Upside-Down Parenting

Did Jesus ever actually say things like, "Just follow your heart," or "Believe in yourself?" Today on the Upside-Down Parenting podcast, Matt Jones and I are talking about well-intended phrases Christian parents often use—phrases that sound biblical, but may actually misrepresent Jesus.

Over time, these kinds of statements can subtly shape a fear-based, performance-driven faith instead of one rooted in trust and formation. And if we want to disciple our kids into an authentic, resilient faith that lasts, we have to stop putting words in Jesus' mouth and start letting his actual words shape the way we parent.

Have a question for us? Email [email protected]—your question may be featured in an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed—Alisa Childers

*Stop Looking Inside Yourself—Dr. Jeff Myers

*When "Being Yourself" Hurts Yourself—Rebecca Sachaj

Today, we're talking about a topic that can feel heavy, confusing, and even scary for parents: how to walk alongside your child who is questioning their faith or wrestling with doubt. Now is the perfect time to equip ourselves with understanding, patience, and the right tools—because when our kids struggle with faith, what they often need most is not answers, but a safe space to explore their questions.

We're honored to welcome Jon Noyes to the podcast. Jon is a seasoned speaker, apologist, and writer who has spent years helping families navigate difficult conversations about faith, doubt, and belief. With a blend of practical wisdom, empathy, and encouragement, he offers parents a steady, hope-filled approach to a deeply sensitive journey.

In this episode, we explore how to respond with grace, maintain trust and connection, and engage these conversations without fear or defensiveness. Whether your child is a teen, a young adult, or somewhere in between, this discussion is designed to equip you to walk alongside them with love, empathy, and hope. If you've ever wondered how to stay connected when beliefs are being questioned, this episode is for you.

Have a question for us? Email [email protected]—your question may be featured in an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It's Destructive, and How to Respond—Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett

*Deconstruction & the Road Back Home—Christopher L. Reese

*Doubt is a Doorway—Charlie Meo

As we kick off a new year, we're diving into a topic that impacts every family: money. Teaching our kids to steward money and resources well can feel stressful, overwhelming, or even divisive—but it doesn't have to be. A New Year reset is the perfect opportunity to rethink how our families handle finances, cultivate generosity, and live with joy and purpose.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Shane Enete, author of Whole Heart Finances: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Managing Your Money with Joy. Shane shares practical wisdom and biblical insight on how faith, family, and finances intersect in everyday life, offering encouragement for parents who want to raise generous, joyful stewards.

Together, we explore what it means to manage money with a whole heart, how to teach children biblical stewardship, and practical steps families can take to align their finances with their faith. Join us as we discover how Jesus-centered money habits can bring freedom, joy, and purpose to your family finances.

Have a question for us? Email [email protected]—your question may be featured in an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Whole Heart Finances: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Managing Your Money with Joy—Shane Enete

*The Money Storybook Bible Podcast

*Gen Z's Problems With Money & the True Secret to Financial Peace—Shane Enete

Welcome back to the Upside-Down Parenting podcast! I'm your host, Janel Greig, and today we're launching into a conversation to help set your family's faith on the right path for the new year—a true New Year Reset for Christian parents.

In this episode, we're excited to welcome Natasha Crain, author of several books, including Talking with Your Kids About God, Keeping Your Kids on God's Side, and a number of others. She is a respected speaker, podcaster, and influencer and her gift of taking complicated topics and breaking them down is remarkable. Today we're diving into why intentional, faith-filled conversations with your children are so crucial—and what that looks like in real life.

From practical tips for sparking dialogue, to how to respond when you don't have all the answers, to the importance of your heart posture as a parent, Natasha shares insights every Christian parent can use to help their kids build a lasting faith.

Whether your kids are little or teens, this is a hope-filled, practical conversation to help you start the year with clarity, purpose, and mission in your family. So get comfortable, settle in, and let's dive in!

Have a question for us? Email [email protected]—your question may be featured in an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Talking with Your Kids about God: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have—Natasha Crain

*Keeping Your Kids on God's Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith—Natasha Crain

*World Watch

*When Your Kids Ask Why: Everyday Apologetics for Parents—Janel Greig

Welcome to the Upside-Down Parenting podcast!

Technology is shaping our kids' world faster than ever—and artificial intelligence is at the center of the conversation. How can Christian parents raise discerning, faithful children in this digital age?

In this episode, we'll hear from Sarah Siegand, founder of Parents Who Fight, who joins us to explore wise, faith-filled parenting in the age of technology. She shares practical strategies to guide kids toward wisdom, cultivate discernment, and keep Christ at the center of family life—without fear and with hope for the future.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or mentor, this conversation will equip you to engage technology thoughtfully and shepherd the next generation with confidence.

Have a question for us? Email [email protected]—your question may be featured in an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Parents Who Fight

*AI, Technology, & Human Development—Shawn Ring

*AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence—Todd Korpi

*Parent ProTech

Welcome back to the Upside-Down Parenting podcast, and Happy New Year! We're so glad you're kicking off the new year with us. Today we're diving into a conversation that could set the tone for your entire year as a family.

The truth is, most families don't drift toward purpose—they drift toward busyness, apathy, or passivity. And if we're not intentional, we let the world dictate our schedules instead of discipling our kids. That's why, in this episode, we're talking about starting the year on purpose—on mission—by creating a simple family mission, identifying your core values, and choosing a Bible verse that anchors everything you do.

No matter your family's life stage, this is a practical, hope-filled way to bring clarity, unity, and direction to your home. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's build a meaningful foundation for the year together.

Email us at [email protected]—your question may shape an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God—Timothy and Kathy Keller

*Choosing a Family "Rule of Life" for the New Year: A Simple Guide for Christian Parents—Jesse Childress

*What role does family play in society?—Jennifer Marshall

Welcome to the Upside-Down Parenting Podcast! As we step into the Christmas season—a time filled with joy, anticipation, and plenty of emotion—we're glad you're here. I'm joined by my co-host, Matt Jones, and together we're slowing things down to talk about what it really looks like to flourish as a family during the holidays.

Whether you're wrapping gifts, driving to a Christmas program, or grabbing a quiet moment between events, this episode is an invitation to cultivate a season marked by presence, connection, and intentionality—all while keeping our hearts centered on the birth of our Savior. Have a question you'd like us to explore in a future episode?

Email us at [email protected]—your question may shape an upcoming Q&A!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Women in Apologetics

*Your Kids Need a Bigger Christmas Story—Sara Starkey

*5 Reasons to Celebrate Advent—Hannah Long

*Is Christmas Pagan? Helping Your Kids Understand the Truth—Timothy Fox

Who doesn't love a good Q&A podcast? Today, we're diving into some of the biggest and most pressing questions Christian parents are asking right now—questions about raising resilient kids in a rapidly shifting culture, standing boldly for biblical truth, and helping your children embrace God's upside-down Kingdom in their everyday lives.

In this episode, we'll unpack practical parenting strategies, offer faith-filled encouragement, and share real-life tools you can start using immediately. From navigating cultural confusion to strengthening your child's spiritual foundation, we're here to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and Christ-centered wisdom.

Have a question you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? Send it our way at [email protected]—your question just might shape our next Q&A!

So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's jump into today's conversation!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*58% of Highly Engaged Christian Parents Choose a Church with Their Kids in Mind—Barna Group

*2025 American Worldview Inventory Report 1 & Report 2—George Barna

*How Concerned Are Christian Parents About Their Children's Faith Formation?—Barna Group

*The Sibling Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers & Sisters Reveal about Us—Jeffrey Kluger

*The Nuts and Bolts of Worldview Formation—Dr. Maggie Pope & Dr. Roger Erdvig

As parents, we all want to raise kids who can recognize truth, love what's good, and stand firm in a world that often feels confusing or apathetic. In this episode of the Upside-Down Parenting Podcast, hosts Matt Jones and Janel Greig talk with global children's advocate Katy Faust about how ordinary moms and dads can find their voice and confidently lead their families.

Katy shares her inspiring journey from being an anonymous blogger to becoming the Founder and President of Them Before Us, a movement dedicated to protecting children's rights. Her story shows that you don't need a platform—you just need conviction and a willingness to speak up.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why kids need more than love and safety—they need both their mom and dad

• How to talk with your kids about cultural messages that contradict biblical truth

• Practical ways to push past fear, self-doubt, or criticism as a parent

• The most important thing you can do to help your children stand boldly for truth

• Encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed, unsure, or alone

You'll also get to know Katy through a fun rapid-fire round that highlights the habits and influences that shape her own family life.

If you're a parent wanting to raise confident, grounded kids in today's world, this episode will give you clarity, courage, and hope.

Have questions for a future Q&A episode? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "Upside-Down Parenting." Thanks for listening!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Them Before Us

*Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement—Katy Faust & Stacy Manning

*Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, & Biological Truth in a World of Lies—Katy Faust & Stacy Manning

*Pro-Child Politics: Why Every Cultural, Economic, & National Issue Is a Matter of Justice for Children—Katy Faust

*Kids' Rights, IVF, Legislation, and More with Katy Faust & Josh Wood

Parenting is an incredible adventure—but it can also feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when your teen drifts into apathy about faith. In this episode of the Upside-Down Parenting podcast from Summit Ministries, Matt and Janel unpack what apathy really is, why it shows up, and how parents can help their kids reawaken desire for God through meaningful, everyday practices.

We kick things off with stories from Matt and Janel's lives—from student moments and family traditions, to the world of PSATs, college planning, and the subtle apathy teens sometimes bring to significant life transitions. These honest reflections help set the stage for today's deep dive. This episode offers rich insight for parents who want to cultivate deeper meaning, mission, and affection in their home.

Apathy isn't solved in one conversation—it's shaped over time through rhythms that awaken the heart and steady the soul. 👉 Have a question for our next Q&A episode? Email us at [email protected] with "Upside-Down Parenting" in the subject line. Thanks for listening—and we'll see you next time!

Resources we talked about or that we'd recommend:

*Five Reasons for Spiritual Apathy in Teens: What Parents Can Do to Help—Rob & Amy Rienow

*The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts—Gary Chapman

*Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care—Uche Anizor

*Five to Thrive: How to Determine if Your Core Needs Are Being Met (And What To Do When They're Not)—Kathy Koch