Father On Purpose Podcast

Dad, have you paused lately to think about who has helped you become the father, husband, and man you are today? Chances are, you didn't get here alone. We're all products of past generosity. This episode is all about recognizing and appreciating those who've supported us behind the scenes. We want to celebrate the people who rarely get the spotlight but who play essential roles in our lives and s...

If you're anything like us, your answer to the title question might sound something like "well it depends...in what area?" What if we're asking the wrong question altogether? Our culture constantly pushes us to measure success in terms of work accomplishments, financial milestones, or social recognition. It's tempting to think of our life as an aggregate GPA, where we might be failing in one area,...

Do you ever feel like everything depends on you? Providing for the family. Holding it all together. Making sure the house doesn't fall apart—figuratively and literally. This mindset can feel noble, but it often leads to stress, anxiety, or pride. In this episode, we unpack Psalm 127 and Hebrews 3 to remind ourselves what it means to let God take the lead. He is the true Builder, and when we try to...

Ever feel like your past is holding you back as a dad? You're not alone—and you're not disqualified. This week, we sit down with a very special guest and new friend of the show, Sammy Perez . He's a husband, father of four, and national voice for second chances through his work at Prison Fellowship. Sammy's story is raw and real. From time behind bars to meeting Jesus in a prison cell and even fin...

today's episode, we have the pleasure of talking with pastor Aaron Harvie. Aaron is the senior pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Prior to his role there, he served as a Church Planting Mobilizer with the North American Mission Board and taught at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has an extensive background in pastoring and planting churches in Kentucky and Philadelp...

It started as a simple family phrase: "Look for the overlooked." However, Lawson's daughter Olivia flipped this on its head, encouraging her students to ask if maybe one of the people you're overlooking is yourself—or even a version of yourself you've neglected for too long. In this episode, we unpack what it means to notice the unseen, and not just in the people around us, but in the parts of our...

Faithful. Gentle. Loving. Godly. Patient. These are the kinds of words we hope our kids would use to describe us. But if they were being totally honest, what's the one word they'd actually write down? Would it be something we're proud of—or something that hits a little too close to home, like angry, stressed, or even absent? In this episode, Kent and Lawson walk through a simple but eye-opening ex...

Happy Father's Day! To celebrate with you, we decided to compile a "best of" podcast episode from this past year. This will give you something to do on this special day, since you definitely don't have anything better to do...right? It's like an annual recap. Take a trip down memory lane with us to some of our favorite highlights from our past year of podcasting. Thank you for being along for the...

In today's episode, we have the privilege of sharing our conversation with pastor and author Mark Batterson. Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the author of 24 books including the  New York Times  bestselling  The Circle Maker  as well as  In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day , and,...

Today's episode is a little different than normal. We need your help. As many of us know, the world is suffering from a fatherlessness crisis. Homes without dads abound, and with that reality comes many consequences. We want to stop that. However, the first step towards winning a battle is always realizing that you're in one. That's why we're releasing the State Of Biblical Fatherhood report. With...

Ever tried to warn your kids about something and had them roll their eyes so hard it echoed? As dads, we've been down some rough roads—and part of our job is helping our kids avoid the same potholes. But how we offer that wisdom can make all the difference. Come on too strong and we sound like a lecture. Stay too quiet and we miss a chance to guide them. If you want to be heard and influential wit...

Ever heard the phrase, "you are what you eat?" What if we told you this: you are what you think. Not quite as catchy, but perhaps even more true. The reality is, for better or worse, we become what we behold. Our thought patterns are among the most important aspects of how we view ourselves, the world around us, our relationship to God, and everything else we go through or interact with on a daily...

Struggling to connect and communicate well with your kids? You're not the only one. In this episode, Kent and Lawson explore why meaningful communication isn't just about saying the right words. It's about aligning your heart, ears, and mouth. Drawing from Luke 6:45, they unpack how what's stored in your heart inevitably spills out in your speech—for better or worse. Today's episode will help you...

This week, we're helping dads everywhere not blow it on Mother's Day. Whether you're honoring your amazing wife and mother of your children, or your own mom (and don't forget your mother-in-law!), we've got tactical moves and biblical wisdom to help you show up like a pro. From handwritten notes to surprise chores and kid-powered tributes, this episode will give you some tools to make sure the mom...

Ever feel like fatherhood is just an endless loop of laundry, lunch-packing, and late-night Lego injuries? You're not alone—and you are making a difference. In this episode, we talk about the quiet strength it takes to do the "mundane" work of being a dad, and why that work might be more meaningful than it seems. From holding down a job that might not spark fireworks to praying for your family whe...

In this special 200th episode (woo-hoo!), we wanted to talk about one of the most crucial topics when it comes to being a godly dad. If you ever feel like you're not good enough, you don't have it all figured out, or you're just confused on where to go next as a dad, we've got news for you: you're right. If it were completely up to us, we'd never be the fathers God has called us to be. The beauty...

Being a godly dad is tough. No one who's been down that road would argue with you there. However, it's easy to fall into the "good old days" trap of thinking this is just a recent development. Instead of trying to figure out who's had it the hardest over the course of history, let's make sure we understand why it's so hard: because Satan doesn't like godly dads discipling their kids. If you're a d...

Wisdom is one of the most talked about and heavily emphasized topics in Scripture. But what is it? While there are many aspects to a good definition of wisdom, we believe one of the simplest and most concise ways to think about it is this: wisdom equals alignment with God's will. As you search for wisdom, the only place to start is with a firm foundation on God's Word. In today's episode, we look...

Today, we have a very special guest. Cameron Arnett is an accomplished actor, author, speaker, director, and producer. Most importantly, he is a Christ follower. Our conversation with Cameron goes deep. We talk about how to be a godly dad when you never had one of your own, what it's like being a Christian in what can be a very dark industry, how God rescued Cameron from the evil he was a part of...

Do you ever feel like you're your own worst enemy? Like the biggest fights you have are happening inside your own heart? In today's episode, we wrap up our Lessons In Lyrics series, and we attack those very struggles, using the song "The War Inside" by Switchfoot as our template. We know as Christians that "our battle is not against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12), but sometimes, our own flesh c...

Welcome back to our "Lessons In Lyrics" series. Today, we take a look at a song by one of Kent's all-time favorite bands, NEEDTOBREATHE. "The Heat," title track from the band's Sophomore effort, is a powerful song about finding peace in the chaos, being present, forgiving yourself, and much more. We hope you get as much out of it as we did, and that you'll continue to let great music be an asset t...

For the next few weeks, we're going to be exploring some fatherhood and discipleship principles found within the lyrics of some of our favorite songs. We're calling this series "Lessons In Lyrics." In today's episode, we kick that off with a song by Mac Powell, called "River Of Life." This song crams so many worthwhile topics into it, we couldn't wait to unpack some of them. While we do have a few...

God Of Wonders, Soul On Fire, I Need A Miracle...do any of those phrases sound familiar to you? If they don't, let us give you a hint: they're all song titles. Third Day is one of those bands in the Christian world that defined the sound of a generation, and in today's episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Third Day co-founder and lead singer, Mac Powell. He's also a husband and a father...

Please welcome to the show special guest, Josh Kubler. Josh is a husband and father, and serves as the Director of Church Engagement at Manhood Journey. In today's episode, we get into things like what it means to view parenting as evangelism, how adoption portrays the love of God, ways to create an environment for growth, and much more fatherhood gold that Josh drops on us.   -Connect with Josh:...

This week, we have a special episode for you...and we really mean it this time! Wait until the end of today's show for a treat you won't forget. Before we get there though, we're diving in to some guidelines on how to teach our kids important life skills. Ever had those moments where you feel like you just can't get through to your kids, or you want to save them from making the same mistakes you d...