Tuning the Bow

How do you know if someone is a true Christian? A lot of people claim to be  believers, but their lives seem to go against their claim. In this episode, Tim and Matt discuss how Scripture gives us this answer. If you are doubting your faith or salvation, entrust it to Jesus! Depending on Him is required, so study the Bible and see what else God requires (hint: Romans 10:1-13 is a good place to sta...

Parents make a lot of difficult decisions for the betterment of their children. These choices may not be like by the kids, but certain people should be avoided, certain teachers should not be listened to, and every decision should be compared to sound teaching. In this episode, Matt and Tim continue their trek through 2 Timothy and discuss these things and why encouraging others is so important. I...

Parenting comes with challenges that can seem overwhelming. There are times when you can be discouraged and want to give up, but the Gospel gives hope to everyone in any situation. In today's episode, Matt and Tim talk about how the Gospel changes the way parents should view their roles. God gives us the strength and encouragement to continue pressing on. So stop, see that He is in control, a...

The differences between adults and children are many, but maturity is not seen in every adult. Some things adults do are very similar to the decisions children make. In this episode, Tim and Matt begin a discussion about the book of 2 Timothy and what it looks like to be a biblical adult. This book is the final letter the Bible has that the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his child in the faith. It...

If there is one thing that people learn over time is that news stations love to take an incident and report it into the ground. Negative story after negative story keeps people wondering if this really is the end. In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about why people should not buy into the constant crisis narrative and what to do when it actually becomes that. As Christian parents should continue t...

There are a lot of voices telling parents what is good and beneficial for their kids, but which voices should you listen to? In this episode, Tim and Matt work through a systematic theology of verifying what parents should trust. Whether you decide to homeschool, participate in extracurricular activities, or anything else, lay out the details and compare them with Scripture. Fearing God and obeyin...

"Service with a smile!" This slogan is used in a lot of businesses, but that service is their job. What about the Christian? In this episode, Tim and Matt discuss what true service is: sacrificial work for the betterment of others. The Bible does more than reveal the way to eternal salvation; it details what the ideal godly life is supposed to be characterized by. If Jesus came to serve...

The world today seems to have a degradation in morality. In response to this, Christians must raise kids to be polite and always act on their best behavior to set them apart, right? In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about how this problem has been around for thousands(!!!) of years stemming from a lack of biblical, Christ-centered living. Moral people still do not line up to God's standard,...

It is very common for parents to spend most of their day at work. When they come home, the frustrations from work can easily be taken out on their spouse or kids. In this episode, Tim and Matt take a more practical approach to dealing with this issue that is not specifically addressed in Scripture. Taking the whole counsel of God's Word, believers have the basics to dealing with stress at wor...

The world is hostile to God and His children, so how should Christian parents approach dealing with the many voices telling them that their parenting is outdated or abusive? In this episode, Tim and Matt finish their study of Psalm 3 by focusing on how God grants rest and deals with sin in the culture. Do not be afraid to stand on biblical truth because it is God who brings salvation. Sin causes d...

There are passages that speak directly to parenting, but there are many passages that can be applied to parenting. In this episode, Tim and Matt talk about how God gives us the protection we need and the provision to live a life that brings Him praise, glory, and honor. Though the opposing voices are loud and the societal pressures are great, our God gives us what we need when we need it. Trust in...

Joshua 24:15 is not a verse just for decorative ornaments or cute pictures. It might be the toughest stance you take for your family. In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about why this stance needs to be made by believing parents. True leadership sets a vison and works to attain it, whether or not everyone is in agreement. The goal of biblical parenting is to raise kids in Bible-believing homes, bu...

"Nothing is sacred anymore." You've probably heard or said this phrase recently. As discussed in the last episode, Matt and Tim said that many believers do not have a biblically accurate understanding of what "being holy" is, so in this episode, our hosts work this out for parents. Though not a more practical episode, an understanding of believers needing to be different f...

For believers, the Bible is clear that we are to be different than the world, but how far does that difference extend to? In this episode, Tim and Matt break down what Christian mysticism means and how it is harmful to your families. The Bible lays out clear and plain instructions on how to live and what to understand, so going beyond those boundaries leads to misunderstanding and even unbelief if...

Every Christian parent wants to see their children accept Christ at an early age, mature in their faith and their life, and have families that do the same. However, that is not always the case (nor is it a majority, either). In this episode, Matt and Tim walk through two passages that talk about people walking away from the Christian faith and discuss how parents should respond. Include Jesus in y...

Tim and Matt wrap up their study on parenting with the fruit of the Spirit. In this episode, they talk about the one thing a lot of people struggle with (our hosts included). Self-control is a necessary part of the Christian life, and without it, the rest of the fruit become unattainable according to the standard of God's Word. With humility and accountability, staying on the path Scripture s...

A lot of people have ideas of faithfulness and gentleness in their minds, but do they line up with the biblical principles? In the penultimate section of our study of the fruit of the Spirit, Matt and Tim talk about what it means to be trustworthy and treat people with dignity. Loving your family leads to treating them with dignity. No matter how un-gentle your actions may seem at first, demonstra...

There is a difference between being nice and being kind as well as a difference between being just and being good. A lot of people conflate the terms and create confusion, so in this episode, Tim and Matt want to give examples of the differences between each term and why they are beneficial to biblical parenting. Let God's love influence your kindness, and let that kindness influence your goo...

Tim and Matt weathered some storms recently (both literally and figuratively) and had a testing of peace and patience, which is great because that is the topic for this episode. Since believers are supposed to strive for all of the fruit of the Spirit, there needs to be a recognition that this must first take place in the heart. There will not be peace with others if there is no peace with God, an...

The Bible talks a lot about love and joy. The love of God is shown through His mercy and grace, and joy is the outcome of His salvation and deliverance.  In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about how Christian parents are not called to "normal" parenting but that of different, holy parenting. Living without God's love leads to the inability to experience true joy and satisfaction. In...

For the next few episodes, Matt and Tim are going to be discussing the fruit of the Spirit and how it pertains to parenting. Before that happens, though, some initial thoughts to the preceding verses need to be made. The works of the flesh, as Paul calls them, are centered around self-gratification and self-idolatry. These cannot co-exist with the fruit of the Spirit and will not help parents esta...

Jesus makes it plain to His disciples that following Him will cause disruption. The world is against God wholeheartedly, and this affects every household to the smallest point of contention. Why would Jesus say He does not bring peace? In this episode, Tim and Matt talk about why this idea is important to keep in mind as parents search the Scriptures for what God says they should do. Along with th...

The Bible is pretty clear on what God wants believers to know, but there are some things that can get a little confusing. What is intercessory prayer? Who does it? How do I pray for others? In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about what it means for parents to intercede for their kids and why these prayers are important. Our praying should never decrease, but we change the way we pray as our kids g...

Hurt people hurt people. Pain can lead people to making horrible, sinful decisions, but how should Christian parents respond to those who hurt them? In this episode, Matt and Tim continue their conversation on church hurt by discussing what it looks like to stay at a church and not immediately leave. God calls believers to be different than the world, so Christians should respond to difficulty dif...

A lot has happened in the lives of Tim and Matt, and they have experienced a lot of hurt from inside and outside the church. Though some things happened when they were younger, the actions of their parents set them up for success. God is not pleased with sin. Even when church leaders commit hurtful actions against others, this cannot and does not please God. Instead, He freely forgives those who h...