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Talk About It episodes

  • Biblical Parenting Part 9 - Duct Tape Lessons for Dads

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    Calling all dads! In this unique and down-to-earth ninth episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we’re grabbing a roll of every handyman’s secret weapon—duct tape—to uncover five powerful lessons for biblical fatherhood.

    Just like the versatile tape that has held everything from ammo cases to spacecraft together, God calls dads to be strong, resilient, and crucial to the family's mission. Drawing from 1 Timothy 3, we break down the "Duct Tape Doctrine" into practical, memorable takeaways for every father:

    1. STICK TO THE MAIN THING: Learn how to adhere to Christ above all, because without Him, we can do nothing.
    2. BE STRONG BUT FLEXIBLE: Discover the quiet strength of meekness—holding your ground on major issues while being wise enough to bend on minor ones.
    3. HOLD IT TOGETHER: Embrace your God-given role as the leader who maintains the fabric and unity of your family.
    4. DON’T GET EXPOSED TO THE WRONG ELEMENTS: Identify what breaks down your integrity, health, and relationships—and how to avoid it.
    5. DON’T THINK YOU’RE THE PERMANENT SOLUTION: Find freedom in the truth that you are not meant to fix everything, but to point your family to the One who truly holds all things together.

    This episode is a challenge and an encouragement for every dad who feels the pressure to be everything. It’s a call to be the strong, faithful, and godly leader your family needs, all by relying on the ultimate source of strength.

    Dads, tune in and get equipped to stick to your calling.

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    29 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 8 - Mentors Not Tormentors

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    Do your children see you as a guide or a critic? Are you building them up with wisdom or tearing them down with demands? In this practical and empowering eighth episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we turn to the Book of Proverbs to discover how to become a positive mentor in your child's life.

    We explore the profound truth behind the command to "train up a child," focusing on the upward journey you are called to lead. Moving beyond frustration and friction, we break down four foundational principles for positive, effective parenting straight from Proverbs Chapter 1:

    1. Give Clear INSTRUCTIONS: Learn how to set loving, understandable boundaries and explain the "why" behind them, so your discipline is rooted in teaching, not just punishment.
    2. Provide Godly INSIGHT: Discover how to move beyond teaching your kids how to make a living, and instead teach them how to live—grounding them in the most important things: a relationship with God and healthy relationships with others.
    3. Exert Positive INFLUENCE: Understand why your example speaks louder than your words, and how spending consistent, intentional time with your children is the most powerful teaching tool you have.
    4. Instill Lasting INTEGRITY: See the beautiful outcome of this process—raising children whose character is a beautiful ornament of grace, more valuable than any cultural trinket.

    This episode is for every parent who wants to trade the cycle of criticism and correction for a legacy of wisdom and influence. Learn how to guide your children upward by becoming the mentor they need.

    Tune in and transform your parenting from a source of tension to a fountain of godly wisdom.

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    29 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 7 - Parenting Like An Eagle

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    Are you raising your children to be dependent on the nest, or are you preparing them to soar? In this inspiring seventh episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we look to one of God's most majestic creatures—the eagle—for a stunning model of how to move our children from dependence to independence.

    Using the powerful imagery from Deuteronomy 32, we contrast the ineffective parenting styles of the chicken (teaching our kids to scratch for anything) and the ostrich (hiding from problems) with the purposeful, strategic methods of the eagle. We break down the five crucial stages of "Eagle Parenting":

    1. DISTURB the Nest: Learn why, as a loving parent, you must sometimes turn your child's comfort zone upside down to show them they were meant for more.
    2. DRAW NEAR: Discover how to flutter nearby with encouragement and support, assuring them of your presence even as you push them to grow.
    3. DEMONSTRATE: Understand the critical importance of "spreading your wings" and showing them—not just telling them—how to handle people, problems, prosperity, and pressure.
    4. DEVELOP Them: Find the courage to "shake them off" and let them make their own decisions, understanding that the fear of their failure should not stop you from giving them the test.
    5. DELIVER Them: Learn how to keep a watchful eye, ready to swoop in and bear them up just before they hit the ground, teaching resilience through your support.

    This episode is a call to action for every parent to stop settling for low-flying goals. If you want to raise children who are equipped to fly on their own and fulfill their God-given potential, this biblical blueprint is for you.

    Tune in and learn how to trade your apron strings for eagle's wings.

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    29 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 6 - Parenting In Perilous Times

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    Do you ever feel like the culture is slowly seducing your family, not with a direct attack, but with a series of subtle compromises? In this urgent and empowering sixth episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we look at the story of Samson’s parents, who raised their son in a time eerily similar to our own—a time of spiritual decay and cultural pressure.

    Using a powerful analogy of a wolf being seduced by its own thirst, we expose how the enemy works to make us complicit in our own downfall. But in the midst of this spiritual crisis, a faithful couple shows us the way forward. They reveal the four pillars of successful parenting, even in perilous times:

    1. Recognize the PRIVILEGE: See your children not as burdens, but as a sacred gift and trust from God—your most important assignment.
    2. Embrace the RESPONSIBILITY: Understand your role in guiding your child toward God’s purpose, communicating vital truths about life, sin, and consequence.
    3. Admit Your DEPENDENCE: Learn to “leave the driving to God,” trusting His direction through prayer and obedience more than your own strength.
    4. Accept Your LIMITS: Find peace in the sobering truth that you cannot live your child’s life for them, releasing them to God while never ceasing to pray.

    This episode is both a warning and a source of great hope. It’s for every parent who feels overwhelmed by the cultural currents and wonders if it’s even possible to raise godly children today. The answer is a resounding yes.

    Tune in to learn how to build a family that doesn’t just survive our cultural moment, but stands out within it.

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    38 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 5 - Who is in the Driver's Seat Part 2

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    You’ve identified the pressures and recognized the need to lead—but how do you actually do it? In this empowering episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we move from diagnosis to prescription. We're sharing four practical, biblical steps you can start implementing today to parent the way God intends and confidently lead your children.

    This episode is your action plan. We dive into four transformative strategies that will help you reclaim your role as a loving, godly leader in your home:

    1. Let God’s Word Speak: It’s more than just reading Proverbs. We discuss how to make the Bible the ultimate authority on everything from finances to morality, and how to model this so your kids catch a passion for God’s truth.
    2. Encourage Godly Values: With stats showing we criticize far more than we encourage, we explore how to become a student of your children, actively praising signs of godliness and modeling the values you want to see.
    3. Always Be Approachable: Shocking surveys reveal who teens really turn to for help. We tackle how to become a safe harbor for your children—the first person they come to with any question or problem, not the last.
    4. Teach Obedience: This isn’t about harshness; it’s about love and character. We break down why your primary concern isn’t your child’s temporary happiness, but their lifelong character, and how teaching first-time obedience is a profound reflection of their future relationship with God.

    This is where the rubber meets the road. If you’re ready to trade overwhelm for a clear, biblical game plan, don’t miss this concluding episode.

    Tune in and get equipped to lead your family with faith, confidence, and love.

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    29 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 4 - Who's In The Driver's Seat?

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    Feeling like your family is being driven by financial pressures, hectic schedules, social comparisons, and moral chaos? You’re not alone. In this pivotal fourth episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we tackle the overwhelming pressures modern parents face and ask the critical question: Who is really in the driver's seat of your home?

    We start with a foundational truth from Psalm 127: your children are not a burden or an inconvenience; they are a precious gift and heritage from the Lord. From that starting point, we identify the four major pressures pushing parents out of the driver's seat:

    1. The Financial Pressure: The endless cycle of costs that can strain any budget.
    2. The Time Pressure: The frantic pace of life that leaves little room for connection.
    3. The Social Pressure: The exhausting race to keep up with what "everyone else" is doing.
    4. The Moral Pressure: The sobering reality that our kids are bombarded with immorality, and the stats show the church is not immune.

    This episode is a wake-up call and a reset. We confront the uncomfortable truth that when we yield to these pressures, we often abdicate our God-given role as leaders, allowing our children to take the wheel. But there is a better way. We discuss what it looks like to reclaim your place, not as a harsh dictator, but as a loving, steady leader who steers the family toward God's design.

    If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and ready to lead your family with confidence, this episode is your roadmap.

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    27 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 3 - Faithful In Parenting

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    Feeling the pressure to be a perfect parent? You're not alone. In this encouraging third episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we're letting go of the impossible standard of perfection and embracing the biblical call to be faithful parents.

    Using the powerful and relatable metaphor of the Apostle Paul as a spiritual parent, we explore a practical blueprint for raising our children. This isn't about a flawless recipe, but about a faithful relationship aimed at one primary goal: helping our children "live lives worthy of God." We break down this mission into two key parts:

    1. The TARGET: What is the ultimate goal of our parenting? It’s not just well-behaved kids, but children who grow into adults who love and serve God. We discuss how keeping this eternal target in sight changes our daily priorities.
    2. The TACTICS: How do we hit that target? We explore three essential, grace-filled tactics Paul models for us:
      • Encouraging: How to be our child's biggest cheerleader, building them up with our presence, touch, and words.
      • Comforting: How to create a safe, "skin-on" refuge in our homes—a place where hurts are healed and hearts are accepted.
      • Urging: How to motivate and discipline not with threats, but by bearing witness through our own godly example.

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re at your strength’s end, this episode is for you. Join us for a hopeful conversation that will equip you to build a legacy of faith, one encouraging word and comforting hug at a time.

    Tune in to trade the burden of perfection for the freedom of faithfulness.

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    32 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 2 - God's Plan for Parenting

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    Is your parenting style building up your child or breaking their spirit? In this powerful second episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we move from theory to practice, examining God's clear and practical plan for the parent-child relationship found in Colossians 3.

    We tackle the often-challenging command for children to obey and explore the crucial parental responsibility that makes it possible. This conversation is for any parent who has ever felt too harsh, too lenient, or just plain lost. We break down the three key components of God's plan:

    1. The Command to Obey: We discuss why teaching obedience is an act of love, how it shapes a child's character, and what the startling statistics about parental influence really tell us about our own faith.
    2. The Role of a Steward: Your children are a gift from God, entrusted to your care. We explore what it means to be a steward of their hearts and how to faithfully pass down your faith to the next generation.
    3. The Balance of Discipline: How do we correct our children without crushing them? We delve into the two extremes—being too lenient or too harsh—and look to God’s model of fair, loving, and grace-filled discipline that corrects without discouraging.

    This episode is a challenging and hopeful look at our God-given role. Join us as we learn how to raise responsible, faith-filled adults without exasperating them along the way.

    Tune in to discover the balance of biblical discipline and grace.

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    32 min
  • Biblical Parenting Part 1 - The World's Greatest Undertaking

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    What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? In this foundational episode of our Biblical Parenting series, we explore why successfully raising your children is of the highest magnitude—a legacy that outlasts careers, accolades, and personal achievements.

    Drawing from Deuteronomy 6, we unpack God's blueprint for parenting that shapes not just behavior, but hearts. We discuss the three non-negotiable pillars every Christian parent must build upon:

    1. Right Living: Why your personal relationship with God is the absolute starting point. You cannot lead your children further than you have been yourself.
    2. Right Loving: The critical importance of loving the Lord supremely, ensuring nothing—not a job, a hobby, or anything else—becomes an idol that sends a mixed message to your kids.
    3. Right Learning: How to diligently teach God's Word to your children, not just with rules, but by saturating your everyday life with it, creating a lasting appetite for Him in their hearts.

    This is a challenging but hopeful conversation for every parent. We are building a legacy. Join us as we ask the crucial question: If my child grew up to be a Christian just like me, would I be pleased?

    Listen now and be encouraged to embrace this holy calling.

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    30 min
  • Marriage Part 10 - Marriage Season Finale - Contract or Covenant

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    What if your wedding wasn’t just a ceremony—but a blood oath before God? In this seismic season finale, we uncover the ancient covenant roots of marriage (Genesis 15:9-21) and why treating vows as "loophole-friendly contracts" destroys relationships. Discover how Abraham’s bloody path with God redefines everything about your commitment.

    You’ll learn:
    The gruesome ritual: Why couples walked through halved animals (and what it means for you)
    4 non-negotiable pillars of covenant marriage:

    1. Before God’s face: He’s not a guest—He’s the enforcer of your vows (Deut. 23:21-23)
    2. Before witnesses: Why your community must hold you accountable (Matt. 18:16)
    3. Serious enough to die for: No “outs” for bad behavior, poverty, or sickness (Ruth 1:16-17)
    4. Escape-proof: Death is the only exit (Matt. 19:6)

    We confront modern myths:

    • “I deserve happiness” → Covenant says: “You deserve faithfulness”
    • “We grew apart” → Covenant says: “Grow together or bleed trying”
    • “But the state allows divorce” → God says: “What I joined, man can’t separate”

    Raw moments:

    • The pastor who told a divorcing man: “Oh no you’re not—I heard your vow!”
    • Why Lisa and I argue differently: “We’ll be together in 50 years—fix this NOW”
    • God’s shocking solo walk through the blood path: “If you fail… I’ll pay” (foreshadowing the cross)

    Ask yourself:

    1. Do I treat my marriage like a crackerjack contract (looking for loopholes)?
    2. Or a blood-sealed covenant (staking my life on it)?
    3. Where have I valued “happy” over faithful?

    Final call:
    Your marriage isn’t about you—it’s a living portrait of God’s relentless commitment to His people. Stop negotiating terms. Start walking the bloody path.

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    27 min

About Talk About It

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We take relevant topics with a Biblical point of view and we, "Talk About It". "Talk About It" with Pastor Don Smith: Where faith meets real life. Each season, we take a deep dive into…

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