Let's Parent on Purpose: Christian Marriage, Parenting, and Discipleship
385 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 136 ratingsA weekly podcast designed to strengthen your marriage, parenting, and personal relationship with Jesus. Let's Parent on Purpose is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
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Episodes
136 Picking Your Battles
August 25, 2019 16:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBToday, we’ll be talking about discerning which battles are worth fighting with our children, teenagers, and our spouses. How do we know which battles to pick and when to let go? Together, we’ll look at some really helpful questions to ask as we seek to navigate these challenges with wisdom. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS When do I let my kids make their own decisions, and when do I stay involved? This question applies to so many areas of life: grades, dating, friendships, a clean room, respect, their r...
135 You Are Not In Control
August 18, 2019 16:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBWe’re going to change things up today. We’re going to do a little devotion about a big truth. Walk with me through my favorite Psalm, 127, and learn how we can apply it to our lives. Show Highlights This was a song they would sing as they were marching up the temple steps in Jerusalem each year. It beings as a powerful reminder that, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Think about...
134 Starting Off the School Year Well
August 11, 2019 16:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBToday’s big question: How do you, as a parent, emotionally and spiritually set yourself up for starting the school year off well? I want to propose four truths to consider, and what we might do in response to these truths. Audible credits have allowed me to enjoy books such as Free to Focus, Atomic Habits, Harry Potter books, and The Body Keeps the Score. I highly recommend Parenting by Paul David Tripp. In it are not tips and tricks on how to be a good parent, but direction on resetting...
133 Overwhelming Stress: Unstacking the Stack
August 04, 2019 16:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBWe’ve all been there. Life gets to be so overwhelming that we start using words like “stress” and “anxiety” to describe the way it makes us feel. What can be done about it? How do we unpack, rearrange, or maybe eliminate the heavy boxes in our lives? My friend and Christian Counselor, Brian Neal, joins me again today to share wisdom on the matter. A father of six, husband of 28 years, and Marriage and Family counselor, Brian provides a few strategies for tackling these stacks. (Click here to...
132 Helping Husbands with Communication and Empathy
July 28, 2019 16:33 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBToday, I’m talking to the guys. But ladies, I think you will be blessed by the conversation today, too. I hope you’ll join me as I talk about ways husbands can help their wives when they’re overwhelmed. I’m going to provide tools and solutions that you can implement right away, and I encourage you to share these with others. This is the next podcast in my You Ask It, I Answer It series. To view the last episode, click here. Show Highlights When your wife says she’s overwhelmed, listen fi...
131 What If We Have Different Love Languages?
July 21, 2019 16:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBWhat if my primary love language is not physical touch and my spouse’s is? Spouses can each experience love differently, but to have a healthy marriage, it’s vital to learn how to love your spouse in the ways they receive love. Listen to this episode to grow in your understanding of the importance of physical touch, learn how to actively love your spouse better even if physical touch isn’t your primary love language, and even learn about the many benefits of physical touch. Show Highlig...
130 Messy Houses and Grace Filled Gaps
July 14, 2019 16:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWe each have different bents; what’s important to us many times looks different for each spouse – a clean house, an organized garage, etc. There will be plenty of trials in life that you have no control over so why not just strengthen the areas you DO have control over? Join me today as I discuss some practical tools in loving your spouse through actions and filling in the gaps with grace. We may not always be drawn to serve or lift each other up, but we find that sprinkling undeserved fa...
129 Making A Blended Family Work
July 07, 2019 16:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBOne out of every three families in the United States is some form of blended family. Many have asked for wisdom on how to make their blended families work. Today I bring in the two wisest people I know on the subject: my dad and mom! Dan and Pat Holland are 45 years into their second marriage, and share a lifetime of wisdom from raising a family of 5 children. Show Highlights Intro to my parents dating and marriage What it was like in the 60s and 70s to be a divorced Christian in the ch...
128 Your Family Can Travel the World
June 30, 2019 16:00 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBWhat if you could figure out how to take your family around the world to experience people and culture beyond the basic tourist experience? My new friend Susan Whitehead has spent the last several years traveling the world, even living in foreign countries, with her family of 8. All of this started with a one way ticket to Costa Rica and $3,000 in the bank. Along the way, she’s figured out how to master planes, rentals, and cultures while her family experiences the world that goes much deepe...
127 How to Influence Your Children More Than Social Media
June 23, 2019 16:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBWhether your children have phones and iPads or not, they are massively influenced by social media because of the culture we live in. It can be scary. But you’re still the parent, and you get to have the biggest influence in your child’s life. Youth Pastor and podcast host Aaron Mamuyac, student pastor and host of the We Think God is Awesome Podcast, joins me to discus ways we can make sure that we are still capturing the heart of our children. Click Here if you’d like to download a copy o...
126 Falling in Love With The Process
June 16, 2019 16:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBGoals are great, but goals alone don’t change much. Until you have a process or a system, goals are just opportunities for disappointment. Today I am going to share why it’s much more important to define and love your process than it is to live and die by goal setting. Click Here if you’d like to download a copy of my 52 week Scripture Memory Tool. This is the third podcast in my series on Habits and Transformation 124 The Surprising Power of Small Changes 125 How to Start or Stop ...
125 How to Start or Stop Any Habit
June 09, 2019 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBAs my friend always says, “your habits are perfectly suited to give you the life you are living.” If you want to change your life, change your habits. In this week’s podcast, I share steps for starting, starting, or replacing any habit. Learn to master this in your own life and you will be primed to unleash the power of habit in your family! This is the second of a three part series I am doing on transformation through intentional habit change. You’re welcome to jump right in to today’s po...
124 The Surprising Power of Small Changes
June 02, 2019 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBTiny changes can work like compound interest over long periods of time. This week we begin a three part series on change, habits, and transformation. Rather than focus on radical change, we’re going to learn the atomic power of getting just one percent better. If you catch the vision and apply them, these concepts can change any aspect of your life. As James Clear says, “You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results.” Is Let’s Parent on Purpos...
LPOP 123 Creating a Plan for Summer Growth
May 27, 2019 07:16 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBSometimes we overcomplicate things. My good friend and brother-in-law Brent Gibson has been using a simple spiritual growth strategy with his children for each of the last three summers. Today, we talk about being intentional dads, and Brent shares how he’s encouraged Bible Study, memorization, and reading with his children each summer. You might also want to check out my blog from Last Year: Summer Growth Plan Show Highlights If I am not the most centrally present male figure in my k...
LPOP 122 How Can We Benefit From Counseling?
May 19, 2019 16:31 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBWe invest in our retirement. We invest in our physical fitness. We invest in our caffeine habit. Why wouldn’t we invest in our family relationships? My friend Brian Neal of True Course Counseling joins me today to talk about the benefits of pastoral and professional counseling, the different ways counseling can help a family get “unstuck”, and how counseling can help a healthy family reach the next level. We also talk about common conflict issues and tools you can use for resolution before ...
121 Ben Trueblood: Why Young Adults Quit or Stick with the Church
May 12, 2019 16:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBStudies show 66% of teens who are active in church leave the church after high school. Ben Trueblood of LifeWay Student Ministry joins me today to discuss the missing links and how we can help our kids stay connected to the church as they leave home. Show Highlights Lifeway released a survey of 23-30 year olds who were active in church throughout their high school years. The goal was to track their church engagement from ages 18-22. The biggest focus of this study was on the retention...
How Your Marriage Affects Your Parenting
May 05, 2019 16:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBMy good friend Jenny Price joins me today to talk about THE most important relationship in your home! Nothing affects the development and stability of your children as much as your marriage. Ignore the health of your marriage at your own (and your children’s) risk! In conjunction with this episode I’ve created a free tool for you and your spouse. Download your free Marriage Snapshot Tool and invest in your marriage! Show Highlights Your top two most important investments: 1) your relat...
119 Finding the Gospel in Avengers Endgame
April 27, 2019 06:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MB(No Spoilers!) Whatever your preconceived notions are about this episode, you’re probably wrong! Student pastor and host of the We Think God is Awesome Podcast, Aaron Mamuyac, joins me for a fun look at movies and culture, including how we find traces of the gospel repeated over and over again in our favorite stories. Your children and their friends are most likely going to see Avengers Endgame. This gives you a great opportunity for discipleship as you help them be gospel detectives with...
118 Easter Hope in the Valley of the Shadow
April 21, 2019 06:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBToday I share why Easter gives me hope even in the darkest days of family life. I conclude with a post I wrote at 3AM on Easter Sunday five years ago, just one week after my son was diagnosed with Leukemia. As always, thank you Patreon Supporters! You’re awesome! If you want to support this podcast for as little as $1 an episode, you can do it through www.patreon.com Tweet this I am created in the image of God and am a brother of the King Most High. Who cares whether my kid qualifies m...
117 Shame and the Fear of Man
April 14, 2019 19:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” – Oswald Chambers Today’s topic highlights the intersection between the fear of man, shame and how it’s indicative of how small our God is. Learn to identify shame and then how to view it in light of God’s truth. When people are big in your life, God is small, but if God takes the proper proportion, you genuinely get to experience freedom. Thank yo...
116 Parenting Different Personalities
April 07, 2019 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBWe don’t love our children the same. We love them uniquely, because they are each unique. Because of their uniqueness, a parenting approach that works for one child could cause another one to wilt. My good friend, partner in ministry, and coach/strategist Jenny Price joins me today to talk through various personality types we find among children, and what strategies can help us get the best out of each one. Thank you to my patreon supporters! You are making the show notes and production o...
115 Trusting God
March 31, 2019 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBWe all want to be great parents with thriving kids, but the truth is that only God can change a heart. I do the best I can with all the means I can, but it’s ultimately His Spirit that reaches them. Learn how to trust that God will reach our kids hearts, shape them and eventually bring freedom as we faithfully walk this parenting journey. Show Highlights Trusting God Even When Life Hurts – the sovereignty of God. Why doesn’t He stop pain if He is all-powerful and all-loving. If God is ...
114 Three Ways to Grow Gratitude
March 24, 2019 12:00 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBGratitude is a crucial component in changing our circumstances and in helping develop the character of our children. Join me today as I discuss three ways you can encourage a heart of gratitude in your household. I want to say a special thanks to my growing group of Patreon Supporters! For as little as $1 an episode you can invest in making this podcast as I invest in your family! Show Highlights Headwinds vs Tailwinds: why we notice our disadvantages while glossing over our advantages...
113 Cultivating Meaningful Friendships
March 17, 2019 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBShow Highlights Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. Our friends determine the direction and quality of our lives. Why I should intentionally equip myself and my family on how to have the most healthy friendships How negative behaviors and bad habits become normal to us when we surround ourselves with bad company Why not to make close friends with gaping character defects Am I establishing healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones? Are my children? How do...
112 Tools for Taming the Tongue
March 10, 2019 12:00 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBIf you’re tired of putting out fires started by your tongue, you’re going to really benefit from my conversation with my friend Aidan Till. Aidan preached recently at my church Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church from James 3. What he shared about the connection between our hearts, minds, and tongue was so applicable to moms and dads I grabbed him for a followup conversation. If you want to hear the original sermon, you can find it here. I want to say a special thanks to my growing group...
Discipline Without Emotion
March 03, 2019 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBWhile it might be unrealistic to ever get to the point of disciplining without any emotion, we can at least strive to correct behavior without having a stroke. As author Dr. Kevin Leman puts it, our goal is Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours! As I mentioned, thank you for subscribing and sharing, and a BIG thank you to my Patreon supporters! For as little as $1 an episode you can help support this podcast and join our Facebook Parenting Community. Show Highlights Triggers for em...
110 A Little Change that Makes a Big Difference
February 24, 2019 12:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBSometimes it seems like a cloud of negativity hangs over our household. This week I share with you a simple change I made that helped change my perspective, as well as the reality, in my family. Show Highlights Realizing that I had become overly critical of those in my life Deciding to live like God gave me the gift of encouragement My resolution for the year: “Catch them doing good” Realizing that the vast majority of what my wife and children do is good Deciding to be the kind ...
109 Everyday Generosity with Drew and Brad Formsma
February 17, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBHow do you cultivate a culture of generosity in your family? Father and son Brad and Drew Formsma join me today to share how generosity has become a way of life in their household. Along with his dad, Drew recently published the book Everyday Generosity – becoming a generous family in a selfie world. Speaking of generosity, thank you so much to my Patreon supporters! As a token of gratitude, I’m sending a copy of Drew and Brad’s book Everyday Generosity to one of my patrons! Show Highl...
108 Culture Watch: Music and Pop Culture
February 10, 2019 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThere has been a major shift over the last several years in music and pop culture. Artists today are first brands, and then musicians. Social media, music streaming and youtube have radically changed music discovery, delivery, and influence. I have to be honest, I knew nothing about many of the top 10 Billboard artists of the year. My friend Patrick Farley is here to help educate us on which artists have cultural significance, trends in music and dance. If you find this valuable, please sh...
107 Biblical Womanhood
February 04, 2019 12:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBWe live in a world that seeks to define women by their bodies or their tasks. They are either commodities to be exploited or pawns in someone’s agenda. As a father, this breaks my heart. As a pastor, I know it’s evil. Our daughters AND sons need a healthy vision of womanhood that is not tied to an ever-changing image of physical beauty. They also need to see how women are unique image-bearers of God far beyond the tasks they do-whether in the home or in the work force. On this podcast I hu...
106 Manhood: Teaching a Biblical Identity Part 2
January 27, 2019 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWhat does it mean to be a man? The answer to this question is as important as it’s ever been. But in a post-truth culture, the answer is muddier than ever. Giving our young men and women a clear vision for manhood will ground them and give them purpose in a constant shifting culture. Today’s podcast does exactly that. Starting with a simple definition to train our small children, I expand with Robert Lewis’ definition of a REAL Man to help guide our sons and daughters as they approach adu...
105 Made in the Image of God: Teaching a Biblical Identity Part 1
January 20, 2019 12:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBIdentity can be defined simply as “who a person is”. This simple definition belies how incredibly complicated identity can be for individuals, especially our growing children. In a world of constantly changing morals and definitions, it is vital that we give our children solid footing to understand who they are and why they exist. Today’s podcast explores the reality that our greatest possible value comes from understanding our identity as the pinnacle of God’s creation, the only ones made ...
104 Culture Watch: Fortnite and Youtube Streaming
January 13, 2019 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBNearly 80 million people play the video game sensation Fortnite each month. Even if your children don’t play, they are talking about it, learning the dance moves. It’s not just a video game, it’s a cultural phenomenon. Additionally, students are devouring content on youtube that you might not even realize exists. My good friend and top 5 finalist for Florida state teacher of the year Patrick Farley joins me to talk about his experience of Fortnite and Youtube among his students. These ar...
103 Really Tough Accountability Questions
January 06, 2019 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBHere is my list of the most challenging (and most helpful) accountability questions I’ve ever used. I’ve used these questions with a number of different friends over the last decade. Answering these questions each week has made me a better husband, parent, and follower of Jesus. The Most Helpful Accountability Questions I’ve Ever Used 1. Have you spent daily time in the Scriptures and in prayer? 2. Have you had any flirtatious or lustful attitudes, tempting thoughts, or exposed yourse...
102 The Best Habit You Can Learn
December 30, 2018 14:27 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBThe single most transformative Habit you can learn is the routine for mastering new habits. Today I share with you what I’ve learned over the years in creating consistent disciplines in my own life, and how I work to help my family do the same. If you love Let’s Parent on Purpose, would you consider becoming a patron? Tweet this “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” @billgates Click To Tweet Success is nothing but a fe...
101 Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2018 12:00 - 3 minutes - 3.24 MBThe Jesus Storybook Bible has become a happy tradition in my household. Enjoy this reading from the opening chapter as you worship the King. If you enjoy the reading, check out The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones. If you need some good Christmas music, there’s nothing better than Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God Have a Merry Christmas, and celebrate all that God is and has done in your life! Jay
100 Holding on to Hope
December 16, 2018 12:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBFor episode 100 I’ve invited my favorite person on earth to join me! My wife Emily has a life that’s worthy of a book. She married a widower, adopted his daughter, walked through the journey of childhood leukemia with her oldest son, fostered and adopted, and is in the midst of a daily battle for the healing of a mentally ill child. Any one of these challenges could be the most difficult thing someone has ever faced, and yet Emily has walked through them all at the same time. You’ll be en...
LPOP 99 Teaching Perspective on Wealth
December 09, 2018 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBI re-named this podcast after releasing it from “Teaching your children how to be wealthy” as the title was throwing people off track. Your children are already wealthy. They just need perspective. Jesus speaks on the topic of money more than any other single topic in the gospels. As parents, we have the duty to train our children how to be wealthy, especially as you realize how wealthy we already are! Don’t think your wealthy? Explore the Global Rich List with your family: http://www...
LPOP 98 The Simple Secret to Family Worship
December 02, 2018 06:45 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBLeading your family in intentional study and worship feels so challenging, but it shouldn’t be. Often the problem is that we’ve overcomplicated it. My good friend Shawn Bergen joins me today to share with all of us how he trained me to lead Family Worship in my own household. You’ll be able to listen to this podcast and immediately apply the lessons learned tonight! You can do this! Tweet this: Get them a tutor... Find them a coach... Put them under a youth pastor... As a result, your...
LPOP 97 The Radically Transforming World of a Preteen with Dan Scott
November 25, 2018 12:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBToday’s preteens are getting lost in the transition as they shift from childhood to adolescence. During this unique time, they are not quite one thing and not quite another. Author, speaker, and pastor Dan Scott gives us a fascinating glimpse into the rapidly changing world of a preteen. Dan and I explore some of the insights I learned while reading his new book Caught In Between: Engage your preteens before they check out. Before (or after) listening, you can take this quiz to see how ...
LPOP 96 A Holiday Plan for Family Gatherings
November 18, 2018 14:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBWe’re entering the season filled with awe, wonder, gratitude, and dread. It’s that time of year where we get to spend time with family we love. Sometimes, we get to spend time with family who are easier to love at a distance. Let’s be honest, just because we grew up together doesn’t mean we now have the same worldview, parenting styles, standards, goals, or aspirations. And sometimes we love every member of our family, and are mostly on the same page as them, but it’s just overwhelming ...
LPOP 95 A Devotion for Moms and Dads
November 11, 2018 14:41 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBAs a youth pastor, I am sad to say the modern version of youth ministry has failed to produce spiritually healthy, mature disciples of Jesus. Fortunately, there is a better way: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your ga...
LPOP 94 The Most Clarifying Question
November 04, 2018 14:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBYou wear a lot of hats in your life, and each of those roles has several demands. Life can feel extremely defeating when you feel like you stay overly busy but accomplish very little. Today I talk about a question that brings incredible clarity to your life, and can help massively simplify your “to-do” list. Listen as I share what I learned from this gem of a book: The One Thing: The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results by Gary Keller Show Highlights The 80/20 rule L...
LPOP 93 Planning Ahead for the Holidays
October 28, 2018 14:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBIt might feel like fall just started (or if you live in Florida, that summer never left), but the Holiday season is right around the corner. Today I share some ideas for how you can set up your family to enjoy each other more, consume less, and make Jesus the true center of the season. You cannot be passive in the struggle against consumerism in your life. If your standard is whatever anyone else is doing for their kids, you will not win. Click To Tweet Highlights of the show include: W...
LPOP 92 Meg S Miller: How Discovering A Pornography Addiction Saved A Marriage
October 21, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBWhen award winning author & speaker Meg S. Miller discovered her husbands internet pornography addiction, her soul was crushed with waves of betrayal and anger. But as she sought healing, she discovered that she was guilty of sin that had wounded his heart just as deeply. As my guest on today’s podcast explains, this journey of discovery first brought her face to face with the Lord, and then spurred the healing of her marriage in a way she would have never imagined. Get ready to be challe...
LPOP 91 Miscarriage, Grieving, and Healing with Krissy Brynn Jackson
October 15, 2018 09:10 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MB15-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage in the first 20 weeks. For such a common occurrence, this comes as a shock to many families who experience the loss of a child in the womb. Mom, teacher, and blogger Krissy Brynn Jackson joins me today and shares her journey from happily learning that she was pregnant to the loss and grieving of her second child. Krissy wrestles through trying to understand why this happened, how do you honor the life of a human being that you never get to rai...
LPOP 90 Small Investments Big Rewards
October 07, 2018 16:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBThere are certain habits and practices that work like compound interest in your child’s life. If you can learn to identify the everyday opportunities, you may not see radical returns on any given day, but over the long term you will have a completely different family. Areas to consider in your routines: Drive time – everyone has to say one positive thing about everyone else Encouraging notes in backpacks, books, folders, or the wall of your house Dinner time – Roses and Thorns, shari...
LPOP 89 Chris Lane: Equipping our Children as Public School Missionaries
September 30, 2018 16:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBMany parents fear the influence of public schools on their children. But God is using students across the country to bring the light of the gospel to their peers. Chris Lane, Executive Director of First Priority of South Florida, joins me to share stories of God moving on public school campuses and how parents can best equip their children to be salt and light. Here is the link to the Free Resource mentioned in the episode: https://mailchi.mp/ad8281338869/lpopebook I created this to he...
LPOP 88 A Happy Adoption Story
September 23, 2018 20:48 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBSometimes we just need to hear a happy, encouraging story. Josh Luecht is a friend of mine who is a Calvary Chapel Pastor, teacher, and co-host of the Panther Parkway Podcast (following the Florida Panthers Hockey Team). He was also adopted as a baby out of the Catholic Charities system. After a life of contentment and fulfillment with his adoptive family, this summer his story took a surprising twist. Enjoy the story and be encouraged to get involved with foster and adoption!
LPOP 87 What's Your Emotional Fuel?
September 17, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBWhat you feed will grow, what you starve will die. Understanding the way conflict and circumstances flame your anger and anxiety frees you to chose a new source of emotional fuel.