IT STARTS AT HOME

The sermon likely seems like the most daunting piece of the service to help your child with. You’d be content if they just kept still and kept quiet (that’s IF you’re bringing them in the service with you)... so you get their favorite picture books, toys to fidget with, etc. We want to encourage to instead of being overwhelmed with think about the sermon and your children being quiet, to think about how vital the sermon piece of a Sunday morning is; the sermon is where our children will get to hear from God, be convicted of sin, be comforted during hard times, and know the will of God for their lives. But how do we do that? Let us help you!

Engaging with music at church seems easy. It seems easy to get our children to sing along, pay attention, or even raise their hands, but it takes more intentionality than bringing your children into the service. In today's episode, Thad and Ally discuss parents' role in teaching their children how to worship at church and in the home.

In this episode Thad and Ally take a fresh start at the podcast, talk about life updates, parenting conferences, and where the podcast is headed!

What we know about parenting is that things don’t always go the way we intend. Plans go awry - there are plenty a Sunday morning where it is a CHALLENGE to get out of the house and get to church. This is resonating with parents of tiny humans - lost shoes, missing socks, the fact that it takes forever to get dressed with independent toddlers. As our kids grow older, the struggle may come more with attitude - waking up on the wrong side of the bed -  than it does physically getting ready for church. Or maybe the struggle comes more so from mom or dad… it’s been a long week, you’ve had a thousand and one things on your schedule and you just want one more day “off” before you have to do it all over again.

As believers, we should be in the body of Christ, at church for a multitude of reasons.

Growth. Purpose. Fun and Enjoyment.

Church community is vital for Christian growth. As we follow Jesus, we need other believers - to encourage us, to pray for us and with us, to teach us. We need accountability and wisdom.

“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” - 1 Peter 4:10

It is easy to feel overwhelmed as parents by the current digital landscape for our teens. Cell phones, social media, and gaming. Oh my! In this episode, Ally and Thad interview special guest Jeremiah on how to help parents gain perspective, education, and tools for thinking proactively and redemptively on raising an adolescent in a digital world.

In this week's episode Thad and Ally continue talking about the joys of summer, one of those being Summer Camp.

In these week's episode Thad and Ally talk about summer which means talking about Vacation Bible School, its history, its importance, and its role in the local church.

As parents, we need to understand popular culture and parenting according to God’s Word. Only then can we avoid both (1) fearing popular culture and (2) embracing it with little discernment. And only then can we apply this truth to our parenting and to the entertainments our children love. That way, we can best glorify God as we fulfil our incredible and biblical calling as parents.

Sunday morning services are for the whole family…so how do I get my child to sit still and quietly when the pastor is preaching? Children are not only the future generation of the church, they are the church right now – and they need Sunday mornings for the same reason we do. In this breakout we’ll talk about attending church as a family, kids’ ministry vs. family worship and guiding our kids into worship on a Sunday morning!