Father On Purpose Podcast

On the outside, it looked like Jeff Zaugg had it all together as a family minister and a dad. But a deeper dive convinced him that he needed to do more—for himself and for other dads who were struggling to make meaningful connections with their kids. As the founder of DadAwesome, Jeff now gets to see God at work among fathers and gets to share his story of encouragement with others. You can learn...

While culture typically paints abortion as a women's health issue, the influence of strong men also can play a role in turning the tide in our nation toward life. Through the Human Coalition, Jeff Bradford is challenging men to step forward and be counted—and protect a generation of unborn children along the way. You can learn more about Jeff and the Human Coalition at https://www.humancoalition.o...

The truth is, none of us gets through this life without some scars. Whether our struggles are physical, emotional, or spiritual, we will experience adversity, and we will have to choose how to respond to these dark moments of life. Pastor Darren Walter understands the reality of adversity. He's been there and done that. Most important, he has come through on the other side. And his insights will e...

For many years, the names of Alex and Stephen Kendrick have been synonymous with powerful faith-based movies that challenge men to live out their faith as husbands and fathers. Their newest offering, The Forge , places the focus squarely on our roles as mentors. With generations of young men seeking direction and affirmation, the need for godly men to stand in the gap has never been more important...

When it comes to the Trinity, most of us can understand the Father, and we're pretty plugged into the Son. But the Holy Spirit can be more of a mystery to us. In reality, we need to dig into the role and work of the Holy Spirit because He is the One who empowers us and gives us the wisdom to meet the challenges we face each day as husbands and fathers. So, grab a pen and your journal as we take a...

In the Great Commission, Jesus told His followers to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). That imperative, along with many others in Scripture, highlights our responsibility to point others to Jesus and to pour into their lives as men of God. All of your wins, losses, triumphs, and failures are useful tools you can add to your spiritual survival kit. And they just might qualify you to be the perfect...

Stewardship isn't a word we throw around a lot today. But the truth is, as men of God, He has given us so many gifts to use for His glory. Whether it's our time, talents, treasures, or something else, we are called to make good use of the blessings He provides. In a very real sense, we are God's asset managers; and it's a tremendous privilege to embrace. Even more, it's a valuable tool to have in...

When you go into a restaurant, you probably give bigger tips for better service. That's because we all appreciate it when we're served well. As men of God, we need to remember that Jesus ultimately came to serve—and that He expects us to follow His example. Serving others is the key to living with generosity and to avoiding the trap of self-centeredness. It also sets a powerful example for the nex...

The stereotypical man is the lone wolf. He's the rugged individualist, the guy who pulls himself up by his own bootstraps. He doesn't need anyone's help for anything. But that stereotype falls short of what most men see in the mirror each day. The truth is, God created us for relationships, and we're missing something important if we're trying to do life on our own. He made us to need one another....

A lot of times, we make prayer much more complicated than it needs to be. Jesus Himself taught that it's not about fancy words or lofty attitudes. And it's certainly not about impressing anyone here on earth. It's really just our way as God's children to call out to our heavenly Father. It's a vital connection to the One who knows us best and loves us most. Find out more about the true power of pr...

One of the psalmists wrote that God's Word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our paths (Psalm 119:105). As husbands and dads, we all could use some more light in our lives; and, thankfully, the Bible has a way of making us seem brighter than we really are. If you're wondering how to make more sense of your God-given role within your family, we've got some practical guidance. Discover how leani...

Trust is hard to earn because it's so easy to lose. We've all experienced the pain of putting our complete trust in someone only to end up feeling betrayed or abandoned. Thankfully, as Christ followers, we serve a God who can be trusted in every season of life, even when those closest to us miss the mark. Trusting God is a non-negotiable for living the Christian life well—and for becoming the godl...

Some men are natural fixers. They just know how to connect the right wires or make "Tab A" and "Slot B" fit to perfection. Others struggle--and usually call in a professional for help. Thankfully, whether you're a "do it yourself" man or a "pick up the phone" kind of guy around the house, God has equipped you to make a difference as a dad. He's given you all the tools you need to get the job done...

Time is humanity's most precious resource, and the time that a dad has to invest in and encourage his family is even more priceless. In a culture that demands a piece of you at every turn, it can be tough to know how to make the most of the moments we're given as fathers. Thankfully, God has given us His thoughts through His Word, and men who want to know how to "be there" in good times and bad ca...

Years ago, God challenged Don Manning to go deep with Him and to go deep with his family. While it wasn't the answer that Don was seeking at the time, it was a call that changed his life and his family legacy forever. The result has been a ministry that's focused on helping dads find meaning and purpose—not to mention a whole lot of fun—in doing family God's way. Listen to hear the wisdom Don's ga...

In a world where guys are supposed to have it all together, admitting any kind of need or weakness seems like a dangerous proposition. But, as pastor Craig Bowler reminds us, Jesus often comes to us with a simple question: "What do you want?" Becoming the man God created you to be involves letting Jesus show you the "wants" you may not even realize you have—and letting Him be the One who meets tho...

While money comes in handy for this life, time has always been humanity's most precious resource. After all, we can always make more money, but time disappears forever with each tick of the clock. Since time is so valuable, we need to make sure we're not wasting a single moment of this gift that God has given us. Wise and generous men recognize a great investment when they see one—and nothing can...

The anonymous writer of Psalm 118 wrote that every day is a gift from God's hand, so we should celebrate each one. That sounds great until the pressures of the world start putting the squeeze on our lives. It's hard to maintain genuine joy and excitement about life when we're bombarded by the stresses and struggles of daily existence. As men of God, it's important for us—and our families—to stay c...

Words mean things. That's why we need to be incredibly careful about the words we use—and the words we believe. Our cultural vocabulary is filled with phrases that might sound motivational on the outside, but they miss the mark of what Jesus wants His followers to know about who they are and who He created them to be. He needs to be the filter for everything we say or hear about ourselves and othe...

We may never be more like Jesus than when we practice generosity. We serve a God who gives without limits, and He gives us the chance to be His hands and feet in this world every day. Even when we're living from paycheck to paycheck, we can still find ways to be generous. We just need to be open to the possibilities.   Handcrafted Leather Goods:  Shop Range Leather .

In a world obsessed with collecting more stuff, it's easy to forget that our most priceless commodity is time. We can always make more money; but once a moment passes, we can never get it back. That's why the Bible puts so much emphasis on taking advantage of every second of every day. Whether it's as a husband, dad, friend, or Christ follower, wasted time is a wasted opportunity. We need to inves...

Men tend to be "doers." We measure our success—and even our worth—by what we're able to accomplish. On a scale of 1 to 10, we strive to be an 11. Of course, the chase for perfection is a race we'll never win. As men of God, we need to realize that the Bible actually puts the focus on being faithful, not being perfect. God knows we'll drop the ball on occasion. That's why He honors faithfulness abo...

As guys, nothing raises the hair on the back of our necks quite like being told we "have to" do something. It's just human nature. No one likes to be told what to do—and that includes our kids. Trouble is, it's hard for dads to make the move from a "have to" mentality to a "letting go" mentality with their kids. It's tough to shift from telling them what to avoid to teaching them how to make wise...

Sometimes in life, storms can strike with little or no warning. Hard times knock us down and keep us off balance like waves in the ocean. The best we can do is fight to keep our heads above water. That's when we need to remember that there's always more to the story. In the middle of our pain and frustration, we can rest assured that God is at work, crafting a bigger narrative for our good and His...

In a world that challenges us to "look out for No. 1," humility can be hard to come by. Especially for guys, putting the needs of others above our own plans and desires can feel unnatural. We're tempted to write it off as a quaint concept held over from a simpler time. Truth is, genuine humility never goes out of style. It's an eternal virtue that draws people to Jesus because it reflects His char...