How our kids “hang out” nowadays is a lot different than when we were growing up. Instead of going outside to play or spending time face-to-face, they constantly chat over text or play video games online while talking to friends with a headset. But should we let them? If so, how much of their socializing should be mediated through screens and technology? Does socialization through technology have an impact on their mental health? In this episode, Brett and Erin think biblically about what it mea...
Nov 10, 2022•53 min
Most parents feel ill-prepared to manage their kids’ use of technology and protect them from a myriad of harms. So we solicited parents’ specific questions on technology for this podcast episode. How do monitor and protect kids who are more tech-savvy than their parents? What are the best parental online tools? What about parents who don’t see eye-to-eye on how to manage technology? What are some good books to help parents get on the same page? Brett and Erin weigh in on these important question...
Nov 03, 2022•48 min
What are examples of the kind of manners we should teach our kids? How do manners have an impact on the character development of our kids? What are some practical tips for effectively teaching our kids manners? Brett and Erin get practical in this episode.
Oct 27, 2022•36 min
Should parents emphasize the teaching of manners? Are manners that big of a deal in the larger scheme of parenting? How does a Christian worldview inform our view on manners? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss the oft-neglected topic of manners.
Oct 20, 2022•46 min
Today MAVEN joins forces with the Colson Center’s Strong Woman podcast! Brett and Erin sit down with John and Sarah Stonestreet to discuss humanity's origin story and the implications for men, women, and our families. Amid cultural confusion about what a woman is, John and Brett give practical advice for how to navigate transgender ideology for ourselves and our kids.
Oct 13, 2022•57 min
How can parents inoculate their kids from the false ideas of the surrounding culture? How do we prepare ourselves for the questions and conversations we will inevitably have to have with kids? And what’s the result if we don’t talk about culture with our kids? In this episode, Brett and Erin collect a few parenting tips on navigating culture with our kids from John and Sarah Stonestreet.
Oct 06, 2022•23 min
In this episode, Brett & Erin take some time to respond to questions from our listeners. They address some follow questions from a recent podcast (“Should We Get Rid of Kids’ Sunday Schoo?”) about implementing ideas for kids’ discipleship in the local church and in a couple’s Bible study. Brett and Erin provide some very practical advice. They also address an objection from a listener regarding what a Christian worldview is and how it relates to the topic of discipline. Keep the questions co...
Sep 28, 2022•44 min
God has designed every human being in unique and wonderful ways, and that includes our kids. So how do we discover those things that are special about our children? How can we be intentional in encouraging our kids in their uniqueness? Brett and Erin discuss these questions and offer practical tips.
Sep 22, 2022•45 min
It seems like parents are bombarded with discouraging news headlines every single day. So how do we navigate a world of bad news? How do we think carefully and Christianly about the latest study or negative news story? Brett and Erin discuss a couple of recent headlines and show how we can think our way through them.
Sep 15, 2022•40 min
So often our first impulse is to take our parenting questions straight to the internet. We’ll ask Siri or Google answers to our questions. But is finding information online the same as gaining knowledge and wisdom? Are there better, more biblical sources that we should first consult? Brett and Erin discuss how scripture points us to true sources of wisdom for our parenting journey.
Sep 08, 2022•55 min
Is it a real possibility that your kids will have a dramatic NEGATIVE impact on your Christian faith? Are you tempted to compromise God’s moral standards because your kids are? Are your kids catechizing you? Brett and Erin discuss how our kids’ struggles with God can slowly erode the faith of the adults who love them.
Sep 02, 2022•35 min
Scott Klusendorf is one of the top pro-life apologists in the nation. Brett & Erin sit down with Scott to discuss his personal story, how he got into pro-life work, the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision regarding Roe v. Wade and how to equip the next generation to defend the life of the unborn.
Aug 25, 2022•54 min
What changes can we make in our local churches, to more effectively teach and train our children and youth? Brett & Erin share a number of practical ideas about how we can do church with our kids and raise expectations for their discipleship.
Aug 18, 2022•44 min
Is it good that our churches are largely age-segregated? Does our modern way of doing church actually hinder the discipleship of our kids? Brett & Erin share some key insights from their involvement in a church plant in Southern California, that will challenge current thinking about how we do church with our kids.
Aug 11, 2022•52 min
How do we teach our kids about an abstract idea like the nature of truth? How do we instill in them a commitment to the truth? Brett and Erin outline very practical steps parents can take to train their kids in truth.
Aug 03, 2022•47 min
Our kids are growing up in a culture that undermines their confidence in knowing truth and reality. “Live your own truth” and “that’s true for you but not for me” are the mantras of the day. How do we teach our kids truth and restore their confidence that we can know God’s truth? Brett and Erin discuss this ubiquitous parenting challenge and offer ways to think carefully about the nature of truth.
Jul 29, 2022•55 min
For Christians, reading is vital. God has primarily spoken to us through the written word, in His Holy Word. Therefore, we must cultivate a LOVE for reading in our kids, if we want to equip them with an absolutely essential tool for their spiritual growth. But how can we get our kids to read? How do we help them fall in love with reading? In this podcast episode, Brett and Erin interview Carole Joy Seid. Carole offers practical advice on getting our kids to fall in love with reading.
Jul 21, 2022•54 min
Many parenting experts and psychologists will argue that children, particularly young kids, have no “impulse control.” What does this mean? What are the implications for discipline and parenting? And how do current ideas about impulse control fit with a biblical view of children, discipline and parenting? Brett and Erin tackle these questions in this episode.
Jul 13, 2022•55 min
If you asked most Christian parents, church history is probably not at the top of the list of topics we think we NEED to teach our kids about. However, if we don’t teach them about this vital subject, we can seriously handicap their faith. In this episode, Brett and Erin list the reasons WHY we should teach church history to our kids and then provide practical advice on HOW to teach it effectively. Show notes: https://linktr.ee/mavenpodcast70...
Jun 29, 2022•45 min
In this episode, Brett and Erin respond to a popular pastors tweet about the indoctrination of kids in school. They discuss whether or not parents should actually be concerned and then evaluate four recommendations the pastor offers parents about the discipleship of our kids.
Jun 23, 2022•33 min
School is out and summer is in full swing. However, having the kids home more or losing the structure of the school-year calendar, can present challenges for parents. Rather than feeling stuck “entertaining” your kids or letting screens take over, parents who are intentional can make summer a very productive time. How? Brett and Erin discuss one simple tool to take control of your kids’ summer.
Jun 16, 2022•40 min
What is a worldview and why does it even matter? These questions are absolutely vital to answer, as we train up our kids in the Christian faith. Recently, Brett spoke on this topic at the Navigate Worldview Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. In this talk, he discusses how everyone has a worldview but most people have never thought carefully about why they believe what they believe. Ironically, one’s worldview has profound consequences for all of life. Brett then takes a quick look at the prominent...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 13 min
In the second half of their parent talk at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio in April 2022, Brett and Erin continue to dispel the cultural lies about gender and then begin to paint a biblical picture of God’s design for gender.
May 25, 2022•59 min
How does our culture most powerfully shape us? By presenting to us what is, and therefore should be, normal. And what is the culture presenting to our young people as the norm regarding sex and gender? In this talk given to the parents at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio in April 2022, Brett and Erin walk through a multitude of examples from the culture. Then they provide some clear thinking to help parents navigate these issues in a confused culture.
May 18, 2022•59 min
Is it legitimate to legislate our moral views on abortion? Are pro-lifers inconsistent because they only care about the unborn and not the already-born? Brett & Erin bring some clear thinking to help answer these common objections to the pro-life position.
May 11, 2022•46 min
With the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion on Roe v. Wade this week, abortion is THE hot topic. So, should we take this opportunity to talk to our kids about this explosive issue? In this episode, Brett & Erin discuss why and how to talk to your kids about abortion.
May 05, 2022•49 min
Parents struggle with how much to protect their kids from the difficulties of life. When it comes to the reality of death, are our kids ready to confront the pain and suffering that accompanies it? Should we take them to a funeral? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss a biblical worldview perspective on life and death and how it should inform our parenting on this tough issue.
Apr 28, 2022•41 min
Recently, Disney has been in the news for its LGBTQ activism. Disney executives have said they want to incorporate more LGBTQ characters into their shows and movies. So what’s a parent to do? Should Christian parents let their kids watch Disney? In this episode, Brett and Erin work through this issue thoughtfully, while also providing practical steps for parents.
Apr 21, 2022•59 min
Time is fundamental to life. We live in time. We organize our lives according to it. We can’t escape time. And yet, many of us have never thought about how our Christian faith relates to time. In this episode, Brett and Erin talk about the Christian Calendar and how it is a practical tool to bring God’s Story to the center of our lives and organize our lives around Him, rather than ourselves. SHOW NOTES: The Story … As Told Through the Christian Calendar https://vimeo.com/79923336 9 Things You S...
Apr 14, 2022•53 min
Recently, Brett spoke to parents at Arbor Road Church in Southern California. During the Q & A, there were a lot of questions regarding kids and technology, so Brett and Erin decided to tackle them in this episode.
Apr 06, 2022•53 min
