#62 – Prayer: Praise and Thanksgiving

As Christmas draws near, Matt and Anna help kids discover how the wise men followed a special star to worship Jesus, the promised Savior. This episode shows how Jesus is worthy of worship, how God keeps His promises, and why Christmas is about celebrating that Jesus came to save sinners. What You’ll Learn ✨ Jesus Is the Promised Savior — God kept His promise to send Jesus to save His people from sin. ✨ Wise Men Worship Jesus — The wise men traveled a long way to honor Jesus as King. ✨ Jesus Is Worthy of Worship — Gold, frankincense, and myrrh showed Jesus was worthy of honor and praise. ✨ Waiting Can Be Full of Hope — Just like the wise men waited and followed the star, God’s people wait trusting His promises. ✨ Christmas Is Bigger Than the Manger — Jesus didn’t stay a baby; He grew up to save sinners forever. 🎶 The Memory Verse Song — Kids learn Luke 2:10–11 through song Try This at Home ⭐ Follow the Star Activity: Draw a star on paper and write or draw ways your family can worship Jesus this Christmas. 🎁 Gift Talk: Talk about the wise men’s gifts and ask, “What can we give Jesus today?” (love, obedience, kindness). 📖 Family Bible Time: Read Matthew 2 together and let kids act out the wise men’s journey. 🎶 Sing the Memory Verse: Practice Luke 2:10–11 using the song from the episode. 💬 Dinner Question: Ask, “Why do you think the wise men traveled so far to see Jesus?” Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Editing and support by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠  For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Anna and Matt tell the story of Jesus’ birth—how God kept His promise by sending the Savior into the world in the most unexpected way. Kids learn why Jesus came, why His birth is such good news, and how the angels and shepherds celebrated on the very first Christmas night. What You’ll Learn ⭐ What Christmas Is Really About — We celebrate Jesus’ birthday because God sent the promised Savior. 🐍 Why We Needed a Savior — Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, and only Jesus could fix what was broken. 👶 How Jesus Came Into the World — Born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, just as God planned. 😮 What the Angels Announced — Good news of great joy for all people! 🙌 How People Responded — Mary trusted God, Joseph obeyed, and the shepherds worshiped and told everyone. 🎶 This Episode’s Memory Verse Song — Kids learn Luke 2:10–11 set to music. Try This at Home 🎄 Read Luke 2 Together: Share the story of Jesus’ birth at breakfast or before bed this week. 🕯️ Practice the Memory Verse Song: Sing Luke 2:10–11 as part of your Advent countdown. 📣 Tell Someone the Good News: Just like the shepherds, encourage kids to share: “Jesus came to save sinners!” 💬 Talk About Waiting: Discuss how God kept His promise after many years—and how we wait for Jesus with hope and joy today. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Editing and support by⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠  For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

In this Advent kickoff episode, Anna and Matt take us back to the very beginning of the Bible to remember why we needed a Savior and why Christmas is such good news. As they retell the story of Adam and Eve, kids learn how sin first entered the world — and how God made a big promise to send a Rescuer. Advent means “coming,” and this season helps us remember that God kept His promise by sending Jesus… and we get to celebrate that together! What You’ll Learn 🎄 What Advent Means — It’s a special season where we remember Jesus’ coming. 🍎 Why We Need a Savior — Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought sin into God’s good world. 💔 What Sin Does — Sin breaks our hearts and separates us from God. ⭐ God’s Big Promise — God promised to send a Savior who would defeat sin and the serpent. 👶 How God Kept His Promise — At Christmas, Jesus came to save sinners! 🎶 The Memory Verse Song — Kids learn Luke 2:10–11 through song Try This at Home 📅 Start an Advent Countdown: Use an Advent calendar or make a simple paper chain to count the days until Christmas. 📖 Read Genesis 3 as a Family: Talk about God’s promise and how Jesus fulfills it. 🗣️ Practice the Christmas Memory Verse: Sing the Luke 2 song together before bed or in the car. 🙌 Say the Big Truth Together: “Jesus came to save sinners!” Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Editing and support by⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠  For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠⁠[email protected]

In this Parent Talk mini-episode, Anna and Matt sit down with Jess from Minno to talk honestly about screen time, discipleship, and how parents can use the right kind of content to help form their kids’ faith. Instead of avoiding screens, Jess shares practical ways to redeem them through intentional habits, everyday conversations, and milestone moments—so screens become tools, not threats. What You’ll Learn: 📱 Why Screens Matter — Kids’ brains and hearts are being shaped every day by what they watch and who they trust. 🧠 Faith + Attachment — When children experience safety and love from parents, it builds the foundation for trusting God. ⏰ Time, Moments & Milestones Framework — A simple way to weave discipleship into ordinary days. 🎬 How to Redeem Screen Time — Watch together sometimes, preview content, and ask simple follow-up questions. 🙌 You Don’t Need to Be Perfect — Faithfulness, not perfection, is the goal of family discipleship. Try This at Home: 🗓️ Pick One Weekly Rhythm: A Friday “family watch night,” a bedtime memory song, or a five-minute devo after a Minnow episode. 💬 Use 3 Easy Questions After Any Show: What was your favorite part? What did it teach us about God or people? Is there anything we can do differently because of what we watched? 🌱 Grab a Moment: When conflicts or questions pop up, connect them back to a story or character your child recently watched. 🎉 Celebrate Faith Milestones: A verse learned, a big moment, or a new skill—mark it with joy, prayer, or a special family tradition. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Editing and support by⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠  For sponsorship inquiries, email ⁠[email protected]

It’s review day! Anna and Matt walk back through all ten attributes of God from Season 11 and help kids become “attribute hunters”—spotting God’s character in familiar Bible stories. From the resurrection to the golden calf to Jonah and Jesus’ crucifixion, this episode helps kids remember who God is and why He can always be trusted. PRINT OUT → List of Attributes (see page 6) What You’ll Learn: 📝 An Attribute Is… A word that tells us what someone is like—God’s attributes are true of Him all the time. 💪 God Is Almighty — Nothing is too hard for Him. 🤝 God Is Faithful — He always does what He says He will do. 👑 God Is Worthy — Only He deserves all glory. 🛟 God Is Refuge — A safe place for His children. ⏳ God Is Patient — Slow to anger and full of compassion. 💗 God Is Loving — He always does what is best, even when it requires sacrifice. 🕊️ God Is Merciful — He does not give His children the punishment they deserve. 🤲 God Is Compassionate — He sees, cares, and acts when His children are in need. 🚂 God Is Deliverer — He rescues His people. ✨ God Is Glorious — He shows His greatness and worth. 🎵 Song We Sing: “⁠Our Great God (Attributes Song)⁠” Try This at Home: 🔍 Be Attribute Hunters: Pick a favorite Bible story this week and circle every attribute of God you see in it. 🗂️ Print the Attribute Sheet: Use the list from the show notes during family devotions. ❤️ Talk Together: Ask, “Which attribute of God helped you most this season?” ✍️ Draw & Remember: Kids can draw one attribute and a story that showed it. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.

Anna and Matt meet their friend Kim the Meteorologist to learn that God is Glorious — He shows His greatness and worth! When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, His disciples saw His shining glory and heard God speak from the cloud. Jesus is truly God, and He alone deserves our worship and praise. What You’ll Learn: ✨ God is Glorious: He shows His greatness and worth. ⛰️ The Transfiguration: Jesus’ face shone like the sun because He is truly God. 👂 God the Father Spoke: “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.” 🙌 We Glorify God: We show honor and enjoy God as most valuable. 🎵 Song We Sing: “God Made Everything” — celebrating God as Creator and worthy of all glory! Try This at Home: 🗣️ Talk Together: Ask, “What makes God greater than anything else?” 🌄 Name His Glory: On a walk, point out things God made and say, “God is glorious!” 🎨 Make a Glory Poster: Write “God is Glorious” and decorate it with bright colors or sun rays. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.

Anna and Matt salute their friend Josiah the Soldier and learn how sacrifice shows true love. Through Josiah’s story of bravery and Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross, kids discover that God is Loving—He always does what is best. What You’ll Learn: ❤️ God is Loving: He always does what is best for His children. ✝️ Jesus’s Great Love: Jesus laid down His life to save sinners. 💪 True Love Sacrifices: Real love means putting others before yourself. 📖 Memory Verse: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13🎵 🎵 Song We Sing: “⁠Enter His Gates (Psalm 100)⁠” Try This at Home: 🫶 Serve with Love: Do something kind for a family member or friend this week — maybe help with a chore or write them a note. 🙏 Pray Together: Thank God for Jesus’s loving sacrifice and ask Him to help your family love others like He does. 💬 Talk About It: What’s one way you can show love that requires putting someone else first? Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.

Anna and Matt talk fishing with their friend Rick the Fisherman and dive into the story of Jonah and the big fish. Through Jonah’s disobedience, the storm, and the giant fish rescue, kids learn that God is Merciful — He does not give His children the punishment they deserve. God showed mercy to Jonah…and to the whole city of Nineveh. What You’ll Learn: 🐟 God is Merciful: He does not give His children the punishment they deserve. 🌊 Jonah Ran, God Rescued: Even when Jonah disobeyed, God saved him with a “great fish.” 🏙️ Mercy for Nineveh: God gave the people of Nineveh a second chance instead of destroying them. ✝️ Mercy for Us: Jesus took the punishment for sin so we can be forgiven and brought into God’s family. 🎵 Song We Sing: “Our Great God (Attributes Song)” Try This at Home: 🙏 Thank God for His mercy to you — talk as a family about times you’ve needed forgiveness. 💬 Ask: “Who in my life needs mercy from me instead of anger?” (a sibling, a friend, etc.). 📖 Read Jonah together this week and see how God keeps giving second chances. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.

Anna and Matt learn about compassion with help from their friend Nurse Amy. When Matt loses his pet goldfish, they talk about how God is Compassionate—He sees, cares, and acts when His children are in need. Through the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, kids discover that God shows His greatest compassion by sending Jesus to save sinners. What You’ll Learn: 💗 God is Compassionate: He sees, cares, and acts when His children are in need. 🩹 Jesus Shows Compassion: He wept with His friends and raised Lazarus from the dead. ✝️ The Greatest Compassion: God sent Jesus to save sinners and bring eternal life. 📖 Memory Verse: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” — Psalm 145:8 🎵 Song We Sing: “God Is Good” — a joyful song celebrating God’s goodness and love that endures forever. Try This at Home: 🗣️ Talk About It: As a family, name ways you’ve seen God’s compassion this week. 💌 Show Compassion: Write a card or do something kind for someone who’s sad, sick, or in need. 🙏 Pray Together: Thank God for His compassion and ask Him to help you care for others like Jesus does. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.

Anna and Matt team up with Firefighter Cody to learn about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. Through their courage and faith, kids discover that God is Deliverer—He rescues His children and has the power to save us from anything, even the fire! What You’ll Learn: 🔥 God is Deliverer: He rescues His children from danger and delivers them from sin and death. 🧱 Faith in the Fire: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God, even when faced with the fiery furnace. 👑 God Alone is Worthy: Only God deserves our worship—not kings, statues, or anything else. ✝️ Jesus is the Greatest Rescuer: Just as God saved His people from the fire, He sent Jesus to rescue us from sin. 🎶 We sing together: “God's In Charge of Everything" Try This at Home: 🗣️ Family Talk: Read Daniel 3 together. Talk about a time when trusting God felt hard, and how He helped you through it. 🔥 Object Lesson: Light a candle (with an adult’s help) and talk about how powerful and dangerous fire is—then thank God for His protection and power. 🙏 Prayer Time: Thank God for being our Deliverer. Ask Him to help your family trust Him, even when things feel scary or uncertain. Parents—want screen time that helps your kids grow in faith? With ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Minno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, they can! It’s the #1 Christian streaming app for kids—packed with shows like Young David, God’s Greenhouse, The Dead Sea Squirrels, and classics like VeggieTales—all ad-free. 👉 Get your one-month FREE trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoMinno.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code STORY.