Abraham's Wallet

Should Christians get prenups? Can a prenuptial agreement protect a family without undermining the biblical covenant of marriage—or does preparing for divorce before the wedding fundamentally contradict the vow you’re about to make?

In this episode of Abraham’s Wallet, Mark sits down with a Christian pastor, business owner, husband, and father of four who has increasingly come to believe that Christian men and women should seriously consider prenuptial agreements before marriage. Mark disagrees.

What follows is a candid debate between two Christian men who deeply agree about the sanctity of marriage, biblical covenant, family leadership, and multi-generational legacy—but come to different conclusions about whether a prenup belongs anywhere near a Christian wedding.

The conversation goes far beyond simply protecting money in a divorce. They wrestle with the difference between a covenant and a contract, no-fault divorce, family wealth, estate planning, protecting generational assets, the role of fathers as their children prepare for marriage, and whether planning for the financial consequences of divorce actually makes divorce more imaginable.

Can a Christian couple say, “Until death do us part,” while also agreeing beforehand about what happens if the marriage ends?

And in a culture where marriage is increasingly treated as temporary, what does it look like for Christian husbands and wives to recover a truly biblical vision of marriage?

Covered in this episode:

• Should Christians get prenuptial agreements?
• Are prenups biblical?
• Biblical marriage and the meaning of covenant
• Covenant vs. contract in Christian marriage
• Does a prenup undermine “until death do us part”?
• Prenuptial agreements and the risk of divorce
• No-fault divorce and Christian marriage
• Protecting family wealth and generational assets
• Prenups, family trusts, and estate planning
• How divorce affects multi-generational family legacy
• Christian fathers preparing sons and daughters for marriage
• Why marriage is more than a legal agreement between two people
• The role of the church and Christian community in protecting marriages
• Fear, trust, and choosing a godly spouse
• What Ephesians 5 teaches about marriage, Christ, and the Church
• Building a strong Christian household before problems begin
• Faithfulness, marriage vows, and trusting God with your family’s future

This isn’t a conversation about men protecting themselves from women—or women protecting themselves from men. And it isn’t an attempt to pretend that divorce doesn’t have devastating financial consequences. It’s a serious disagreement over how Christians should respond to those realities while remaining faithful to what Scripture says marriage actually is.

Whether you come away convinced that a prenup is wise financial stewardship or that it puts an exit door where there shouldn’t be one, the bigger issue remains: marriage is precious to God, it should not be entered into lightly, and it should never be treated as disposable.

Get wise counsel. Get your estate in order. Choose your spouse carefully. And when you vow, vow—and follow through on that vow.

Subscribe to Abraham’s Wallet for more conversations about biblical marriage, Christian fatherhood, family leadership, money, generational wealth, and building a household that can remain faithful for generations.

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AI is changing quickly. So how should Christian families think about money, investing, work, and the future without being driven by fear?

In this episode of Abraham’s Wallet, Steven Manuel and Mark Parrett take a serious look at the rise of artificial intelligence, concerns about superintelligence, and what AI could mean for jobs, investments, digital security, and the way families prepare for an uncertain future. But the bigger question isn't whether we can predict exactly what AI will do. It’s whether fear should be allowed to dictate how we run our households and manage our money.

Rather than trying to “AI-proof” a portfolio or make dramatic financial moves based on the latest headline, Steven and Mark explore four possible futures for AI—from catastrophe and a messy transition to abundance and a slower-than-expected transformation. They discuss why diversification matters, why ordinary financial planning may still be the right approach, and why your own job and skills may deserve more attention than trying to predict which companies will survive AI.

The conversation also brings the issue back to Scripture. What does the Parable of the Talents teach us about fear and stewardship? What's the difference between prudent preparation and fear-based financial decisions? And how can Christian fathers prepare their families for uncertainty without trying to secure the future entirely through their own strength?

Covered in this episode:

• How Christians should think about AI and superintelligence
• Should you “AI-proof” your investment portfolio?
• AI, jobs, and the future of work
• Why diversification matters in an uncertain economy
• The difference between prudence and fear-based financial decisions
• What the Parable of the Talents teaches about fear and money
• Biblical principles for preparing for uncertain times
• How much cash and emergency supplies should a family keep?
• Digital security, scams, passwords, and AI-powered fraud
• Whether gold, Bitcoin, land, or other assets make sense during uncertainty
• How Christian fathers can prepare their households without panic
• Why living below your means and maintaining financial margin still matters
• Faith, stewardship, and trusting God with an uncertain future

AI may change dramatically. The economy may change. The world may change. But the calling remains remarkably simple: be faithful with what God has put in your hands today.

Don’t let the next threat—or the fear surrounding it—pull you away from faithful stewardship.

Subscribe to Abraham’s Wallet and share this episode with another Christian father who is trying to think wisely about money, technology, and the future.

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What does it actually look like for a Christian husband to lead his family while genuinely listening to his wife? In this episode, Steven Manual explores biblical husband leadership, headship, and the difference between seeking your wife's wisdom and simply letting her make the decisions.

Using 1 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Peter 3:7, Steven looks at two extremes husbands can fall into: the tyrant who makes every decision without his wife's input, and the husband who abdicates leadership and simply supports whatever his wife wants. Neither reflects the biblical picture of marriage. Instead, Steven makes the case for what he calls consulted headship—a husband who listens carefully, seeks his wife's counsel, values her wisdom, and still takes responsibility for leading his household.

Steven also shares a real situation happening in his own life involving church discipline and explains why he intentionally keeps his wife informed, asks what he may be missing, and seeks her perspective without handing over the final decision. He connects this to Proverbs' picture of Lady Wisdom, the importance of godly counsel, conflict avoidance, parenting, and the consequences of leaving the husband's leadership role vacant.

This conversation gets especially practical as Steven explains how husbands can actually have these conversations with their wives, including questions to ask, how to categorize different kinds of decisions, and why “decide out loud” can be a helpful framework for bringing your wife into the process without abdicating responsibility.

In this episode:

Key Scriptures discussed:
1 Corinthians 11:3
1 Peter 3:7
Ephesians 6:4
Proverbs 1–9

Subscribe to Abraham's Wallet and share this episode with another husband or father who is thinking seriously about biblical marriage, fatherhood, and household leadership.

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What if your family calendar could actually disciple your children?

In this episode of Abraham’s Wallet, Steven makes the case for using Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) as a practical way for Christian fathers to teach their families about God’s provision, temporary homes, hospitality, and the reality that “heaven is our home.”

Learn how celebrating Sukkot changed the culture of his own family, from building a simple sukkah in the backyard to slowing down for seven days, eating together, inviting other families in, and having conversations about what is truly permanent, and what isn’t.

But this episode isn’t about becoming “Hebrew Roots” Christians or measuring your standing with God by how well you keep a biblical festival. Steven explains where he draws that line and why he sees Sukkot as a teaching tool rather than a requirement for earning God’s favor. He also connects the Feast of Tabernacles to Christ, showing how the Old Testament picture of dwelling, provision, and the wilderness finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

You’ll hear how Sukkot can help fathers:

• Make God’s provision tangible for their children
• Take responsibility for leading their family’s spiritual story
• Slow down and intentionally spend time together
• Practice hospitality and bring other people into the family’s rhythms
• Give their children a lived picture of being “sojourners” rather than treating earthly comfort as permanent
• Build a multi-generational vision of faith and family

Steven also gives a simple way to start—even if you’ve never celebrated Sukkot before. You don’t need a Pinterest-worthy sukkah or an elaborate week-long celebration. One meal outside, a few Scripture passages, and three questions around the table can be enough to begin.

If you’re a Christian father thinking seriously about biblical fatherhood, family discipleship, household leadership, and building a legacy of faith that reaches beyond your own lifetime, this conversation is for you.

Scriptures discussed: Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16, Hebrews 11, John 1, John 7, Colossians 2, Galatians 4, Nehemiah 8, Zechariah 14, and Revelation 21.

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What would it take to build a family that lasts for 250 years? In this episode, Steven Manuel and Mark Parrett unpack the lessons from an Abrahamic Boot Camp where fathers gathered to think differently about work, wealth, faith, health, and generational family legacy.

The conversation explores what it means to build a 250-year family—not simply by accumulating wealth, but by creating a family culture capable of passing the baton from one generation to the next. They discuss biblical work, generational wealth, marriage, male brotherhood, family vision, physical health, and the responsibility fathers have to prepare their children and grandchildren for the future.

You'll also hear the fascinating math behind long-term wealth, why culture may matter more than financial sophistication, what the founding fathers understood about building for “ourselves and our posterity,” and why you may never personally see the fruit of what you're building.

Covered in this episode:

• How to build a family legacy that lasts for generations
• What a 250-year family actually looks like
• The biblical purpose of work and why fathers are called to work
• How family culture determines whether generational wealth survives
• The connection between marriage and long-term family wealth
• Why fathers need strong male friendships and brotherhood
• How to create a family vision that reaches beyond your lifetime
• The mathematics of building generational wealth over 250 years
• Why physical health is part of your family's “capital”
• What the founding fathers can teach us about thinking generationally
• How to pass the baton to your children and grandchildren
• Why you may never see the fruit of what you're building

If you're a Christian father who wants to think beyond the next five years and build something your great-grandchildren can inherit, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Abraham’s Wallet and share this episode with another father who needs to start thinking multi-generationally.

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What if the marriage at the center of your family is actually the foundation of your entire family legacy?

In this episode of Abraham’s Wallet, Steve Manuel and Mark Parrett explore marriage as a biblical covenant—not simply a contract between two people—and why protecting that covenant matters for Christian families who want their faith, culture, and wealth to endure for generations.

They discuss why divorce can affect far more than finances, how a broken marriage can disrupt family culture, and why husbands need to take their marriage vows seriously. The conversation also explores what Scripture teaches about covenant, the role of God as witness to marriage, and why marriage should be treated as a lifelong commitment even when circumstances become difficult.

Mark breaks down four practical ways husbands can protect the marriage covenant: provision, community, capacity, and lordship. Together, they examine what it means to provide for your family, choose a community that strengthens marriage, protect your wife's capacity, and lead your household with both humility and biblical authority.

If you're a Christian husband or father thinking beyond yourself and trying to build a family legacy that can last for generations, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe to Abraham’s Wallet and share this episode with another husband or father who needs to hear it.

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What happens when Christian parents become so focused on connection, affirmation, and keeping the peace that they stop leading their children?

In this episode of Abraham’s Wallet, Steven Manuel and Mark Parrett examine the rise of gentle parenting and ask a difficult question: Can an emphasis on connection and emotional safety actually become a form of parental passivity?

Steve and Mark explore what biblical leadership looks like in the home—and why loving your children doesn't mean avoiding boundaries, correction, discomfort, or authority. They discuss the difference between invitation and challenge: building deep relationships with your children while still being willing to direct them, correct them, and hold the line when necessary.

The conversation connects modern parenting culture to the biblical example of Adam's passivity in the Garden of Eden and Abraham's calling to command his household to follow the way of the Lord. The goal isn't authoritarian parenting or harsh discipline. It's a form of fatherhood that combines warmth with strength and prepares children to become responsible adults, faithful Christians, and future leaders of their own families.

Steve and Mark also get practical, discussing screen limits, bedtimes, curfews, sleepovers, technology, financial responsibility, correcting disrespect and dishonesty, allowing children to experience failure, and how a father's unwillingness to lead can affect his marriage.

Ultimately, this episode is about more than parenting techniques. It's about family leadership, biblical authority, resilience, and building a multi-generational legacy that can withstand the pressures of modern culture.

In this episode:

• The rise of gentle parenting
• Christian parenting vs. cultural parenting trends
• Why connection alone isn't enough
• Invitation and challenge in parenting
• Biblical leadership in the home
• Adam's passivity in Genesis 3
• Abraham's example of leading his household
• Setting healthy boundaries with children
• Discipline without harshness or authoritarianism
• Why children may actually feel more secure when parents lead
• Screen time, technology, bedtimes, and curfews
• Teaching children financial responsibility
• Correcting disrespect, dishonesty, and bad character
• Allowing children to fail while still providing leadership
• How parental passivity can affect marriage
• Building family identity and generational legacy
• Raising resilient Christian children
• The Parenthood Primer
• Growing Kids God’s Way

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Parenthood Primer
View The Parenthood Primer on Amazon

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What if your retirement account is quietly funding companies and causes that conflict with your Christian convictions? Certified Financial Planner Mark Parrett and Steven Manuel explore Biblically Responsible Investing, Christian investing, and how fathers can build generational wealth without knowingly partnering with evil.

Is investing in the stock market biblical? Does owning a small piece of a company make you morally responsible for what that company does? And how should Christians think about investments connected to abortion, pornography, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, ESG, and other practices that may conflict with biblical values?

Steven and Mark explore these questions through the surprising lens of Exodus 21 and the biblical principle of an ox “known to gore.” Mark explains why he believes investing itself is biblical, while also arguing that ownership carries responsibility—and that Christians should take seriously the question of whether they are knowingly profiting from harm.

The conversation gets practical as they discuss Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), investment screening, direct indexing, Christian mutual funds and ETFs, and options including Timothy Plan, Inspire Investing, Praxis, Crossmark/OneAscent, and others. They also examine Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street, including how major asset managers have approached ESG and corporate shareholder voting in recent years.

But the goal isn't perfect financial purity. As Mark explains, Christians cannot completely separate themselves from a fallen economy. The goal is faithful stewardship: building wealth and inheritance for your children's children while keeping your heart free from the love of money and avoiding known complicity with evil wherever reasonably possible.

In this episode:
• Is investing biblical?
• What does Exodus 21's “goring ox” teach us about investment responsibility?
• Does owning stock make you responsible for a company's actions?
• What is Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI)?
• How can Christians screen investments for abortion, pornography, alcohol, gambling, and tobacco?
• Should Christians invest through Vanguard, BlackRock, or State Street?
• What is direct indexing, and how can it be used for Christian investing?
• Which Christian investment funds and platforms are worth researching?
• How should Christian fathers balance financial growth, generational wealth, conscience, and faithful stewardship?

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Miscarriage is often talked about as a woman’s experience, but what about fathers? In this conversation, we open up an honest, faith-centered discussion about pregnancy loss, grief, and the often-overlooked emotional journey men walk through. Whether you’ve experienced miscarriage or want to better support someone who has, this episode will help you understand what it really looks like to navigate loss as a family.

In this episode, Mark shares his family's deeply personal story of an unexpected pregnancy—one that brought surprise, joy, and hope—followed by the sudden heartbreak of miscarriage. What unfolds is an unfiltered look at grief, confusion, and the spiritual questions that come with loss. From wrestling with “why” to dealing with isolation and unspoken expectations, this conversation sheds light on emotions many men feel but rarely express.

Mark is joined by Eric Schumacher, who has walked through multiple miscarriages with his own family and now ministers specifically to fathers in this space. Together, they explore the unique challenges dads face—feeling overlooked, unsure how to process grief, and struggling to support their wives while carrying their own pain. This episode offers clarity, validation, and practical encouragement for anyone impacted by miscarriage, directly or indirectly.

Resources mentioned:

Book - "Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage"

Book - "Dads Hurt Too"

Eric's Website

Topics covered:

Timestamps:
00:00 Unexpected introduction and guest setup
00:16 Why miscarriage became a personal issue for this family
01:22 Why this conversation matters—even if you haven’t experienced loss
02:09 Introducing Eric Schumacher and his ministry to fathers
02:50 Steven shares his family’s pregnancy story
03:23 The surprise of pregnancy later in life
04:05 Joy, hope, and envisioning a new season of parenting
05:09 Navigating uncertainty and early pregnancy concerns
05:43 The moment everything changed—loss and grief
06:13 Processing deep emotional pain and spiritual questions
07:13 Unique challenges of miscarriage later in life
07:44 Isolation, lies, and how grief affects men differently
08:23 A simple act of care that made a big impact
09:18 Why men need support too—and how to offer it
10:01 Why this episode took time to share publicly
10:31 Eric responds and reflects on the miscarriage experience
11:47 Eric’s personal story and journey through multiple miscarriages
13:45 The complexity of grief, silence, and community dynamics
16:22 Turning pain into ministry for fathers

Transcript (first few minutes):

Hey guys, I’m joined today by Eric Schumacher—and I have to tell you, he came across my radar because something that had never really crossed my mind until about three months ago became a central issue in our family. And that topic is miscarriage.

I had known people that had been impacted by this, and my thoughts were mostly that this is really hard for women to go through—and husbands need to support their wives. But I have a 16-year-old and my youngest is 10, so I really thought our family had already run this gauntlet.

So I’m going to share what happened in our family and then bring in Eric, who has a significant ministry to dads who have gone through miscarriage. Because honestly, dads can get forgotten in this whole process.

If you haven’t had this experience, you might think this episode isn’t for you—but I actually think it might be even more important for you. Whether you’ve experienced loss or not, we all need to understand how to come around families walking through something this hard.

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If you’re a Christian father trying to lead your home with wisdom, humility, and biblical conviction—this conversation will challenge you in the best way. We talk honestly about tone, self-awareness, and how your leadership actually feels to your wife and kids.

This episode dives into a tension many dads don’t think about enough: not just what you say, but how you come across at home. Through real-life stories and reflections, we unpack how wives and children often act as a “temperature gauge” for a father’s leadership—and why ignoring that feedback can quietly damage your influence.

A key moment in the conversation centers around the book Unoffendable by Brant Hansen, which sparks a deeper discussion about defensiveness, humility, and the subtle ways pride shows up in family leadership. We explore how easily fathers can justify their tone, miss what God might be revealing through others, and overlook opportunities to grow. This is a practical, grounded conversation about biblical fatherhood—not in theory, but in the day-to-day moments that shape your home.

Topics covered in this episode:

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro - Why this episode even exists
01:10 – Introduction to Unoffendable and why it hits a nerve
03:30 – The problem of defensiveness in Christian men
06:30 – Why being “right” can still damage your home
09:30 – Pride, self-justification, and missing what God is showing you
12:30 – Learning to receive correction without shutting down
15:30 – What humility actually looks like in day-to-day family life
18:30 – How fathers shape the emotional and spiritual tone of the home
21:30 – Recognizing patterns in conflict with your wife and kids
24:30 – Practical ways to grow in self-awareness as a dad
27:30 – Letting go of control and leading with grace instead of force
30:00 – Encouragement for fathers trying to lead biblically
33:00 – Final thoughts: becoming unoffendable and leading well

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