The Disciple-Making Parent

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent, we walk through the seven foundational questions everyone should answer about the Christian faith. Doubt is common—one study found 40% of young people first doubted in junior high, another 40% in the high school years—and Chad Bettis shares how his own teenage questions led him to write our newest resource,Seven Questions Everyone Should Answer.At just 99 pages and with a gospel presentation included, the book is short enough for a skeptic to read in a couple of hours. We read the introduction and give a high-level answer to each question, from whether Jesus really existed outside the Bible to why there is evil and suffering, and why there are good non-Christians and hypocritical Christians.Along the way, we look at the evidence from historians like Tacitus, Josephus, and Pliny the Younger, the case for the resurrection, and why the real obstacle is usually the heart rather than the head.Whether you're working through doubts, a skeptic, or a parent discipling the next generation, we hope this helps you see that the Christian faith is reasonable.

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, Chap Bettis talks with Dr. Camden Pulliam about the biblical connection between parenting and pastoring. Drawing from Camden’s doctoral research, they explore how pastors serve as father figures who help God’s people grow from spiritual immaturity toward maturity.⁠⁠Together, they examine the fatherhood language used throughout Scripture, the relationship between managing a household and caring for a church, and the humility required of pastors at every stage of ministry. They also discuss the value of spiritual fathers who have earned the trust to offer honest, practical wisdom.Resources From This PodcastDr. Pulliam’s review of Managing Your Households WellPaternal Pastors: An Evangelical Approach, Dr. Pulliam’s Ph.D. ThesisMidwestern Seminary’s For the Church CohortsMidwestern Seminary’s Shepherds FellowshipTopics Covered in This Week’s Podcast03:20 Dr. Pulliam’s background07:35 Paternal Pastors: Pastors as fathers within the church17:16 Applications for young and aspiring pastors25:58 A pastor’s authority as a father figure35:17 A father’s impact41:14 Conclusion, more on Midwestern Seminary

On this episode of This vs. That, we talk with Dr. Ben Phillips about making family discipleship practical through the everyday rhythms we already share with our children.Ben introduces the TEACH framework—Travel time, Eating time, Arise time, Closing time, and Holiday time drawn from Deuteronomy 6.Together, we explore simple ways to build faith conversations into car rides, meals, mornings, bedtimes, and celebrations without turning discipleship into an overwhelming checklist. We also discuss the importance of modeling a genuine walk with God, giving children grace as they grow, adjusting our approach through changing seasons, and starting with one sustainable rhythm.Whether we are beginning family discipleship for the first time or looking to strengthen existing habits, this conversation offers practical encouragement for helping the next generation know, own, and live out their faith.Topics Covered in This Week’s Podcast02:59 Introduction: The origin of Dr. Phillips’ desire for discipleship13:52 Applying TEACH wisely, but not to excess28:34 Making TEACH work in your unique household45:49 Encouragement for parents just beginning intentional discipleshipResources From This PodcastDr. Phillips’ WebsiteAdventures in OdysseyJonathan Park Audio AdventuresArticle- Am I Overdiscipling My Children?Article- Five Reasons to Make Dinner an EventArticle- The Power of the Red PlateArticle- Nine Elements of an Effective Donut Date

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast Chap Bettis sits down with associate pastor Travis Rymer for a candid conversation about biblical parenting and family discipleship.They discuss the goal of Christian parenting, why parents may hesitate to ask for help, whether it’s possible to over-disciple children, and how the local church can support families. Along the way, Chap offers encouragement to rely on God, seek wisdom with humility, cultivate joyful homes, and keep the true “North Star” of parenting in view: raising children who love Jesus and help others follow Him.---Get your free Disciple-Making Parent Audiobook

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, you’ll hear a recent sermon from Chap Bettis as he walks through Psalm 127 and asks a simple, searching question: what does it look like to actively seek God’s blessing in everyday life?He talks about the danger of anxious, self-reliant “in vain” work and the comfort of God’s providence that lets us labor faithfully and still rest. Then he turns to the second half of the psalm and considers why Scripture calls children a gift from the Lord, how our culture often treats children as a burden, and how the church can cultivate a child-loving (not child-centered) community.Finally, we’ll reflect on what it means to form disciples and disciple-makers who can stand with courage and wisdom in the public square while remembering that our hope rests in the Lord who builds and watches over his people. 

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we have a Q&A with Tim Challies to explore how churches and families can thoughtfully navigate technology. We discuss the shift from hymnals to projectors, the impact of AI and social media on youth, and practical ways to cultivate disciplined discernment in our congregations. Throughout the conversation, we offer concrete ideas for balancing screen time, fostering community, and protecting children while embracing the benefits that digital tools can bring.

On this episode of The Disciple‑Making Parent Podcast we hear from Tim Challies on how families can create a truly porn‑free home. We'll hear about the early exposure risks children face online, share practical tools such as filtering, accountability software, parental controls, and open communication, and walk through a step‑by‑step plan—planning, preparing, meeting, and monitoring—to protect our households.Resources From This PodcastSuffering and Our Savior- podcast episode 124 with Tim ChalliesPersonal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering- podcast episode 125 with Tim ChalliesFinding Comfort in Suffering- podcast episode 126 with Tim ChalliesChallies.com- Tim Challies’ blogCovenant EyesOpenDNS

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we talk with Tim Challies about how Christian families can think clearly about technology in a world where screens, social media, and now AI are everywhere. We look at the real numbers shaping teen life, the risks that often stay hidden until it is too late, and three common responses to new tools: enthusiastic embrace, strict separation, and disciplined discernment. We also explore a distinctly Christian framework for technology. We are image-bearers called to create and use tools for good, while recognizing how sin twists every technology toward harm and idolatry. Finally, we consider what is coming next, including AI, augmented reality, and transhumanism, and how we can choose practices that help our families use technology to love God and serve others.-----Managing Your Households WellWant to lead your family (and your home) with wisdom in a distracted age? Managing Your Households Well: How Family Leadership Trains You for Church Leadership is a practical resource for church leaders and aspiring leaders—showing how faithful, steady care at home shapes the kind of character needed for lasting ministry leadership.Learn MoreFree Disciple-Making Parent AudiobookYou can also get the Disciple-Making Parent audiobook free. Visit thedisciplemakingparent.com, sign up for the weekly newsletter, and we’ll send you the full audiobook—because we want to help parents and grandparents raise kids who love Jesus and learn to make disciples in everyday life.Resources From This PodcastSuffering and Our Savior- Podcast with Tim Challies ​Personal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering- Podcast with Tim ChalliesFinding Comfort in Suffering: Personal Q&A on Grief & God’s Goodness- Podcast with Tim Challieschallies.com – Tim Challies’ blogThe Next Story: Faith, Friends, Family, and the Digital World, by Tim Challies

On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we talk with Dan Darling about what healthy Christian patriotism looks like.We unpack why love of country can be an expression of gratitude and a part of discipleship, and how we can teach children and grandchildren to think biblically about their nation without slipping into cynicism or idolatry. We discuss how to tell the full story of history, including real sins and real progress, and why reform is strongest when it grows out of love for a country’s ideals. We also clarify the difference between patriotism and Christian nationalism, and why robust Christian engagement in the public square matters while maintaining a clear distinction between church and state. Along the way, we reflect on American exceptionalism, ordered loves, and practical ways families can cultivate civic gratitude and responsibility.

In this episode, Chap Bettis sits down with Tim Challies and pastor Travis Rymer for a candid Q&A that closes out The Disciple-Making Parent’s mini-series on suffering. Tim shares Scriptures and hymns that shaped his grief, how his family helped their daughters process loss, and why grief must never become our identity. You’ll also hear practical counsel on balancing honest lament with trust in God’s goodness, and on letting truth shape emotions rather than emotions shaping truth.Resources From This PodcastTim Challies: Suffering and Our Savior (#1 in series)Tim Challies: Personal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering (#2 in series)On Jordan’s Stormy Banks, performed by Indelible GraceSeasons of Sorrow, by Tim ChalliesA Manifesto for Times of Suffering- Tim’s “Grief Manifesto”Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopTim Challies- Walking Through Deep Sorrow and Loss (Prior podcast interview) ​