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Sam Crabtree

Sam Crabtree serves as a pastor at The North Church. He is the author of Parenting with Loving Correction: Practical Help for Raising Young Children.

Our Children Raise Us: Lessons from the School of Parenting

Our Children Raise Us

Lessons from the School of Parenting

Regardless of whether your home is a school for your kids, it is always a school for you. To parents willing to learn, children teach a thousand lessons.

What Will Your Home Teach? Cultivating a Christlike Family Culture

What Will Your Home Teach?

Cultivating a Christlike Family Culture

The culture of our homes will either reinforce what we say about Christ or make it seem empty. So, how can parents create a Christlike family culture?

A Leader for the Long Haul: The Legacy of Enduring Pastors

A Leader for the Long Haul

The Legacy of Enduring Pastors

Some of the men most worthy of honor get exceedingly little attention — and they don’t mind that a bit. Meet a pastor who loved his people well for the long haul.

What If God Were Happy?

What If God Were Happy?

Many of us have believed and obeyed and even loved a God who made and rules all things. But what if that God were also infinitely happy?

My Flesh and My Heart Did Fail: Learning from a Health Scare

My Flesh and My Heart Did Fail

Learning from a Health Scare

“My flesh and my heart may fail. . . .” The words take on new, greater, and richer meaning when you actually experience your heart stop beating.

Fatherhood for Imperfect Dads

Fatherhood for Imperfect Dads

Fathers, your children will fall short of your expectations. And you will fall short of your own. Don’t let imperfection keep you from loving well.

Children Grow Slow and Leave Fast

Children Grow Slow and Leave Fast

Don’t begrudge the slowness of parenting. Raising a child will not be efficient, and it cannot be rushed — but with God’s help, it can be done well.

How Do I Talk to My Children About Sex?

How Do I Talk to My Children About Sex?

Teaching our children about sex has to do with God: What has he said? What does he want? Will we trust and follow him?

Should Parents Spank Their Children?

Should Parents Spank Their Children?

Not all spanking harms children — but some may. So, what distinguishes good spanking from bad?

When a Child Disobeys: Six Steps for Healthy Correction

When a Child Disobeys

Six Steps for Healthy Correction

Parents, correction will be most effective when it’s given in a context of consistent affirmation.

Parents, Let Your ‘No’ Be ‘No’

Parents, Let Your ‘No’ Be ‘No’

When we parents say one thing to our children and ultimately cave and do something else, we are training our children not to trust us.

The Pleasure of Praising Others

The Pleasure of Praising Others

God is not only praised by praising him directly for who he is and for his works in nature, but when we commend other people.

Until Death Do Us Part — For Real

Until Death Do Us Part — For Real

If anything but death is an option for ending a marriage, then don’t say “until death” in your wedding vows. Tell the truth. Promise what is meant. Say something like “until adultery, abandonment, or abuse.” Say what you mean. God…

The Pastor as Lead Affirmer

The Pastor as Lead Affirmer

Desiring God 2014 Conference for Pastors

Pastors are not to build up the self-esteem of their people but rather lead by example in affirming others, because God is an affirmer.

Still Not Professionals

Still Not Professionals

Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors

In this collection of writings, nine veteran pastors challenge and encourage the next generation of church leaders.

20 Verses for God-Centered Administrators

God doesn’t need us. We need him. Don’t get the roles reversed. We are not indispensable. He is. This is an essential reminder for all of us — and especially those of us in heavily administrative and “executive” roles. We…

Praising Others

Theology Refresh: Podcast for Christian Leaders

Sam Crabtree commends the joy of commending others.

Brothers, Praise Somebody Other Than God

Brothers, praise somebody other than God. I can hear blasphemy sirens going off in readers’ minds. If “praise somebody other than God” means “praise somebody instead of God,” or “more than God,” the concern is warranted indeed. But if…

Praising Others Is Not Optional

God-centered praise of those who are not God is not optional. A fire not stoked goes out. A refrigerator unplugged rots the eggs. A garden not tended erupts with weeds. Affirmation is the fire-stoking, refrigerator-electrifying, garden-tending side of relationships. Relationships…

Moving From Fuzzy Platitudes to Concrete Praise

Yesterday we saw wisdom in commending that which is most commendable in people. What is it that makes something commendable? All beauty is rooted in Jesus Christ, who is the flawless standard of everything good. We should praise that which…

Is It God-Centered to Praise People?

Isn’t the commendation of people idolatrous? If we should make our boast in God alone, how dare we praise mere people? Have we gone off the deep end, away from God-centeredness and into the popular cultural psycho-jargon of self-esteem? No.…

Six Important Links to the Meaning of Hope

Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 1. Link Between Gratitude and Hope Gratefulness looks…

Discussion with Sam Crabtree

Practicing affirmation is an often neglected discipline that involves keeping our eyes open for sightings of Jesus in other people and calling them out when we do.

2 Kinds of Outdoing

What should Christians, especially those who are non-sports fans, make of the Olympics Everything in the material universe points to something of significance in the non-material realm. By saying so, I am not trying to diminish the significance of the…

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