Why Do We Need Rest?

Christmastime is here, and for us, the question of Santa—and how we talk about him—is front of mind. How do we help others keep the magic of the season if we don’t have Santa as a tradition? How can thinking through Advent help us keep Jesus’ birth at the forefront of our minds in the midst of a busy season? Then we end with a reminder: You don’t have to do it all—just being present and doing things together will make the memories, even if the activity is a simple one.Resources Mentioned in the Episode:-       Jesse Tree Explanation-       BibleProject Advent Video Series-       Lifeway Family Advent GuideFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to help our kids think about gratitude, but it’s something that’s hard to do since the Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. We share some practices that help us think through Thanksgiving, gratitude, and keeping our focus during the holiday season on Christ. Resources Mentioned in the Episode: -       Post on the Thankful Pumpkin Tradition-       Thankful Turkey Craft Idea-       Andrew Garfield’s Comments on GriefFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays, especially among our young kids. Candy, costumes, hanging out with friends—what’s not to like for a kid? But as adults, we know there’s a lot of creepy, spiritually dark stuff that can be connected to holiday. We share how we grew up doing Halloween (or not), what we do now with our kids, and where we draw the line on things like costumes or decorations.Feedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know the Holy Spirit is God, a part of the Trinity… but who is the Spirit, exactly? Why do we need Him? And how do we know that we’re actually hearing from the Spirit (instead of just hearing what we want)? Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeVideo: Understand How the Holy Spirit Works in the Bible (BibleProject)Podcast Series: The Holy Spirit (BibleProject)Feedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back from an unexpected hiatus that we needed for rest, and so it feels appropriate to talk about how important rest is – not just for our kids but for ourselves and our entire family. Why do we need rest? What’s the point of Sabbath? And how do we make time for rest when we have kids? Resources Mentioned in the Episode“Finding Rest in a Restless World (with Andy Crouch),” Good Faith PodcastFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to Christianity… but why, exactly? What makes this so important in Christian theology and in how we live our lives? And how do we talk about such an unusual, world-changing event with our kids?Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeN.T. Wright, Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the ChurchGospel of John Animated Summary, Part 1 (BibleProject)Gospel of John Animated Summary, Part 2 (BibleProject)Feedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life circumstances being what they are, this is a timely and important topic (so we’ll talk resurrection next time). We want our kids to be kind to others, but we all know that’s hard—especially when someone isn’t being kind to them. And let’s face it—even as adults, it’s usually not any easier to be kind to people who are being unkind to us. So why do we need to do it? And what does Christian faith specifically offer for us in both example and practice? Resources mentioned in the episode: Jonathan Haidt, “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” (The Atlantic) Eugene Cho, Thou Shalt Not Be a JerkFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good Friday is coming up, which means there’s a special emphasis on Jesus torturous suffering and death on the cross. That means it’s prime time for questions from kids on really tough topics around death, suffering, and the nature of God’s plan of redemption. Why did Jesus let it happen, why did the crucifixion need to happen, and how does atonement work, exactly? And how do we know when our kids are ready to really talk about these tough things? Buckle up.Resources mentioned in the episode:“God’s Story: Easter” (Crossroads Kids Club)“New Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview” (BibleProject)"Messiah” (BibleProject)“The Crucifixion of Jesus: Luke 19-23” (BibleProject) Scot McKnight, A Community Called AtonementFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Easter is the cornerstone of Christianity, but when we compare this season to Christmas, Easter feels like an afterthought. How do we help our kids—and ourselves—appreciate and ponder the power of Good Friday and Easter when that’s not something our culture tends to prioritize? And how do we talk to our kids about the Easter Bunny?Resources mentioned in the episode:Venetia Newall, “Easter Eggs” (The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 80, No. 315, March 1967)Esau McCaulley, Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal (IVP, 2022)DIY Resurrection Eggs ResourceFeedback on an episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the surface, “Who is God?” seems like it would be a relatively simple and basic question. But once you actually try to explain it to a child, it can get complicated really fast. Our God is beyond understanding, which means there are things we'll never understand or be able to explain, but at the same time, he wants relationship with us and wants us to know him—so how do we share all of that with our kids? And how does our own history impact our answer?Resources mentioned in this episode: -       The Bible Project Podcast Episode: What Is God’s Name? https://bibleproject.com/podcast/what-gods-name/ Feedback on today’s episode? Have questions or topics you want us to discuss in the future? Email us at [email protected].   Keep the discussion going by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/590746375839427 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.