In this special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna welcome renowned researcher Dr. Kara Powell. As the Director of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Seminary, Dr. Powell has spent her career studying the spiritual lives of American teenagers. She shares their findings from the past twenty years (first shared in her seminal 2011 work, Sticky Faith), and then talks about how parents can apply the research to discipling their teenagers. Knowing that teenagers are searching for identity, belonging, and purpose helps parents understand how offering their children the gospel meets all of these needs. Dr. Powell also shares practical ideas for how to engage kids in hard conversations- and how to actually have the conversations that answer the questions kids are asking. You won't want to miss this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast!

Resources:

Fuller Youth Institute

Dr. Kara Powell

Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making the Most of Your Conversations and Connections by Kara Powell

Three Big Questions That Shape Every Teenage, A 60-Day Exploration of Who You Were Made to Be by Kara Powell, Kristal Acevedo, and Brad M Griffin

Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith Into Your Kids by Kara Powell and Chap Clark

Making Sure Kids Know the Gospel: A Gospel Catechism for Teenagers by Cameron Cole

Ask Alice: How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen; How to Listen So Your Kids Will Talk

Teenagers Need A Safe Place to Ask Hard Questions by Anna Meade Harris

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

One of the greatest challenges for a Christian parent is striking the balance between being a wise authority and being a humble servant in the lives of their children. Parents must discipline effectively, training children to obey, while at the same time they must meet their children's needs with timely warmth and affection. Most of us tend to err toward one or the other, preferring to command respect ("because I said so") or to orient family life around keeping their children happy (often out of that parent's need to be loved). 

In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss the radical nature of the Christian household code found in Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 (see also 1 Peter 2). In these letters, Paul demonstrates how the Christian exercises authority- that is to say, they follow the servant leader example of Christ. As parents learn to hold the roles of leader and servant in tension, they avoid "provoking" their children to anger and discouragement and raise young women and men who will walk in obedience to God and love for others. 

References

Ephesians 5-6:1-4

Colossians 3

Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord by Rebecca McLaughlin

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

In this special episode, Cameron interviews Amanda Smith about how a parent can respond with love and compassion when their teenager comes out as LGBTQ. She reminds parents how much courage, fear, and pain their teenager may have already experienced before this conversation, and she urges parents to affirm their love and care for their child, who may fear rejection. Parents should also be aware of their own fear and pain in these moments, and they need to find those who will care well for them as they come to terms with their child's revelation. She invites parents to hold to a biblical view of sexuality while maintaining warm and affectionate relationship with their LGBTQ child. Amanda and Cameron suggest that parents can affirm teenagers by reminding them that they are made in the image of God, and their true and lasting identity is found in Christ alone. Parents can rest, understanding that God is their teenager's eternal loving faithful and perfect Father. 

Episode Notes

Amanda Smith is Care Minister at Redeemer Kansas City in Kansas City MO. She specializes in caring for people who experience sexual and relational brokenness. 

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

This week on the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna dive into the book of Proverbs. Noting that wisdom literature offers principles, not promises, they demonstrate that the foundational principle that guides the entire book is found in Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This is good news for parents because our hope is not in ourselves, but in the Lord. Our hosts examine the general themes of discipline, authority, modeling, correction, and character. Loving and delighting in our children means that we will discipline them- not necessarily sparing them from "pain" or confrontation.

Other resources:

Fear Factor in Parenting: Taking Refuge in the Fear of the Lord

Fear Factor in Parenting: Fear of the Teenage Years with Paul David Tripp

Don’t Be Afraid of the Teen Years with Paul David Tripp

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

We are thrilled to welcome you to the first installment of our newest Rooted Parent Podcast season: What the Bible Says About Parenting. The Bible is not about us, but it is for us. God's Word is an invitation to relationship with him, given to us that we may know who he is. As God disciples parents, parents in turn disciple their children to know God. So as we examine what the Word has to say to parents, we remember that while there's not a lot of explicit instruction to moms and dads, Scripture contains many principles that we can derive from letting our Father show us who he is.

Cameron and Anna examine the Genesis narrative and the famous Shema passage in Deuteronomy, as both of these passages demonstrate how God intends for discipleship to happen in warm, loving, intimate relationship.

Episode Notes: 

Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 2  selected

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

The End of Youth Ministry: Why Parents Don't Really Care About Youth Groups and What Parents Should Do About It by Andrew Root

The Hurried Child by Davis Elkind

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

Our guest today on the Rooted Parent Podcast is Evan Barber of Axis, a ministry that creates resources to "bridge the gap" between parents and teens. Axis creates content for parents that explains trends and fads in pop culture, along with issues of "mental health, relationships, social media, and spiritual formation." Cameron and Anna ask Evan to explain a little bit about what makes Gen Z different from past generations, and what parents can do to overcome some of the communication challenges between parents and children. Evan gives some practical advice, particularly about how to avoid shutting down the conversation when differing opinions arise. Best of all, Evan shares with us what aspects of the gospel will resonate most deeply with today's teenagers, and how parents can demonstrate living in the tension between the now and the not yet of God's kingdom.

Resources: 

Axis.org: "Connecting Parents, Teens, and Jesus in a Disconnected World.

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Scripture: Matthew 6:5-14

Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation by Christian Smith

3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making the Most of Your Conversations and Connections by Kara Powell

Further Resources on Rooted:

Fear Factor in Parenting: Fear of the Culture with Collin Hansen

How to Engage Culture with Your Students and Kids by Seth Stewart

What Youth Pastors Would Like to Tell Parents: The Culture is More Hostile Than You Think by Taylor Mendoza

Utilizing Youth Culture Series: Part One and Part Two by Mark Howard

How to Engage Culture with Your Kids - podcast with Seth Stewart

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

In this special episode of the podcast, Cameron and Anna have the pleasure of speaking with Rooted writer Clarissa Moll, whose new book Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving After Loss is a wonderfully helpful guide for families in grief. After her husband Rob's death in a hiking accident, Clarissa has parented their four children, shouldering their grief as well as her own. 

Topics they discuss include:

- how children grieve differently than adults

- what "re-grieving" looks like

- going back to church after a death or major loss

- how their youth pastor helped her kids

- flourishing after loss

Links mentioned: 

Surprised by Grief podcast, Christianity Today

"Parenting Grieving Kids Through the Winter Doldrums"

"4 Ways Churches Can Help Grieving Children"

Therefore I Have Hope, a Video Devotion Series with Cameron Cole

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

Nashville-based counselor David Thomas is no stranger to the Rooted Parent Podcast: he hosted the entire first season, All About Boys. For this special episode, David is back, sharing with us about his newest book, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life. For anyone who raises or mentors boys, David offers excellent insight on several important topics. To name a few:

- teaching the three R's: recognize, regulate, repair

- helping boys manage and channel the physicality of their emotions

- the trap of numbing emotions, particularly through gaming and social media

- how to help a boy who's "stuck"

- teaching boys to regulate their own emotions, rather than "anchoring" with an adult

- the comfort and hope parents can find in praying the Serenity Prayer

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Anna interviews author Christina Fox about her newest book, Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for Our Parenting. They discuss how Christina came to recognize that her best guide in parenting her sons was the way that God parents all of us, and how God's fatherhood helps her in her anxiety as a mom. They also go in-depth discussing boundaries and discipline with kids, and how the fear of the Lord transforms our fear of everything else. Finally, Christina ends with a word of grace for parents. Listen- and be encouraged- as she relates gardening to God to parenting our children.

Rooted review of Like Our Father

Rooted review of A Holy Fear 

Rooted Review of Sufficient Hope

Christina's Rooted author page

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago 

Cameron and Anna were so excited to record this episode with our friend, licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock, who also happens to be the host of Ask Alice, a part of the Rooted family of podcasts. We were glad to be with her not just because we love her, but because she is seasoned counselor who can speak to the trends in teen mental health while also offering us the comfort and encouragement of the gospel. Alice shares that since Covid, teenagers are profoundly disappointed and scared to hope, and we can minister to them most profoundly when we teach them to lament their sadness and loss and teach them to hope in the goodness of Jesus.

Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel Siegel

Romans 8:31-37

Psalm 61:1-4

Romans 8 for Parents

Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
 

Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago