Time to tap into the ever-elusive minds of teenagers! On this episode, Next Generation Research Specialist, Kara Powell, chats with Ally Evans about the three biggest questions that our teenagers—and really all of us—are asking. They discuss where our kids are looking for answers and how we can help them process in light of the truth found in Jesus. 

1. Don’t do this alone. We are meant to be in community. Start or join a LifeGroup and work through the discussion guide today, because we need each other! Check out existing LifeGroups at go2.lc/lifegroups.

2. Invite a few friends to go through the Bible Plan, Showing Empathy, on YouVersion. The first step to helping our kids process these questions is fully empathizing with why they are asking.

3. Pick up a copy of Kara’s book, Three Big Questions that Change Every Teenager, today!

4. LC Parents is on Spotify! If this month’s episode was helpful to you, share it with friends today! 

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is critical to bring attention to the victories and struggles that families with kids who have special needs experience. Join Ally and Sherry as they talk about who needs to be advocated for, how to speak up for yourself, and what it looks like to step past the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing in order to love people who really just want to be seen. 

Resources and Next Steps: 

1. Don’t do this alone. Whether you have a child with special needs or not, engage in biblical community by starting or joining a LifeGroup and working through your questions and challenges together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups.

2. Look into the resources at church4everychild.org for ideas on how to partner with your church and the families who are a part of it with you.

3. Encourage your family to engage with Scripture using the Bible App for Kids!

4. If you are a mom, check out Sherry’s book: Brave Mom: Facing and Overcoming Your Real Mom Fears.

5. If you have a child with special needs, connect with your LifeKids or Switch Pastor about LifeKids Buddies or Switch Support. 

Life.Church is for your family!

On this episode, Ally and Michelle address blended families and our internal narratives. Whether you are part of a blended family or not, this discussion reminds us all to stay rooted in the right things—not the drama going on around us, but God's Truth for us. 

• Don’t do this alone. Whether you have a blended family or not, engage in biblical community by starting or joining a LifeGroup and working through your questions and challenges together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups.
• Work through the episode discussion guide with your LifeGroup. 
• Remember your Source by staying rooted in the right things. Start the Bible Plan, Blend: Strengthen Your Family, on YouVersion today!
• If you are part of a blended family, check out the other Blend resources at life.church/media/ lifegroups/blend/

We are finally going there—unlocking the secret to your kid's best behavior. But the answer might be different than you think. Join Ally and Kaitlyn as they talk about the behavior cycle and the change that they have both made that's proved to be a game-changer in their lives and families. 

1. Don’t do this alone. Engage in biblical community by starting or joining a LifeGroup and working through these questions together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups.

2. Check out www.life.church/media/words-to-live-by/ and craft your own truth statements this week.  

3. Start the Words To Live By With Craig Groeschel Bible Plan on YouVersion today. 

Another one of those big questions we all must answer is this: What difference do I make? We want to know why we are here, our calling, our purpose, and how to move past our fears. Jessica and Ally discuss how we often find answers to these big questions through small acts of service and generosity. 

• Don’t do this alone. Engage in biblical community by starting or joining a LifeGroup and working through the discussion guide together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups. 
• Check out life.church/neighbor and talk about a Mission Partner you and your LifeGroup can invest in together! 
• Invite a new friend to join you and your people at a Christmas Eve service this year! 

One of the biggest questions every kid has to answer is: Who am I? There are multiple voices that try to inform the answer to that question, and those voices rarely say the same thing at the same volume. James and Ally discuss how we can help our kids cut through the confusion and show up in the world with confidence.  

• Don’t do this alone. Engage in biblical community by starting or joining a LifeGroup and working through the discussion guide for this episode together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups
• Check out the START resources and consider working through the Screen Sanity study with your LifeGroup!
• Write your Words to Live By and help your kids do the same. Find Bible Plans and other resources at life.church/media/words-to-live-by/

Often times, when we’re looking for answers about how to teach our kids to engage with technology well, we are met with blank faces and more big questions. But what if there’s a simple way to frame up this conversation? Join Ally and Tracy as they provide practical steps we can take to create a healthy culture around technology in our families. 

• Don’t do this alone. Engage in biblical community by joining a LifeGroup and working through the discussion guide together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups
• Check out the START resources and consider working through the Screen Sanity study with your LifeGroup!
• When we get healthier, our families also reap the benefits. So take the time to go deeper into your personal inventory by considering the ways you use technology and how you can START with yourself.

What if there is a way to address our responses to pain, become more present to our kids, and stay grounded as parents? This month, Ally Evans and special guest, Matthias J Barker, help us reframe conversations around trauma and start thinking about it more wisely.  Check out the Discussion Guide and resources for this episode at https://leaders.life.church/lc-parents-podcast-discussion-guides/.

Next steps and resources:

• Don’t do this alone. Engage in biblical community by joining a LifeGroup and working through these questions together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups
• Start working through the self-paced trauma workshop to help you understand your own trauma and have healthier conversations with your kids at www.matthiasjbarker.com
• When we get healthier, our families also reap the benefits. So take the time to go deeper into your personal inventory about the ways you naturally respond to pain.

On this episode, Ally, James, and Charlie help answer your questions! From the challenge of getting our kids to open up more, to teaching them the value of education, to figuring out how to move forward when you have messed up—the wisdom shared will help you connect with your kids in deeper, more meaningful ways. Talk this episode over with your spouse, LifeGroup, or friends! Check out the Discussion Guide and resources for this episode at https://leaders.life.church/lc-parents-podcast-discussion-guides/.

Next steps and resources:

• Don’t do this alone! Engage in biblical community by joining a LifeGroup and working through these questions and resources together. You can find a group near you at go2.lc/lifegroups.
• Check out these books if you are looking for your next great read:
  • Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute
  • WEIRD: Because Normal Isn’t Working by Craig Groeschel 
  • Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes by Tim Elmore

Growing up, Jason used to chase and capture lizards with his brothers. He quickly learned that when he squeezed a lizard too tightly, it would run for its life as soon as it was released. What happens when we hold our kids tightly like that? Check out this episode to hear what our guest, Jason, and Ally have learned about the beauty of opening our hands as parents.

Talk this episode over with your spouse, LifeGroup, or friends! Check out the Discussion Guide and resources for this episode at https://leaders.life.church/lc-parents-podcast-discussion-guides/