Advertise on podcast: The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

In this episode, Steph talks with psychologist, author, and Love and Logic expert Dr. Charles Fay about raising kids whose faith goes deeper than simply knowing how to behave like a Christian. Charles shares why spiritually strong kids aren't perfect kids, why faith is ultimately a gift from God, and how parents can nurture faith without trying to control the outcome. They talk about allowing kids to make mistakes while the stakes are still small, holding boundaries with empathy, modeling repentance when we get it wrong, and helping kids learn to depend on God through life's struggles. They also unpack the temptation to believe in a kind of "parenting prosperity gospel": that if we read the right books, follow the right strategies, and work hard enough, our kids are guaranteed to become faithful adults. Instead, Charles encourages parents to focus on what God has actually called us to do and trust him with the results. Resources Mentioned About Charles Fay Love and Logic Institute Raising Spiritually Strong Kids book The Word in our Home Christmas Gift guide Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps NiRV Question & Answer Bible for Kids Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Sign up for Morning Minute Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For many Christian parents, sending a child to public school can feel intimidating. Questions about faith, culture, religious freedom, and discipleship often create anxiety. In this episode, Steph sits down with Kori Pennypacker, CEO of Bible2School and author of Backpack Faith, to discuss practical ways parents can prepare their children to confidently follow Jesus in public school. Kori shares why parents remain the primary disciplers of their children regardless of where they attend school, how Christian students can legally live out their faith at school, and why building relationships with teachers and administrators matters. She also explains why biblical literacy benefits children far beyond their spiritual lives and offers simple ways families can build everyday discipleship into their routines. Resources Mentioned Website Backpack Faith book Bible2School Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Liberty Counsel Christian Parenting School Simplified digital download (with links to school choice series and more!) Don't Stress Talking Sex The Word in our Home Raising Spiritually Strong Kids GO Bible Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, therapist and author Sissy Goff joins Steph to talk about what kids really need when they're experiencing loss and how their grief can look very different from ours. Sissy explains why grief isn't linear, how kids often revisit loss as they grow and reach new developmental milestones, and why behaviors like anger, anxiety, or even risk-taking can sometimes be signs of sadness underneath. She also talks about secondary losses, why consistency and boundaries still matter during hard seasons, and the importance of surrounding our kids with safe, steady adults. If your family is walking through grief, or you simply want to know how to support your kids when loss eventually comes, this conversation offers practical wisdom, permission to grieve, and the reminder that God is still faithful even in the hardest moments. Resources Mentioned Raising Boys and Girls Daystar Counseling Helping Kids Through Grief book Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps GO Bible Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What will heaven actually be like, and how do we talk to our kids about it? In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation from the Faith & Clarity podcast with Dr. Mark Turman and author Randy Alcorn about his children’s book, Heaven on Earth, and the biblical promise of a new heaven and new earth. We talk about resurrection, grief, losing loved ones, miscarriage, disabilities, animals, and some of the big questions kids ask about eternity. If your family has ever wondered what happens after we die, this conversation will help you move beyond the “clouds and harps” picture of heaven and toward the incredible hope Scripture gives us for what is to come. Resources Mentioned Eternal Perspectives Ministry Heaven on Earth book Denison Forum Faith and Clarity Podcast Hands on Bible Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we wrap up our  discipleship series, we're talking about one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of raising children who continue following Jesus into adulthood: having meaningful spiritual conversations. In this episode, Steph talks with Katheryn Saunders, author of Having Spiritual Conversations with Your Kids, about how parents can create safe spaces where children ask honest questions, wrestle with their faith, and ultimately build a relationship with Jesus that becomes their own. This conversation beautifully ties together everything we've explored throughout the discipleship series. Reading Scripture, praying together, worshiping through music, serving others, and practicing everyday discipleship all become even more powerful when they're accompanied by genuine conversations that help our kids process what they believe and why. Resources Mentioned: Having Spiritual Conversations With Your Kids book Hands on Bible Thanks-Living: Embracing the Power of Gratitude Every Day Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if one of the simplest ways to disciple your children was as easy as pressing play? In this episode of our discipleship series, we're looking at another practice that research from Lifeway identified as having a significant impact on helping children develop a lasting faith: listening to Christian music. Steph is joined by Jason Houser, Executive Director of Seeds Kids Worship, a ministry that has spent more than two decades helping families hide God's Word in their hearts through Scripture-based worship music. Together they explore why music has such a powerful influence on our hearts, how worship songs create natural opportunities for conversations about God, and why Christian music isn't just something to listen to on Sunday—it can become a simple rhythm that shapes your family's faith every day. Resources Mentioned Seeds Kids Worship Dedicated by Jason Houser Calming Your Anxious Child Thanks-Living: Embracing the Power of Gratitude Every Day Hands on Bible Christian Parenting's latest prayer journal:  Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation (PS You can also listen to Pardon the Mess podcasteach Monday starting September 14th to listen to guided prayer and reflection that follows the journal.) Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if one of the most important things you can do for your child’s faith is help them become part of the church, not just attend it? In this episode of our discipleship series, I’m joined by Sarah and Eric Holmstrom to talk about why regularly serving in church can have such a lasting impact on our kids’ faith. Sarah and Eric share how serving has shaped their own family, why kids are never too young to begin, and practical ways to help children discover where their gifts and personalities fit within the church. We also talk about what to do when your child doesn’t want to serve, why more is often caught than taught, and how to create a family culture of serving without making it feel like something we do to earn God’s love. If you want your kids to know they have a place and a purpose in God’s kingdom, this conversation will encourage you to move beyond simply going to church and help your family become an active part of it. Resources: Calming Your Anxious Child Thanks-Living: Embracing the Power of Gratitude Every Day Hands on Bible Raising Prayerful Kids book Christian Parenting's latest prayer journal: Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation (PS You can also listen to Pardon the Mess podcast each Monday starting September 14th to listen to guided prayer and reflection that follows the journal.) Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Steph continues the discipleship series by exploring one of the strongest predictors of lasting faith: regular prayer. We know prayer is important, but many parents feel unsure where to begin or worry they aren't "good enough" at praying out loud. In this episode, Steph sits down with author Erica Renaud to talk about how prayer becomes the foundation of a child's relationship with God. Together they discuss practical ways families can incorporate prayer into everyday life, how to move beyond memorized prayers without abandoning them, and how to help children navigate unanswered prayer with trust in God's character. Whether your children are preschoolers, teenagers, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers simple encouragement to help your family grow closer to God through prayer. Resources Mentioned Website Pray With Me book Raising Prayerful Kids book The Creation of Us Hands on Bible The Secret Life of Christians Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! You can also listen to Pardon the Mess podcast each Monday to listen to guided prayer and reflection that follows the journal beginning September 14th! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Bible can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to read it with your kids. Where do you start? How do you help them understand it? And how do you make it something they actually enjoy? In this episode, Steph continues the discipleship series by exploring one of the strongest predictors of lasting faith: regularly reading Scripture at home. Joined by Andrew and Charlotte Ollerton, authors of God's Story, Our Story, they discuss why understanding the Bible as one unified story changes everything. They also share practical ways to make family Bible reading simple, engaging, and consistent without adding guilt or pressure. If you've ever felt intimidated by opening the Bible with your children, this conversation will encourage you to start small, stay faithful, and trust God to use his Word to shape your family's faith for years to come. Resources Mentioned God’s Story, Our Story book God’s Story, Our Story journey cards The Creation of Us Hands on Bible Maker of the Mountain Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Every Christian parent wants to raise kids with a lasting faith, but with so much parenting advice available, it's easy to wonder where to focus your time and energy. In this episode, Steph kicks off a special discipleship series by sitting down with Janet Magruder of Lifeway Christian Resources to discuss the groundbreaking research behind the book Nothing Less. After years of studying what influences children who grow into adults with a vibrant, enduring faith, the research points to a handful of practices that consistently make the biggest difference. If you've ever wondered what matters most when it comes to discipling your kids at home, this conversation will encourage you to let go of the pressure to do everything and instead invest in the things that have the greatest lasting impact on your child's faith. Resources Mentioned Lifeway Kids Instagram Kids Ministry Calling podcast Lifeway research The Creation of Us Hands-On Bible The Adventure Bible I Love You, Little Light Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The college years can be one of the most defining seasons in a young person's faith. So how can parents prepare their kids to stand firm long before they leave home? In this episode, Steph sits down with longtime college ministry leader Paul Worcester to discuss the spiritual habits that help faith last. They talk about the power of Scripture memory, daily time in God's Word, the challenges today's college students face, and practical ways parents can train, not just teach, their teens to follow Christ. Paul also shares how his new Bible study, Thrive, equips college students and young adults to build a faith that is grounded in Scripture and prepared to withstand the challenges of this pivotal season. Whether your child is heading to college soon or you still have years to prepare, this conversation will encourage you to invest in the kind of faith that endures Resources Mentioned Thrive Bible Study Instagram GenSend Podcast Campus Multiplication Network The Creation of Us Hands-On Bible The Adventure Bible Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Have you ever received an answer to prayer only to discover it was much harder than you expected? In this episode, author Melissa Miller talks about "change fatigue," the emotional exhaustion that can come even during the seasons we've prayed for. Melissa shares her family's adoption story, the surprising challenges that followed, and how God met her in the middle of overwhelming change. We talk about why Christians often feel guilty admitting that good change is still hard, how Scripture validates those experiences, and practical ways to process complicated emotions with God. If you've ever felt grateful and overwhelmed at the same time, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone and that God's grace meets you right where you are. Resources Mentioned But I Prayed for This book Melissa’s website Instagram Substack Hands-On Bible The Adventure Bible Bridging Resilience Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Artificial intelligence is changing the way our families learn, work, communicate, and even seek advice. For many parents, it feels like this technology appeared overnight, leaving us wondering how to help our kids navigate it wisely. In this episode, combat veteran, speaker, and author Ben Peterson sits down to discuss why AI is more than a technology conversation. It's a discipleship conversation. Together we explore how parents can embrace the benefits of AI while protecting the God-given roles of family, community, creativity, and the Holy Spirit in their children's lives. If you've wondered where to draw healthy boundaries with AI, how to talk with your kids about using it for school, or how to raise children who seek God's wisdom before artificial intelligence, this conversation is for you. Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! Resources Mentioned When Intelligence Isn’t Human book Ben’s website The Ben Peterson Show podcast Pre-order When Intelligence Isn’t Human Hands-On Bible The Adventure Bible Bridging Resilience Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Teaching our kids Bible stories is important, but discipleship doesn't stop there. We also want our children to recognize God's guidance in their own stories, bring him into everyday conversations, and develop a genuine relationship with him that grows over time. In this episode, Bible teachers and co-authors Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer talk about helping kids move from simply knowing about God to experiencing life with Him. They discuss why stories are such powerful discipleship tools, how to answer kids' big questions about prayer and hearing God's voice, and simple ways parents can nurture faith at home. If you've ever wondered how to make faith feel more personal for your kids, this conversation is full of practical encouragement. Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! Resources Mentioned Jen’s website Gayle's website Kingswell Kids Detective series The Christian Grandparenting Podcast Shame-Free Sex Talks book The Adventure Bible Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we are joined by Scarlet Hiltibidal, who is the new host of Pardon the Mess.  Scarlet is a wife, mom of four, author, speaker, and follower of Jesus who is passionate about helping parents see the gospel in the middle of everyday family life. In this episode, Scarlet shares about her own parenting messes, including loving each of her kids well in very different seasons and needs. We talk about the pressure moms feel to get everything right, the invisible report card so many of us carry, and the freedom that comes when we remember parenting is not about our performance, but about pointing our kids to Jesus. Scarlet also gives us a look at the new format of Pardon the Mess, where she will take one real parenting struggle each week and help parents untangle it through Scripture, stories, and one small faithful step. Resources Mentioned Scarlet’s website Christian Parenting Pardon the Mess podcast Shame-Free Sex Talks book The Adventure Bible Get your copy of Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube! The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org Our Sponsors: * Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy