How do we actually raise our children in the faith? In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Rev. Dr. W. Mart Thompson, author of Family Discipleship with Christ. Dr. Thompson maps out a partnership between the home and the congregation that is both theologically grounded and practically usable. He draws on Luther’s Small Catechism, extensive field research, and his own experience of daily prayer with his family to help parents and pastors understand what faithful, grace-filled family discipleship looks like in today’s changing cultural landscape.

Episode Timestamps

1:51 — Introduction — Welcome & book overview

2:30 — The quest begins — a seminary student’s question that launched a lifetime of research

5:00 — Map and compass — the Lewis & Clark framework for navigating family discipleship

8:00 — The compass of new creational wisdom — God’s design, sin, and grace working together

11:30 — Defining family discipleship — the partnership of home and congregation

14:00 — Starting with common ground — the bold claim that all parents want the best for their children

17:30 — Secular liturgies — how culture forms children’s hearts away from Christ

21:30 — Parents as the primary faith-formers — why God has creationally positioned them for this work

24:30 — The Flathead Lake aha moment — Luther’s catechism as a daily family prayer book

29:00 — The congregational paradigm shift — from church-centered to a home-and-congregation partnership

33:30 — Seven things for the congregation, seven for the home — the map in practice

37:30 — Tools in the book — the family audit, family mission statement, and bibliography

41:30 — All kinds of families — how this approach serves non-traditional and single-parent households

44:00 — Closing encouragement — there is always more grace in Christ

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. W. Mart Thompson is associate professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He presents at workshops and conferences on the vocation of raising children in the faith and is the project manager for the Family Discipleship Initiative at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in partnership with the Concordia Center for the Family. Prior to being called to the seminary, he served as a campus pastor, sole pastor, and senior pastor. Mart, and his wife, Cheryl, are blessed with three children who are married and have children of their own, in whose homes the legacy of family discipleship continues.

Resources Mentioned

Family Discipleship with Christ by Rev. Dr. W. Mart Thompson — cph.org

Dr. Thompson’s blog post on family discipleship (a dialogue between a professor and a seminary student, forthcoming) — concordiatheology.org

Concordia Publishing House: Bringing you God’s enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation: Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast