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Christian Living

Aug 29
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Speaking Peace to Our Fears

By Christian Living, Leadership, Marriage
I have brought this concept up twice in this past week as I was talking with young men. I thought it would be good to remind you of this post from the archives.- ChapI was counseling a distraught father over the phone. His son was in the process of walking away from the Lord and emotionally walking away from his family. In the midst of this conversation he stopped and said, “The hardest part of this is . . . ” And then there was a long pause as he choked back the tears. Finally, regaining his composure, he finished: “The…
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Aug 17
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What the Bible Says About Spending Less Than You Earn

By Christian Living, Scripture & Scripture Lists
The Bible encourages us to live below our means and not spend all that we earn. I have recently needed this list to help a young man. Maybe it will help with your children as well. There is a lot more that could be said on this issue: being good managers of God’s resources, self-control, contentment, and not caring what others think. But here are few quick verses. Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it (Proverbs 21:20). This is a key verse. Foolishness devours all we have. Wisdom shows restraint and saving.Go to the ant,…
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Aug 12
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Psalm 127 – Seeking God’s Blessings – Chap Bettis

By Christian Living, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, you’ll hear a recent sermon I preached on Psalm 127. In it, I ask a simple, searching question: what does it look like to actively seek God’s blessing in everyday life? We'll look at the danger of anxious, self-reliant “in vain” work and the comfort of God’s providence that lets us labor faithfully and still rest. Then we'll turn to the second half of the psalm and considers why Scripture calls children a gift from the Lord, how our culture often treats children as a burden, and how the church can cultivate…
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Aug 10
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Pure and Undefiled Religion

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 As I write this, I am on a plane to visit my 92-year-old mother who increasingly is suffering from serious dementia. Before I left, I asked my wife what she had planned for the week. Among her many plans was to visit her mentor, the widow of a deceased friend and former elder. This godly woman now lives in an assisted living facility because of numerous health issues. Why do I tell…
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Jun 26
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Technology Q&A – Tim Challies

By Christian Living, Discerning Culture, Parenting: Childhood, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we sit down with Tim Challies to explore how churches and families can thoughtfully navigate technology. We discuss the shift from hymnals to projectors, the impact of AI and social media on youth, and practical ways to cultivate disciplined discernment in our congregations. Throughout the conversation, we offer concrete ideas for balancing screen time, fostering community, and protecting children while embracing the benefits that digital tools can bring.
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May 27
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Tim Challies – Deep Thinking About Helping Our Family with Technology

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we talk with Tim Challies about how Christian families can think clearly about technology in a world where screens, social media, and now AI are everywhere. We look at the real numbers shaping teen life, the risks that often stay hidden until it is too late, and three common responses to new tools: enthusiastic embrace, strict separation, and disciplined discernment. We also explore a distinctly Christian framework for technology. We are image-bearers called to create and use tools for good, while recognizing how sin twists every technology toward harm and idolatry. Finally,…
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Apr 15
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Finding Comfort in Suffering: A Personal Q & A on Grief and God’s Goodness – Tim Challies

By Christian Living, Podcast, Uncategorized
In this episode, Chap Bettis sits down with Tim Challies and pastor Travis Rymer for a candid Q & A that closes out The Disciple-Making Parent’s mini-series on suffering. Tim shares Scriptures and hymns that shaped his grief, how his family helped their daughters process loss, and why grief must never become our identity. You’ll also hear practical counsel on balancing honest lament with trust in God’s goodness, and on letting truth shape emotions rather than emotions shaping truth. Resources From This PodcastTim Challies: Suffering and Our Savior (#1 in series)Tim Challies: Personal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering (#2 in…
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Apr 10
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Tim Challies: Personal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we listen as Tim Challies shares a deeply personal “story of grace” from the aftermath of losing his son, Nick. We hear what those first shocking moments were like, how grief can cloud our thinking and sap our strength, and why it’s essential to let truth—especially what we know about God’s sovereignty and goodness—lead when our emotions feel unsteady. Topics Covered in This Week’s Podcast03:46 Introduction: Losing and grieving Nick09:31 Glimpses of grace15:25 Tim’s manifesto 21:25 Five lessons about grief29:31 Five ways to help people who are grievingResources From This PodcastTim Challies: Personal…
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Apr 01
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Suffering and Our Savior – Tim Challies

By Christian Living, Family Discipleship, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we begin a new series by listening to Tim Challies as he helps us think biblically about suffering, sorrow, and the compassion of Christ. We walk through Luke 7:11–17, where Jesus meets a grieving widow in Nain and raises her son, and we’re reminded of three simple, steady truths: death is strong, God is stronger, and one day death itself will die. As we listen, we’re encouraged to trust God’s good purposes in our pain, to remember that Jesus draws near to the brokenhearted, and to anchor our hope in the future…
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Mar 18
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Biblical Conflict Resolution Part 4 – The Call to Forgive, Handle Difficult People, and Think Properly About Boundaries – Chap Bettis

By Christian Living, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we start unpacking three hard topics that come up in conflict: forgiveness, reconciliation, and what some people call boundaries. We walk through a simple peacemaking framework, then clarify two complementary kinds of forgiveness: a heart-level decision to release the moral debt to God, and a relational forgiveness that enables reconciliation when repentance is present. We also talk about how to love people who will not repent, including how to stay open-hearted while setting wise limits that separate wisdom from folly, and how to rebuild trust proportionally over time. Along the way, we…
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