The Word On Demand

A pilot said, “the basics of aviation are really quite simple. You push the control stick forward and the houses get real big; you pull it back and the houses get real small.” But imagine if a pilot did lose track of the basics – “can’t remember what those switches do, or even why they’re important.” Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us with a refresher course on the basics of the Christian faith. It’s a good reminder of the fundamentals that’ll keep us all from crashing and burning.

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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.

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Could your efforts to raise a responsible, well-adjusted teen actually be driving them away? In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss three common parenting mistakes that can damage relationships with teens. Mark explains why approaches that worked during childhood often backfire during adolescence and how parents can communicate expectations, maintain authority and uphold their values without creating resentment or distance. You'll also hear from Heartlight teen Josh, who shares how the pressure to meet others' expectations contributed to anxiety, depression and substance abuse — and what he's learned about accepting his imperfections and taking responsibility for his life. Tune in to discover how small changes in your parenting approach can help you rebuild trust, reduce conflict and draw your teen closer instead of pushing them away.

How do you know if you need outside help with your teen? Learn 10 characteristics of a teen who needs intervention here: bit.ly/does-your-teen-need-intervention

In a relay race, runners don't leave the baton behind. They pass it forward to someone prepared to carry it. Shouldn't we think about inheritance the same way?

When we consider leaving an inheritance, we naturally focus on the financial resources we'll pass along. But an inheritance involves more than transferring money or possessions. It also involves preparing the people who will receive them.

Proverbs 16:16 reminds us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

Ron Blue, founder of Kingdom Advisors and Blue Trust and a pioneer in Christian financial planning, has spent nearly five decades helping families understand this distinction. His message is simple but profound: The greatest legacy we can leave isn't merely the wealth we've accumulated, but the wisdom to steward it well.

Wealth can certainly be a blessing, but money alone doesn't produce wisdom, character, contentment, or purpose. Those qualities must be developed intentionally, and they ultimately determine how someone handles the resources entrusted to them.

Passing significant wealth to someone who isn't prepared to manage it can create unintended consequences, even when the giver has the best intentions.

This is especially important when considering multigenerational wealth transfers. Children and grandchildren who inherit substantial resources may not have experienced the sacrifices, discipline, or decisions involved in accumulating them. Without that perspective, they may develop an entirely different relationship with money.

Ron encourages families to think beyond the immediate inheritance and consider how their decisions might affect the next two or three generations. By the third generation, beneficiaries may have little or no personal connection to the family members who originally accumulated the wealth.

One question he recommends asking is: What's the worst thing that could happen if I leave this money to this person or family?

It's not intended to discourage generosity or create suspicion toward potential heirs. Rather, it invites you to consider how an inheritance might affect someone's relationships, character, financial decisions, and spiritual well-being.

The same principle applies to charitable giving. Before transferring significant resources to a ministry or nonprofit, it's wise to consider whether that organization is prepared to manage the gift effectively.

Ultimately, the goal is not simply to transfer resources, but to prepare the next steward to use them faithfully.

How can parents and grandparents prepare their children and grandchildren to handle an inheritance wisely? Ron offers two practical principles.

First, more is caught than taught. Children learn about money by observing how the adults around them earn, spend, save, and give. Over time, they absorb attitudes and habits that can influence their financial decisions well into adulthood.

This means the example we set may be just as important as the financial lessons we teach. Ron recalls speaking with a father who realized his children had never actually seen him give because he made all his charitable donations online. There was nothing wrong with his method of giving, but he recognized that his children were missing an opportunity to witness generosity firsthand.

Making generosity visible and inviting children into age-appropriate conversations about financial stewardship can help them understand not only how money is managed, but why it matters.

Second, we learn to manage money by managing money. Financial wisdom isn'

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Technology is changing fast—and keeping up with what your kids are seeing, using, and experiencing online can feel overwhelming. Chris McKenna offers practical, biblical advice to help you navigate technology with your family and protect your kids from some of its biggest dangers. You don’t have to get technology 100% right…but you can be intentional about getting it right where it matters most.

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When evil and division threaten to destroy a nation, God looks to a faithful remnant to raise up the next generation. Discover how Zephaniah's mentoring of a young King Josiah spared a country from ruin, and learn how you can play an active role in pointing the children and teenagers in your life toward Christ.

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