Kids sometimes ask excellent questions about Scripture: "How did we get the Bible?" "How do we know that the Bible is from God?" "What does God-breathed mean?" It can leave us wondering, "wait, do I even know the answer to that?" How we respond to these questions, and how well we are prepared for them, is critical for fostering our children's trust in Scripture as the authoritative Word of God. In this episode, Brett and Erin interview Tim Barnett, host of the Red Pen Logic YouTube channel, about the apologetics for Scripture's reliability and inspiration. Tim also outlines the strategies he's used to navigate these kinds of questions about Scripture with his kids.

Read the "Aunt Sally's Secret Sauce" article: https://www.str.org/w/is-the-new-testament-text-reliable-#.W6bdMRNKjdc

Check out Tim's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RedPenLogic

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As Christians, the most authoritative presence in our lives is Scripture. It speaks to every area of life and teaches us how to follow Christ. But why is it so authoritative? We learned last week that the "who" behind Scripture is one reason why it has authority. But how do we know that God is the "who" behind the book? In this episode, Brett and Erin continue the conversation on authority, honing in on answering why Scripture is authoritative in our lives and how we can pass on a respect for this reality to our kids. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

There is a crisis of authority in our culture. Across the board there is more distrust in our once authoritative institutions: politics, parents, universities, etc. But have you ever stopped to ask: What is authority? What are its ingredients? And what has to be missing or go wrong with an authority to make us distrustful? In this episode, Brett and Erin unpack the nature of authority, how this applies to the authority of Scripture, and how to explain authority to your kids.

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Parenting is experiencing a crisis of authority. Gentle Parenting advocates say that the child is the authority, rather than the parent. In this episode, Brett and Erin analyze one example of this idea: A post by popular parenting influencer, Consciousmommy, where she claims that disrespect is really just a symptom that a child needs more autonomy in their life and that you (the parent) don't want to want to be challenged.

Read the post for yourself here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDXYP0KIGbu/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Read the Rod Dreher article here: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/sex-after-christianity/

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As December comes to an close and we look forward to 2025, we at MAVEN are reflecting on all you've helped us accomplish this year to impact the next generation. Thank you to all who have partnered with us over these seven years. From listening and sharing the parent podcast to attending our conferences and immersive experiences to your generous support, we are truly grateful. You are transforming young lives to pursue truth, goodness and beauty, all for the cause of Christ. Would you prayerfully consider giving a generous gift this season to increase MAVEN’s mission in 2025? Thank you for your partnership!

Read the 2024 Impact Report: https://maventruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MAVEN-EOY-Booklet-digital.pdf

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One of the key questions at the heart of the Santa Claus debate is "Will telling my child about Santa cause them to doubt God?" It's a good question, and surely we don't want that to happen. But we also know that children have often have vivid imaginations where they believe and love fairy tales, myths, and wild impossibilities. Could their openness to the impossible actually help point them toward Christ, even when they learn the truth about Santa? In this episode, Brett and Erin read columnist Tony Woodlief's article "OK, Virginia, There’s No Santa Claus. But There Is God" and discuss the critical role that fairy tales and myths (such as Santa Claus) play in priming our children's imaginations for believing in the greatest myth that is true.

Read the article: https://catholiceducation.org/en/author/tony-woodlief

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While believing in Santa as a little kid can be fun and even a little magical, there's a certain level of discernment and intentionality Christian parents need to have surrounding Santa in Christmas celebrations. How do we make sure our kids see that Christ is at the center of Christmas and not Santa Claus? How do we navigate the "Mom, is Santa real" question? When should we break the news to them? In this episode, Brett and Erin continue their conversation on Santa Claus and provide practical ways to incorporate Santa while keeping Christ at the center of Christmas.

Article on the historical St. Nicholas: https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/who-is-santa-and-what-does-he-have-to-do-with-christmas.html

Study on Santa and Faith in God: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081208180345.htm

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Is it lying to tell your kids about Santa Claus? And if you "lie" to them about Santa, can it make them question other beliefs you've passed on to them—for instance, the existence of God? In this episode, Brett and Erin explore the Santa conversation and the question of whether this common Christmas tradition is moral or not. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Christmas season is upon us, and so are the flurry of advertisements and distractions from the culture drawing our attention away from this season's true meaning: the Birth of Christ, our Savior. As parents, what traditions can we instill in our kids to remind them that Christmas is about more than gifts? In this episode, Brett and Erin chat with Cindy Rollins—a podcast host, author of several books, and a veteran homeschool mom—about her family's Advent tradition of listening to Handel's classical masterpiece: Messiah.

Access the Advent playlists here: https://www.youtube.com/@cindyrollins6053/playlists

Sign up for Cindy's Advent Discipleship Group: https://morningtimeformoms.com/events/worthy-is-the-lamb-moms-advent-discipleship/

Get Cindy's Advent book here: https://www.amazon.com/Hallelujah-Cultivating-Traditions-Handels-Messiah/dp/1944435077

Check out our brand new video course on homeschooling featuring Cindy Rollins: https://equip.maventruth.com/raising-lifelong-learners-course

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Wokeness. Social justice. Critical race theory. Identity politics. How do we help our families and churches navigate a host of ideas that seem antithetical to Christianity? First, we must understand the worldview behind it all: Critical theory. In this episode, Brett and Erin speak with Dr. Neil Shenvi, a theoretical chemist, Christian apologist, and author of the recent book, Critical Dilemma. Dr. Shenvi provides a helpful and accessible understanding of Critical Theory and how it's seeped into the evangelical church.

Check out Neil's articles and work here: https://shenviapologetics.com

Pick up your copy of Neil and Pat Sawyer's book here: https://criticaldilemma.com