Parents, do you need to "do better?" Popular parenting influencer BillyVSCO thinks so, ending each of his parenting videos with this mantra. He's one of hundreds of prominent social media voices offering parenting advice on everything from discipline to discipleship. So how can Christian parents possibly sort through all the contradictory advice and noise online? In this episode, Brett and Erin respond to a couple of BillyVSCO's videos and walk you through strategies for sifting through good and bad parenting advice.

How does Scripture define faith? Last week, we discussed some of the mistaken views of faith that are popular in the church today. In this episode, Brett and Erin explore 3 key Scriptures that help us accurately define faith, and equip you with some practical parenting strategies for passing a true view of faith to your kids.

Listen to Part 1 of this conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSzMM_mSYY8

Check out our interview with Greg Koukl here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrpDIVMSwMA

How would you define faith? Does it depend on how many Bible facts we know or is faith just a feeling? Unfortunately, many Christians hold a mistaken view of faith and don't even know it. We hear the word "faith" used by pastors, fellow Christians, and sometimes even by atheists. But, how many of us know what it really means? In this episode, Brett and Erin unpack some of the most prevalent mistaken views of faith that have seeped into the church today.

When our kids have questions or hang-ups about faith, is there a strategic way to approach those conversations? How can we equip our kids well so that one day they are ripe to become ambassadors for Christ? In this episode, Brett and Erin talk with Greg Koukl, a Christian apologist, author, and the president of Stand To Reason about his new book, Street Smarts, and about how parents can use questions to pass on their faith to their kids and give them tools to navigate our culture.

Buy Greg's book here: https://store.str.org/purchase/street-smarts

Happy New Year to the MAVEN Parent Podcast community! Are you ready for 2024? At MAVEN, we want to come alongside and support you in the discipleship of you and your kids in the year ahead. In this episode, Brett and Erin outline MAVEN's upcoming resources in 2024 to help you plan your year with intentionality.

MAVEN Conferences: https://www.mavenconferences.com/

Open Enrollment Trip: https://maventruth.com/open-enrollment/

Is it just us or has it been a long time since a solid film with solid values rocked our culture? So many of the classic films seem to be aware of right and wrong in a way that's painfully absent in Hollywood today. Is it possible to reclaim any of this cultural worldview consensus? In this episode, Brett and Erin talk with Dr. Onalee McGraw, known for her tenure on the National Council on Education Research under the Reagan administration, about her project with the Educational Guidance Institute. Brett and Erin delve into Dr. McGraw's mission: educating kids about classic films and cultivating a taste for good, true, and beautiful things.

Humility is a Christian virtue, and it often manifests itself in our teachability. And as adults trying to disciple the next generation through some unprecedented cultural waters, we need to remain teachable in order to adapt and grow so that we can be most effective in teaching and guiding our children. In this episode, Brett and Erin share 10 lessons learned this year that will encourage and challenge you.

Philippians chapter two describes one of the most significant moments in human history and provides us the reason why we worship during Christmas: God became man. The Incarnation is the supreme act of God’s selfless love and His greatest gift to humankind. In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss how Christmas is a perfect time to hold up Christ as the selfless example for our kids to follow. They also provide some very practical advice about helping our kids to give gifts to others, in ways that help cultivate unselfishness and generosity. 

Should parents break the law to secure their kid's future? Desperate Housewife actress Felicity Huffman made news for her recent comments offering this justification for her role in the explosive 2019 college admissions scandal. We may think such extremes examples are only fit for Hollywood, but Christian parents and educators unknowingly adopt the same secular values that undergird Huffman’s illegal actions on behalf of her daughter. That’s why we must regularly examine what our vision of success is in the lives of our kids. Is it acceptance into a prestigious college? Is it a good job? Is it attaining enough wealth to live comfortably? Ultimately, God’s Word and not the secular culture must inform every thought we have and decision we make on behalf of our kids.

Philosophy has a major public relations problem. The word conjures up images of dusty books and ivory towers, far removed from the realities of normal life. But what if philosophy is actually one of the most practical subjects of study that has serious implications for our deepest of human needs? In this episode, Brett and Erin talk with philosopher Dr. Ross Inman about his new book, Christian Philosophy as a Way of Life: An Invitation to Wonder. Dr. Inman makes a compelling case that philosophy is valuable, practical, and significant for every aspect of Christian life and ministry and, therefore, has tremendous value for our parenting, as well.

Dr. Inman's books: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Philosophy-Way-Life-Invitation/dp/1540965732/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CJV4JA0E4CNE&keywords=Christian+Philosophy+as+a+Way+of+Life&qid=1701300252&sprefix=christian+philosophy+as+a+way+of+life%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1