Growing Families

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story lesson for this month from Valarie Stark. As you listen to the story, look for the many times God kept his promises. Try to retell the story using the props from the gold bag. Listen to it as many times as the children choose. For families with toddlers or teens, be sure to visit the growing families website for additional videos to help them dive deeper into the lesson.

In this episode, we’ll go over the Formation lesson for this month from Laura. Our theme this month is “Building a Trellis for our growing garden”, and we’ll be taking a closer look at our habits. Be sure to check the lesson page on the Growing Families website for a weekly breakdown of the formation activities for this month. 

This is the last October episode, and we’re covering the parenting lesson. This month, Dr. Russell Hall will teach us about parenting with values. His lesson is called “Begin with the End in Mind”. Afterwards, be sure to look for his notes on the October curriculum page on the Growing Families website. They will help you teach your children about values and virtues that exemplify the Kingdom of God. 

In this episode, we’ll go over the Telling God’s Story video for October. This month, Valarie tells us what happens in the garden after creation in “When things fall apart.” After you’ve heard the story, take turns telling it to each other using the props from your October activity bag. 

In October, our theme is planting the seeds of values and virtues deep in your family soil. This month, we will follow Dr. Russell Hall’s terminology and use the word “values” for the character traits we want in our lives. Values are traits you strongly believe are good and right. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your child always act on those beliefs. When a value becomes an internal desire and also an external behavior, it moves from a value to a virtue that you exhibit. We want our children to choose values freely and also choose to live a virtuous life. 

In this episode, we’re covering the Parenting Lesson for the month of September. This month’s lesson comes from Dr. Russell Hall, Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the School of Counseling at Asbury Seminary. As a licensed psychologist in KY, he has worked with parents and children in various settings. This month’s lesson is Part One in a two-part series on parenting. He discusses power struggles, conflict, and new ways to respond. Listen for important parenting tips on how your relationships matter for family harmony and your children’s spiritual growth. 

In this episode, we’re covering September's “Telling God’s Story” section from the Growing Families website and printed curriculum. As the story is told, have your children use props and figures to act out the story. 

In this episode, we’re covering the September formation lesson. This lesson is intended to be done as a family, but it’s ok if you want to listen to it separately and then talk about it together later. In 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul writes, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” As parents, we pray that someone like Paul and Apollos will plant and water in our children’s lives, and we believe that God will make the seed of his word grow. But he has given us the holy job of tilling the soil of their hearts even before the seed is planted. As you listen to this month’s formation video, consider how to prepare your children’s hearts for spiritual growth. 

This episode is the August Parenting Lesson taught by Dr. Steve Stratton, Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care at Asbury Seminary. His topic is Centered Family Life and his question to parents is, “Are you living in scarcity or abundance?” As you listen, you’ll hear Dr. Stratton’s heart for Seminary families and we hope you will implement some of his sound advice. After this video, complete the time budget worksheet in your ring binder or download it from the August curriculum page.

This episode is the August video for the Telling God’s Story section on the lesson page. This month, Laura introduces us to how we will use play in telling God’s Story over the next 9 months. After you listen to the 3 and a half minute   recording, get ready to play! If you want to read more resources about how play and discipleship are connected, check out the August recommended materials page on the growing families website.