our understanding of truth to algorithms instead of Scripture, we’re building on sand.
God’s Word still matters.
Community still matters.
As someone who is constantly working on becoming a better father, this message spoke to me deeply. Our children don’t just belong to us. They are gifts entrusted to us for the world. That means we don’t raise them to cling to us — we raise them to love God and walk in truth.
And honestly, this applies to adults too.
- Am I still curious about God?
- Am I still asking questions?
- Am I still leaning into Scripture?
- Am I still tethered to a faith community?
Or am I trying to do this thing alone?
The pastor said something that really stuck with me — we need to lead our children’s feet toward the temple and point their minds toward God’s Word.
That’s not just parenting advice. That’s a life principle.
In a world that feels more chaotic every year, two anchors remain:
- The Word of God.
- The people of God.
If we hold onto those, I believe we’ll be okay.
Scripture for Today
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Luke 2:52 (NKJV)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me stay grounded in Your Word and connected to Your people. Give me humility to keep learning, courage to keep asking, and wisdom to lead my family toward You. Teach me to value what You value, and to make room in my life for Your voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
— Josh Bridges
YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE! 