In this episode of Mama Bear Apologetics, Amy hosts Krista Bontrager (a public theologian with decades of experience) to unpack why theology is foundational for Christian living. They define theology, remove intimidation around it, talk about practical ways families can study theology with kids, and point listeners to resources that make theology accessible. The big idea centers around this: theology equips Christians to think well about God so that apologetics isn’t just reactive but rooted in truth. They stress that theology is not just for “academics in tweed jackets,” is essential for discipling children, and that everyday families can begin with simple practices like reading the creeds, memorizing the Lord’s Prayer and the 10 Commandments, and building routines of Bible engagement together.

Main Points Covered

• What theology is and why everyone is a theologian
• Why theology must precede apologetics
• Practical ways to study theology personally and with children
• Common pitfalls when approaching cultural issues without theological grounding

People and resources mentioned

Intro Theology & Interpretation

• Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
• Introducing Christian Doctrine by Millard Erickson
• Theology for Today by Elmer Towns
• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

Guest Resources

• TheologyMom.com (Krista’s teaching & classes)
• Center for Biblical Unity

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In this Christmas‑themed podcast, the Mama Bear team addresses the biggest questions Christian parents often hear around the holiday season. They explain what Christmas is truly about, how to talk to children about Jesus and Christmas, and address common controversies like whether Christmas is pagan, the role of Santa Claus, and what phrases like “Happy Holidays” mean. They also share practical tradition ideas families can adopt, and recommend books and resources that help keep Christ at the center of the season.

Main Points Covered

• What Christmas Truly Celebrates
• Is Christmas Pagan?
• Origins of the Christmas Tree
• Santa Claus vs. St. Nicholas
• Talking to Kids About Santa
• “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”

People and resources mentioned

• A Child’s Christmas — Victorian Christmas story (classic reprint)
• Letters from Father Christmas — Tolkien (beautiful illustrated letters)
• The Case for Christmas — by Lee Strobel

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In this episode, Amy reflect on the season of Advent and how it points believers toward four core spiritual truths — hope, spiritual warfare (peace), worship (joy), and human dignity (love). Christmas is not about the trappings of the season (lights, gifts, cookies), but about celebrating the coming of Christ, renewing hope, engaging in the cosmic battle against evil, worshiping God, and affirming the value of every human life. She encourages listeners to live out these truths practically — through grief with hope, spiritual headship and discipleship at home, heartfelt worship amid busyness, and compassionate generosity toward the vulnerable — so that their families and communities reflect the gospel's transforming power.

Main Points Covered

• What is Advent?
• Hope in the midst of grief and brokenness
• Spiritual warfare: Christmas as a declaration of war
• Worship and joy beyond the superficial
• Affirmation of human dignity and unconditional love
• Practical discipleship at home

People and resources mentioned

• Scriptures:
• Psalm 130:7
• Isaiah 40:31
• Romans 15:13
• John 16:21–22
• Matthew 14:22–33
• Ecclesiastes 3:2–4
• Philippians 4:6
• Colossians 2:8
• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• Colossians 3:15–17
• Luke 1:41
• Luke 1:46–50
• Luke 2:13
• Luke 2:20
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Hebrews 12:28
• Genesis 3
• Ezekiel 10
• Books:
• Daily Grace Co. Advent Devotionals 
• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany by Jonathan Gibson 
• Winter Fire by G. K. Chesterton

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In this episode, Amy is joined by Tricia Scribner, a classical apologist, to explore how we can know Christianity is true. They walk through a systematic, logical framework known as classical apologetics, beginning with the existence of truth and culminating in the evidence for Christ's resurrection and divinity. They compare this approach with cultural apologetics and emphasize the importance of understanding presuppositions in conversations about faith. The episode provides a high-level overview of the evidential and logical basis for Christianity’s truth claims and previews an upcoming series that will break down 20 evidences for the Christian faith.

Main Points Covered

• Introduction to Classical vs. Cultural Apologetics
• The Role of Presuppositions in Truth Claims
• A Systematic Framework for Christian Apologetics
• Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus
• Reliability of the New Testament Documents:
• Common objections

People and resources mentioned

• Scriptures:
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–8
• Isaiah 9 and 53
• Colossians 2
• John 2:19
• Books:
• Life Givers Apologetics by Tricia Scribner
• I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler & Frank Turek
• How We Got the Bible by Greg Lanier
• Scribes and Scripture by Peter Gurry and John Meade

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Piper and Leaf: Check out their Advent Tea set and give yourself—or someone you love—a reason to pause, sip, and celebrate. Visit PiperandLeaf.com and use promo code Bear10 to save 10%.

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On this episode, we are revisiting the concept of ghosts. Every year around this time, we start to see more depictions, decorations, and stories about ghosts —and your kids may be hearing more about them at school. But what are they? We will be examining the idea of ghosts using our ROAR method. What are they? What are the common misconceptions around ghosts and the supernatural? What does the bible say about ghosts and how are Christians supposed to engage this topic? Our hope is that you will be able to use the tools outlined in this episode to help the young ones in your care to be able to recognize the falsities in the messaging and be able to clearly defend their faith and protect their minds.

Main Points Covered

• How does the world see ghosts?
• What is a ghost truly?
• How are we to interact with the truth and lies around “ghosts”?
• How can we navigate elements of the spiritual realm with our kids?

People and resources mentioned

• Ephesians 6:12
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• Ecclesiastes 12:7
• James 2:26
• Luke 16:19-31
• John 10:10
• Leviticus 19:31
• Isaiah 8:19-20
• Matthew 12:26
• Acts 19 - Seven Sons of Sceva
• Teen Vogue article on ghosts
• MBA Episode 87: The Rise in Occult Fascination Among Youth with Krista Bontrager
• Cults, World Religions, and the Occult by Kenneth Boa
• The Occult by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart
• The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare by Dr Ed Murphy

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Piper and Leaf: Check out their Advent Tea set and give yourself—or someone you love—a reason to pause, sip, and celebrate. Visit PiperandLeaf.com and use promo code Bear10 to save 10%.

More from Mama Bear

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• Join Our Email List
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This episode of Mama Bear Apologetics explores the spiritual dangers behind the Enneagram and the teachings of Richard Rohr, particularly how they subtly oppose biblical Christianity. Amy is joined by fellow Mama Bear Alexa Cramer, who explains how Rohr redefines key Christian concepts like Jesus, sin, salvation, and the Bible itself. While Rohr’s language may sound Christian, his theology is rooted in mysticism, perennialism, and a pantheistic view of God—where all people and things are seen as inherently divine. The episode outlines how such teachings undermine the gospel and can mislead Christians, especially children, who may encounter the Enneagram in schools, churches, or online.

Using Mama Bear’s “ROAR” method (Recognize, Offer objective discernment, Argue for a healthier approach, Reinforce), the conversation equips parents to help their children identify subtle theological errors, practice discernment, and defend a biblical worldview. The episode encourages parents to disciple their children by training them to think critically about spiritual claims, recognize redefined vocabulary, and affirm the unique truth of the gospel in a culture saturated with self-focused spirituality.

Main Points Covered

• The ROAR method of discernment
• Role of Richard Rohr in popularizing the Enneagram among Christians
• Analysis of key quotes by Rohr
• Rohr’s theological framework
• Implications for evangelism, accountability, sanctification
• Cultural appeal of Enneagram and spiritual mysticism—especially for women and younger generations
• Practical admonition: alertness to Enneagram with children in schools, churches, etc.

Resources Mentioned

• The Enneagram blog series on Mama Bear Apologetics
• Mama Bear Apologetics Episode on the Enneagram
• Dr. Groothuis, The Unmasking of the New Age (recommended for seeing how New Age ideas influence Rohr)
• Richard Rohr’s own books (e.g. The Universal Christ, The Divine Dance)

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Amy is joined by Tricia Scribner to encourage and equip grandparents for intentional discipleship. Using the cultural moment sparked by Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Tricia challenges older believers not to “pass the baton,” but to “get in the game.”Grandparents often underestimate their influence, yet they are among the top voices teens turn to for questions about faith and life. Tricia emphasizes that this season of life—with more free time and hard-earned wisdom—is ideal for re-engaging in spiritual formation. She counters the lies that older Christians “can’t learn” or are “no longer relevant,” offering practical ways to grow in apologetics, engage in conversations, and model critical thinking. Even when direct conversations aren’t possible due to strained family dynamics, Tricia shares creative approaches like journaling, writing in Bibles, and asking thoughtful questions.

This episode is a call to action: your role in discipleship matters deeply. Whether you’re a parent feeling behind or a grandparent feeling distant, now is the time to step into your influence with purpose and truth.

Main Points Covered

• The role and relevance of grandparents in faith formation
• Challenges older generations face with technology, memory, and cultural shifts
• Combating lies of irrelevance and incapability among mature Christians
• Biblical call to continue running the race—“not time to pass the baton”
• Discipling grandchildren with discernment and cultural awareness
• Socratic questioning and critical thinking as tools for engagement
• Balancing boldness and relational wisdom with adult children
• Practical steps for growing in apologetics and theology at any age
• Testimonies of generational faithfulness and influence

Resources Mentioned

Scriptures:

• Romans 12:18
• Matthew 5:44

Our Sponsors

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Americans take about 20,000 breaths a day and spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. The indoor air that we breathe can be up to 100 times MORE polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. AirDoctor is the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to.

AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!

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In this somber episode, we reflect on the tragic and violent loss of Charlie Kirk. Just hours before he was killed, Charlie shared his favorite verse—Romans 8:28—a verse that has become a guiding light for many through the grief and confusion left in the wake of his death. Our hope with this episode is to give parents some tools for walking through this tragedy with kids who may be affected by it. We offer a biblical framework for looking at it as well as some practical advice. We want to encourage families to grieve deeply, to lament biblically, and to pray boldly. We also want to point to the redemptive arc of God’s story—from creation to fall, from redemption in Christ to future glory. The God Charlie proclaimed is not silenced. This episode is a call to courage, to resolve, and to hope. A call for this generation to rise—not in retaliation, but in truth and grace. A call to mourn what was lost, but to also step into what comes next.

Main Points Covered

• Grieve with your children.
• Each child will mourn differently. Be sensitive!
• Warn of exposure to graphic content on X. Especially for teens!
• Encourage them with the hope of the Gospel
• Truth is worth defending.
• Being a Christian comes at a cost.
• Equip them to understand culture
• Weapons are the means, worldview is the cause.
• Understand the shift in the definitions of truth, hate, and harm.
• The joyful reaction is a reflection of the marxist worldview.
• Flourish in faith, family, and fellowship.
• Revere God.
• Be active in church.
• Worship and train up your families.
• Bring as many people to the cross with you as possible.

Questions addressed

• Why does evil happen?
• Would gun control stop such occurrences?
• Why would people rejoice over this loss?
• Is “speaking hate” the cause of this event? Spoiler: no, it is the speaking of truth!
• As believers, what do we do now?

Resources & Organizations Mentioned

Scriptures:

• Romans 8:28 – Charlie’s favorite verse
• Revelation 3:16 – Lukewarm Christianity 
• Matthew 5:13 – Salt of the earth
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Taking thoughts captive
• Matthew 28 – The Great Commission
• Acts 17:26 – God’s sovereignty over nations
• Ephesians 6:12 – Spiritual warfare
• Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child

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Americans take about 20,000 breaths a day and spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. The indoor air that we breathe can be up to 100 times MORE polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. AirDoctor is the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to.

AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!

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This episode tackles the cultural lie of Best-Selfism — the belief that personal happiness and fulfillment should be the highest priorities in life, often at the expense of faith and family. Host Amy Davison argues that this ideology, endorsed by celebrities like Tom Brady and various influencers, is a destructive blend of emotionalism, self-help, and idol worship. Contrasting this worldview, they uplift Scotty Scheffler’s Christ-centered perspective, where faith and family take precedence over personal or professional success. The episode emphasizes the biblical model of self-denial, sacrificial love, and discipleship within the home.

​Main Points Covered

• Definition and Dangers of Best Selfism
• Examples in Culture
• Biblical Response to Best Selfism
• Spiritual and Cultural Consequences
• How to Combat the Lie of Best-Selfism

Resources & Organizations Mentioned

Scriptures:

• Genesis 3 – The original lie and temptation
• Exodus 6:7 – God claiming His people
• 1 Peter 2:9 – Our identity in Christ
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 6:20 – Transformation and honoring God with our bodies
• Matthew 16:24 – Deny self and follow Christ
• Mark 12:29-30, Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love God and neighbor
• Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission
• Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – Discipleship in the home
• Colossians 2:8, 3:23-24 – Avoid deceptive philosophy, work for the Lord
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Take every thought captive
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – Spirit of power and self-discipline
• 1 Peter 3:15 – Defend faith with gentleness
• Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:4 – Mutual submission and discipling children

Other Resources:

• Scottie Scheffler Statement
• Scheffler's Response to Tom Brady
• Tom Brady's Newsletter

Our Sponsors

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In this episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast, Hillary, Amy and Alexa analyze the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters using their ROAR method: Recognize the message, Offer objective discernment, Argue for a healthier approach, and Reinforce through discussion, discipleship, and prayer. With the film gaining popularity among teens and younger audiences, they break down the worldview behind the catchy music, vibrant visuals, and overarching narrative. They highlight both accurate portrayals of spiritual warfare and problematic messages such as redefining sin, the role and reality of the demonic and fighting shame with pride...which is counter to the Gospel. There are loads of theological issues with the film, but that's to be expected. More importantly there is a very subversive undertone that could entice your children into downplaying the danger of or even inviting the demonic into their lives.

Main Points Covered

• Refresher on the ROAR method
• Summary and cultural context of K-Pop Demon Hunters
• Shamanistic influences in the film's narrative
• The spiritual battle theme and accurate depictions of demonic manipulation
• Analysis of the "Your Idol" song and its theological implications
• Positive and problematic messages about shame, identity, and salvation
• Teaching discernment to children using media
• Parenting strategies for spiritual conversations

Resources & Organizations Mentioned

Scriptures:

• Genesis 3 (The Fall and origin of sin)
• Romans 8:1 (No condemnation for those in Christ)
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 (Taking thoughts captive)
• Ephesians 6 (Spiritual armor)

Other Resources:

• Hollywood Heroes Podcast with Frank Turek: Part 1 | Part 2
• Rise of the Occult with Krista Bontrager
• Spiritual Warfare by Karl Payne

Our Sponsors

Voetberg Music Academy: When planning your school year this year, one thing you don’t have to worry about is taking your kids to music lessons. Voetberg Music Academy buys you 30 minutes of free time, instead of one more thing on your to-do list. Visit: voetbergmusicacademy.com and use code MAMABEAR20 to get 20% off an encounter with the Voetberg Method Experience.

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