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Discerning Culture

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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Jun 10
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The Porn-Free Family – Tim Challies

By Discerning Culture, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple‑Making Parent Podcast we hear from Tim Challies on how families can create a truly porn‑free home. We'll hear about the early exposure risks children face online, share practical tools such as filtering, accountability software, parental controls, and open communication, and walk through a step‑by‑step plan—planning, preparing, meeting, and monitoring—to protect our households. Resources From This PodcastSuffering and Our Savior- podcast episode 124 with Tim ChalliesPersonal Accounts of God’s Goodness in Suffering- podcast episode 125 with Tim ChalliesFinding Comfort in Suffering- podcast episode 126 with Tim ChalliesChallies.com- Tim Challies’ blogCovenant EyesOpenDNS Chap Bettis:  I'm Chap Bettis, and…
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May 06
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How Should Christians Think About Patriotism? – Dan Darling

By Discerning Culture, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent Podcast, we talk with Dan Darling about what healthy Christian patriotism looks like. We unpack why love of country can be an expression of gratitude and a part of discipleship, and how we can teach children and grandchildren to think biblically about their nation without slipping into cynicism or idolatry. We discuss how to tell the full story of history, including real sins and real progress, and why reform is strongest when it grows out of love for a country’s ideals. We also clarify the difference between patriotism and Christian nationalism, and why…
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Jun 09
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Why Are There Hypocritical “Christians” and “Good” People Who Are Not Christians?

By Christian Living, Discerning Culture, Parenting: Teens and Beyond
This week I just returned from speaking at a youth retreat. I rarely do those anymore but it was a joy to interact with the junior high and high schoolers. They asked good questions!My last session was answering the question, "Why are there hypocritical 'Christians' and 'good' people who are not Christians?" I remember wondering that as a young person. As I was sitting under good preaching and hearing how evil our hearts were (true) it did not always match with my perspective on people's lives. After all, sweet Mrs. Jones who lived next to me was not an axe-murderer! How was I to think…
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Apr 02
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Understanding Disenculturation – Collin Hansen

By Christian Living, Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent, we explore the concept of "disenculturation" as an alternative to "deconstruction." We sit down with Collin Hansen, Vice President for content and editor in chief at the Gospel Coalition, to understand how Christians can evaluate their cultural practices through a biblical lens. Through engaging examples from church history, we examine how to distinguish between essential biblical truths and cultural practices that have become intertwined with faith. From worship styles to dress codes, we discuss how different generations navigate these distinctions. We also tackle challenging topics like historical Christian responses to racism and segregation,…
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Oct 19
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What are You Teaching Your Teens About Politics?

By Christian Living, Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Early Years, Parenting: Teens and Beyond
I know that I need to stay in my lane of family discipleship. However, a hot topic on everyone's mind and lips is politics. In this day of focus on personality, what bothers me is that we have lost sight of the principles from God's Word. The heart of the Christian life is eternal and can flourish under any government system. Nevertheless, the more a system takes into account man’s true nature, the more sinful humanity and society can flourish. Man's law needs to be in line with God's law. As I talk with those in their twenties I find a profound ignorance…
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Jun 27
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Discerning False Influencers Among Us – Travis Rymer

By Discerning Culture, Podcast
On this episode of The Disciple-Making Parent podcast, we embark on a journey through an ocean of ideas, recognizing the importance of discernment in navigating the truths and falsehoods that surround us. As we consider the influence we have on our children's understanding of the world, we’ll explore the critical role of discernment in their growth. In this episode I share a thought-provoking sermon from my associate pastor, Travis Rymer, who guides us through the warnings God gives in 2 Peter 2. As the sermon unfolds, he progressively applies biblical insights to the younger generation. So join us as we reflect…
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Mar 11
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Talking Points for Biblical Sexuality

By Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship, Parenting: Teens and Beyond
In my Disciple-Making Parent conference, I take one hour to talk about special issues affecting preteens and teens. One area that parents need to be able to articulate is the area of sexuality.In our sex-saturated world, our kids are being discipled by the world with nonChristian ideas. We need to be clear on what the Bible has to say. Below are a few talking points that I think need to be clear in our mind. 1. Sex is God’s idea. It is good. It is meant to be a sign and seal of a man and woman’s covenant relationship.2. Sin entered the world and now…
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Feb 24
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Looking in the Mirror for Change

By Christian Living, Discerning Culture
But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 CSBAs I get older, I have noticed a number of different types of Christians.…
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Jan 29
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Understanding Just War Theory

By Discerning Culture, Family Discipleship
I remember one of the first times my children came home to proudly report on what they had learned in history class. As they talked I thought to myself, "That isn't history. That happened in my lifetime! Everyone knows that." Except of course, my children didn't know it. They needed to be taught it. I find myself thinking of this as I watch the coverage of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Either deliberately or out of ignorance, many are ignoring hundred of years of our understanding of what a just war is. Yes, there is such a thing as…
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