Programs And Podcasts

Generosity can begin with a simple gift, but when it becomes a family rhythm, its impact can last for generations.

Most parents want their children to grow into generous adults—people who see what God has entrusted to them as something to be stewarded for His purposes and the good of others. But generosity rarely develops by accident. It is cultivated over time through example, experience, and intentional practice.

Sharon Epps, President of Kingdom Advisors and Co-Founder of Women Doing Well, joins the show today to encourage families to begin teaching generosity early and continue nurturing it through every stage of life. 

The goal is not simply to raise children who give money, but to help them discover the joy of living generously with everything God has provided.

Young children may not understand much about money yet, but they are always watching.

That makes the early years an ideal time to model generosity through simple, tangible experiences. Parents might take their children grocery shopping for items to donate to a local food pantry, allowing them to choose the food and deliver it.

The lesson is simple: We have something we can share, and together, we can use it to help someone else.

Families can also find creative ways to connect generosity with celebrations. Sharon suggests hosting a “reverse birthday party,” where guests bring items for a ministry or charity the child helps select.

Another simple practice is keeping blank cards nearby so children can draw pictures or write encouraging notes for someone who may be lonely, sick, or going through a difficult season.

None of these activities requires a child to understand complex financial concepts. They simply allow children to see generosity in action.

As children grow, parents can begin inviting them into more direct experiences of giving.

One powerful approach is volunteering together at a local ministry, especially an organization serving other children or families. Serving side by side allows generosity to become something children experience personally rather than merely hear about.

Families might also consider sponsoring a child through a trusted ministry. Sharon shared how her own daughter began sponsoring a child at age five and continued that relationship as they both grew older.

Experiences like these can help children recognize that generosity is relational. It is not simply about transferring money from one place to another. It is about seeing people, caring about their needs, and responding with compassion.

As children enter their teenage years, their interests and passions become clearer. That creates an opportunity to help them connect generosity with the things they already care about.

A teenager who loves the outdoors, for example, might become interested in supporting a Christian camp ministry. A young person passionate about sports might enjoy serving through an organization that uses athletics to mentor children.

Families can also make service part of their normal rhythms.

Spring break or other holidays, for instance, can include opportunities to serve together. Sharon shared that her children participated in spring break mission trips while growing up. Those experiences became so meaningful that they continued serving during college because generosity had simply become part of what their family did.

That is one of the most powerful lessons parents can pass along: Generosity is not an occasional project. It can become part of the way we live.

Biblical generosity often involves more than giving fr

According to one survey, only 5% of people read owners’ manuals. Maybe that’s why one lady called Kitchen Aid to ask which was the best spin cycle in her clothes washer for drying her lettuce. And then wanted to know why her clothes were turning green. Well, we have an owner’s manual for life – the Bible. But so many leave it on the shelf. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us recognize the Bible for what it is – it’s a book that gives the prescription for life.

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drawbacks and dangers of phones for teens can feel intimidating. Author David Eaton offers tips to turn teens’ phones from a liability to an asset.

Show Notes and Resources

• Find resources to help connect with your teen at axis.org

• Listen to this podcast When Adult Children Walk Away from Faith: Practical Moves for Waiting Parents

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
• Follow us on all social platforms: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
• Find resources from our podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• Download FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
• Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Jim Daly continues his conversation with television host Sheila Walsh, sharing from her new book, The Hope of Heaven: How the Promise of Heaven Changes Everything. If you’re looking for encouragement or a fresh glimpse of God’s love for you and your family, Sheila shares the incredible hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Get your copy of Sheila Walsh's book, The Hope of Heaven, for a donation of any amount.

Just as home offers belonging, rest, and security, so does a relationship with Jesus Christ. This article explains how to join God's eternal family. 

Speak with one of our counselors

What does heaven teach us about God? In this audio collection, you’ll hear stories and biblical insights about heaven from Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, featuring guests like John Burke, Lee Strobel, Randy Alcorn, and Erwin Lutzer.

We'd love to hear your story or comments about how Focus on the Family has made a difference. Please click below to leave a message for Jim Daly. Your story might inspire others, and we appreciate your voice! 

Fear is a powerful emotion that controls many people’s lives – often without them even realizing it. Is your life, family, or job defined by anxiety? In this program, Chip dives into 2nd Timothy chapter 3 to reveal God’s reliable remedy for fear and show you how to live with newfound confidence.

Resources

• Message Notes
• Special Offers

Connect

• 888-333-6003
• Website
• Chip Ingram App
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Partner With Us

• Donate Online
• 888-333-6003

Our friends Marv and Annie were with us at a convention in Chicago. They’re from Denver; I was in my hometown. Annie’s doctor had let her make the trip to Chicago even though she was eight months pregnant. Well, we had a reception our first night at the convention downtown. I jokingly told her, “Hey, if the baby decides to come tonight, just call our room. This is my city, girl. I’ll take care of everything!” Yeah, well, it didn’t turn out to be a joke. The call came in the middle of the night, and minutes later we had a lady in hard labor in my back seat. Oh, my goodness! I thought we’d have time to get out to our obstetrician in the suburbs. Not a chance! I had no idea where downtown hospitals were. I never needed one before. Oh, boy! I finally found one - a veterans’ hospital. No maternity ward! Well, eventually I found a hospital with great facilities - just in time. Today we all laugh about it, but it’s certainly not one of my proudest moments.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Gospel Without Detours.”

I almost messed up the beginning of a new life - all because I went in the wrong direction. That’s easy to do with what the Bible calls being “born again.” If you belong to Jesus, I’ve got to believe you know folks who don’t, and that you want them to be in heaven with you. That can only happen if they’re born into God’s family by putting their trust in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for them.

But that rebirth can be aborted if you go the wrong direction in sharing Christ with someone. See, there’s a detour on the road to Jesus and you’ve got to avoid that detour at all costs. I call it the trap - one that is so easy to fall into when you’re having a spiritual conversation. When Jesus was talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, she tried to deflect Jesus’ claim on her life by using the trap.

In John 4, beginning with verse 20, she tries to get Jesus to start down that deadly detour. Here’s what it is - talking religion. She said, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” In other words, “Jesus, the issue is we have different religions. Yours is good for you; mine is good for me.” Sound familiar? Jesus won’t go there. In verse 24, He says, “God is a spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” In other words, “This isn’t about what religion you are, Ma’am. It’s about your relationship with God.” Then Jesus introduces Himself as the looked-for Messiah. Jesus makes Himself the issue, and He still is today.

There’s just too much at stake for you to allow yourself to fall into the trap of talking religion with someone who needs Jesus. The issue really has nothing to do with religion. It’s whether or not you’ve had your sins forgiven so you can have a relationship with God. It’s really all about Jesus and all about his cross.

Paul said that in 1 Corinthians 2:2 when he said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” It’s not about your religion. It’s not about your religious rules. It’s not about your rituals. It’s not about Christianity. It’s not about Christians. It’s not about attacking their lifestyle. It’s all about Jesus. So stick to Jesus. Keep bringing it back to Jesus; bring them back to His cross.

Your mission is clear. To take a person that you care about by the hand and lead them up Skull Hill to the foot of an old rugged cross, and point to the Son of God dying for them, and say, “Man, this is how much He loves you.” Any other direction is the wrong direction - one that leads away from the Jesus that they need. So, take them straight to Jesus.