Hey fellow dads,

Many Christian books have been published in recent years about moms praying for their families, but does God expect us as dads to pray for our spouse and children as well? What might it mean to be a “priest” in our own home . . . and how do we fulfill this role practically, in the day to day? In this episode we talk about where to start, examples from Scripture, and some books that can grow our faith for prayer.

Nathan

“Day after day, and year after year, by the help of God, we labour in prayer for the spiritual benefit of the Orphans under our care. These our supplications, which have been for 24 years brought before the Lord concerning them, have been abundantly answered, in former years, in the conversion of hundreds from among them. We have, also, had repeated seasons in which, within a short time, or even all at once, many of the Orphans were converted. Such a season we had about three years since, when, within a few days, about 60 were brought to believe in the Lord Jesus; and such seasons we have had again twice during the first year.

“This blessed and mighty work of the Holy Spirit cannot be traced to any particular cause. It was however, a most precious answer to prayer. As such we look upon it, and are encouraged by it to further waiting upon God.

“[This] great work of the Spirit of God…began among the younger class of the children under our care...so that within about 10 days above 200 of the Orphans were stirred up to be anxious about their souls, and in many instances found peace immediately, through faith in our Lord Jesus. They at once requested to be allowed to hold prayer meetings among themselves, and have had these meetings ever since. Many of them also manifested a concern about the salvation of their companions and relations, and spoke or wrote to them, about the way to be saved.”

—George Mueller, in Answers to Prayer

“According to the NT, Jesus Christ is the great high priest for all those who believe in Him. He makes atonement for our sins; He intercedes for us with the Father; He takes away our sins!”

“Because Jesus Christ is our great high priest, we need no man to stand between us and God, to make atonement for our sins, or to forgive our sins; and all of us who are in Christ have God-given authority to read God’s word for ourselves and determine how to live it out.”

“…what we mean by this term is simply that a dad--husband and father—is supposed to pray for his family, to lead his family in the truth of God, and to teach his family how to fellowship with God. He is an intercessor—he intercedes (pleads with God for the benefit of others).”

—Nathan

💡 See the show notes, with Scripture references, quotes, and more, at refreshpublishing.com

https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/his-destiny

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magical-christmas

Hey fellow dads,

How do you “start where you are” to lead your family even when you know you aren’t the dad you ought to be? What hope do we have when greater men than us have not been able to raise godly children? Or is that even our goal? Join us today as we learn from my friend William Maricle about being the spiritual leader (teacher or prophet) for our families.

And, starting at 34:54, I have a special Thanksgiving weekend treat for you—an excerpt from Of Plimoth Plantation that the whole family can enjoy.

Nathan

What exactly does a prophet do? Throughout the Bible, we see that prophets consistently kept these four elements in their lives:

“As men, there’s no way we can completely assume that role, unless we ourselves are attempting to discover the word of God for ourselves, and be in it. But then I would hasten to say, that it’s better to be a father who feels inadequate but is just giving what he can, than to be a father who feels like he has all the answers and demands his kids listen to him.”

“Have the heart to say, ‘Dad doesn’t know much, but please do right.”

📚 Seeking a Godly Seed, by Clint Caviness

📚 Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford

💡 See the show notes, with Scripture references, quotes, and more, at refreshpublishing.com/053-dads-be-a-prophet-for-your-family

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hey Fellow Dads,

Have you ever wondered if you’re providing enough for your family? What kind of provider is God for us, and how should we illustrate Him in the way we provide for our wives and children? What pitfalls do we need to be careful to avoid? Join us as my friend Daniel shares how we need to provide for our children in more than just financial ways, and gives some great book recommendations to help us partner with God in providing for our families.

Nathan

📖 Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, by David L. Bahnsen

📖 Author of financial advice, Dave Ramsey

📖 The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy

📖 Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand (contains some references to p-rn as well as graphic combat and p.o.w. camp details, not suitable for children)

📖 Zoli’s Legacy: Based On the Life of Zoltan Gaal, by Dawn Watkins

📖 The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling

📖 The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges

• “We know that God doesn’t always give us everything we want, but He does give us everything that we need.”

💡 See the show notes, with Scripture references, quotes, and more, at refreshpublishing.com

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hey Fellow Dads,

Do we really have a Scriptural mandate as fathers to protect our families, or is that just a Western cultural idea? How does ego play in? What if we’re not naturally strong or tough? What do we need to keep in mind as we learn to be protectors? What books can help? Listen in as my brother-in-law Pete, a very experienced protector, shares helpful principles for protecting our families both physically and spiritually.

Nathan

When Christ “gave himself” for the church, the word implies hazarding his life. Protecting others may involve risking our own lives.

Most important skills we need as men to protect our families:

1. Fitness—spiritual, emotional, and physical.

📖 The Bible

📖 Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life, by Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley

📖 Strong’s Concordance, by James Strong

📖 Morning and Evening, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

📖 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

📖 A blank journal

📖 The Bible

📖 The Men We Need, by Brant Hansen

💡 See the show notes, with Scripture references, quotes, and more, at refreshpublishing.com

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hey Fellow Dads,

To be the husbands and fathers that God created us to be, we have to play the roles God has entrusted to us. What are those roles, and how do we face these ofttimes overwhelming responsibilities, especially when failure is so possible? What books can help?

Nathan

• Fourth Quarter: How to Finish Your Course with Joy, by Don Sisk

• To listen to readings of the original Sugar Creek Gang stories, download the Bible Broadcasting Radio (BBN Radio) App, click the “On Demand” button, and scroll to “Captain’s Club.”

💡 See the show notes, with quiz questions, Scripture references, quotes, and more, at https://refreshpublishing.com/050-dads-know-your-roles

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hi, Fellow Dads,

Have you ever noticed that God delights in children playing and wants His people to have “merry” hearts? How can we foster a happy atmosphere in our homes? And how might books play a part?

Nathan

💡 See the show notes at https://refreshpublishing.com/049-foster-a-happy-attitude-at-home-and-helping-flood-victims, including...

• Scriptures mentioned

🎙️Please subscribe to the podcast so you can listen again next week!

Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/arend/year-of-the-floods 

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hi, Fellow Dads,

Are you or a family member looking for a new Bible? Here are a few different editions I’ve used, along with my thoughts on each…and a few other tips for dads from a recent pastor’s roundtable I attended. Hope they’re helpful to you!

Nathan

Be sure to see the show notes page for photos and links to our favorite KJV Bibles. There's also a brief summary of my takeaways from the pastors' roundtable I recently attended.

💡 See the show notes at https://refreshpublishing.com/048-pastors-roundtable-and-roundup-of-recommended-bibles

“Classic” Music from #Uppbeat

“Pony Express” Music from #Uppbeat

Hi, Fellow Dads,

If you had just a few minutes to speak on national television, what would you say? What if you had only five words? Come with us as we meet several men whose biographies show that they had a clear, brief, put powerful message for which they are known. This episode includes book recommendations as well as tips for finding your life message.

Nathan

1 Corinthians 14:19

John 3

Psalm 119:12, 26, 33, 64, 68, 124, 135

Hebrews 12:2

Ephesians 2

Hebrews 11

“Because, ‘Ye must be born again.’”—George Whitefield

“Jesus died for me.”—Charles Spurgeon

• George Whitefield, by Arnold Dallimore

Seek God’s direction.

Speak with your family about your principle or message.

Seek God’s help in living it out.

• If you had only a few minutes to speak to the ones you love, what message would you give them?

https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/around-you

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hi, Fellow Dads,

A few weeks ago, something special happened in Washington, D.C.—and it’s probably not what you’re thinking!

A new statue was unveiled in the Capitol, engraved with a most unusual title: Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If someone were to make a statue of you, Dad, could they put the same title on it? Should they be able to? What is the gospel, anyway—and what books can help us and our families ground our lives in it?

Nathan

The Gospel has a Source—and that Source is God.

Rom.1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

The Gospel is found in the Scriptures—foretold in the OT and fulfilled in the NT.

Rom.1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

The Gospel has a Subject—and that is God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom.1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

The Gospel has a specific Substance—and that is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Rom.1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Rom.5:6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom.5:8-10

Rom.10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

1 Cor.15:3-4

The Gospel brings Salvation—to those who believe it.

Rom.1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The Gospel is the Standard—it’s the standard for how God will judge individual sinners in the day of judgment—those who refused to believe the gospel (or believed another gospel), will be condemned to eternity in the lake of fire.

Rom.2:12, 16

The Gospel is our Stewardship—God has placed it in our hands to be used properly.

Rom.1:16a For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

Rom.2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Rom.16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

“When a sinner believes the gospel of Christ, God does the saving!”—NC

• (written for children) The Lamb, by John Cross, published by GoodSeed International

• Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

• Tracts and books by Mark Cahill Ministries https://markcahill.org/product/one-second-after-you-pack/

Tracts by Bible Tracts, Inc. https://store.bibletractsinc.org/your-decision-2024-p537.aspx

https://store.bibletractsinc.org/peace-in-terminal-illness-p213.aspx

Tracts by Moments With the Book

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/gods-way-of-salvation-john-316?variant=2201784833

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/canyon-crossing?variant=41373783242

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/the-bridge-to-life?variant=8225724989543

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/he-lives?variant=2201111425

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/peace-is-it-yours?variant=2201032833

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/where-are-you-headed?variant=2201133249

https://mwtb.org/collections/gospel-tracts/products/is-it-true?variant=48572960243995

More Than Chicken Scratch: The Amazing Relationship Between the Bible and China’s Ancient Script, available in bilingual booklet (and soon as a free audiobook at TreasureBoxBooks.com)

💡 See the show notes at https://refreshpublishing.com/046-engrave-the-gospel-into-their-hearts

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express

Hi, Fellow Dads,

Every Christian dad has been appointed by God to be the shepherd of his own home. Does that thought overwhelm you as it does me? But God hasn’t left us alone in this! He has given us wise counsellors to walk alongside and share the wisdom and experience He’s given them. Join us today to hear from one of those wise counsellors—our guest, Pastor Darin Kelsey—as he shares some tips that helped him lead his children to love the Lord, and of course some book recommendations as well!

Learning to Look Up,

Nathan

1. “First and foremost is our own relationship with Christ. We have to be the real Christian.”

• The Scriptures (The Holy Bible)

💡 See the show notes at https://refreshpublishing.com/045-every-dad-a-what

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/pony-express