Tuning the Bow

Life gets busy, and time becomes a precious resource. In this busyness, many Christians neglect their prayer life because of a lack of biblical understanding of what prayer is. In this episode, Tim and Matt recycle old sermon material to help parents understand that listening to God's still, small voice is just as important as us laying our burdens upon Him. Make time to hear His voice, and y...

There are many things (big and small) that can cause people to be disappointed and feel letdown.  In these times, people often react unbiblically and hurt the people around either intentionally or unintentionally. In this episode, Matt and Tim work through the biblical response to disappointment and give some practical tips in helping parents lead their families to do the same. Remember that God i...

Many people find their identity in things outside of or within themselves, but they neglect what God has already said should define them. In this episode, Matt and Tim work through some biblical passages to show that God has already told us what we should think about identity and the importance of listening to Him through Scripture. Learn how to listen to God and take that knowledge into your pare...

I (Matt) spent almost two weeks in Japan, and I have some reflections that I think will help parents better minister their children. Schedules were thrown out, divine appointments were made, and around fifty people were taught about biblical counseling through my team's efforts. Tim provides some application points that push parents to reconsider their day-to-day activities and promote Gospel...

Grief is a difficult process for many people, so when families lose a loved one, they might not know what they need to do. In this episode, Tim and Matt will not give you the steps in dealing with grief, but they will give some starting points to prepare for it. Preparation is key, and the work that parents do before a loss happens will help them and their kids to grieve well. Passage – 1 Thessalo...

Life can throw many struggles at us when we least expect it, but this does not mean that God is against us. Matt and Tim (taking a brief moment away from their families) want to encourage parents to always be thankful even when it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for. In the community of believers, God gives us many opportunities to help and be helped, so look for His guidance and teach...

There is a reason so many people have found life when they study the Bible. God has placed His power in the words of Scripture, and this power is accessible to all who read and hear it proclaimed. In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about the underlying principle of why the Bible plays such an important role in the life of all believers. Take time to really study God's Word and see the transfo...

There is a reason Matt and Tim want to emphasize this. It is very important for believing parents to have a strong presence in schools since many students do not have a positive parental figure in their life. Sacrifices will need to be made, but the impact it will have can not be understated. Prayerfully consider this as your kids go through school. Passage – Ephesians 4:29-32 Message us through B...

The pastor's role at a church is an important one. He not only is the mouthpiece for the church, but what he preaches on sets the standard for other ministry staff and parents to fall under. Tim and Matt want to argue that a good pastor preaches the Bible without pulling any punches in the difficult passages, leading those under him to freely experience Scripture without wondering if they are...

No, this episode is not divinely inspired. Matt and Tim are just two bros who talk about the divinely inspired Bible, but why do they think that? In this episode, they will talk about how the Bible's message is one that speaks to different people from different cultures in different times. Listen to hear why they think this and how it has impacted them in the ministries God has given them. Pa...

** CONTENT WARNING ** There has been a lot in the news lately: the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, the Texas Rangers actually being good at baseball, and many other things. Matt and Tim want to take this opportunity to tell parents that they should stay updated with current events and to teach their children about what is happening in the world. Evil happens in big and small ways, and we must be...

Sound, biblical teaching is important. Without it, many churches would be wandering aimlessly away from God and what He says is good and necessary. In today's episode, Matt and Tim want to push parents to consider who they are listening to and why they are listening to them. Understanding biblical truth is important for families to fight against a culture of consumerism and relativism, so be...

Parents are not always going to raise prodigies or the next big star. Instead, parents are called to raise their kids in the instruction of Scripture, caring for their hearts before they sharpen their talents. Matt and Tim want to encourage parents to care deeply about their kids' proximity to the throne of King Jesus more than their ability to complete in athletics, arts, and other competiti...

Can you be a Christian and still compete well? Tim and Matt believe that the answer is yes, but it might not be the way most people think. If a Christian competes in the same way a non-believer competes, is the Christian really set apart from the world? There is no separation between Friday nights and Sunday mornings, so we must follow Christ at all times. Passages – Genesis 4:3-8; Colossians 3:22...

Oh boy. This is a big one. In this episode, Matt and Tim want to redefine not the word "eschatology" but what people think about it. The end times can cause a lot of worry, but that is not the purpose of eschatology in the Bible. If our lives are to be centered and submitted to Christ, so should our thoughts on the future. Be encouraged to share the Gospel as often as you can! Leave the...

Idolatry can be a difficult thing to talk to someone about. Believe it or not, many people in the church carry idols with them. These idols demand attention to be taken away from God and placed on them, so Tim and Matt want to encourage parents to reorient their eyes and place them on the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. They also talk about temptation and if God gives people more than they can...

According to the world's standard of success, two youth ministers probably should not be talking about this. But the Bible talks about success in a much different way. Matt and Tim discuss what the Bible defines success as and how it impacts parenting today. The modern culture can be difficult to overcome, but as through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, parents can know what God's standa...

Welcome to a new series called Today's Tomorrow! In this series, Matt and Tim will be working through different terms and definitions and giving the biblical response. This episode covers the priesthood of the believer, a term commonly thought to mean that each believer is basically their own church. Spoiler, this is wrong. The local church is still necessary, and each parent has a bigger res...

What is required for kids going to school? They need to be vocal about their faith! Just like last week, Tim and Matt want to encourage parents to teach their kids about being a witness for Christ in their schools. Their uniqueness can lead to many opportunities to let God work through their strengths and weaknesses, so be sure to always build up your children and not tear them down. Passages – Ps...

There are plenty of voices that say you must do this or that, but that legalism can only leave people feeling bogged down with thoughts of failure if they cannot. In this episode, Tim and Matt urge parents to get involved in their kids' school since this is a great way to be a light in a dark world but only if possible. The idea of necessity only applies to going into the world to share the G...

There are many ways we worship, but a common thought among church members is that it is only expressed in singing. Matt and Tim want to push that notion to the side by expressing that worship does not just happen in the big moments, but in the tedious, small moments throughout every day. Listen in and be challenged to rethink how you worship through parenting! Passages – 1 Kings 18-19; Colossians...

Theology is often thought to be a pastor's or seminary student's job to understand, but it impacts the daily life of believers. Through a little thought experiment, Tim wants to show how parents can take biblical principles and apply them, and Matt works to show where these principles come from in the Bible. Get ready to think. Passages – Acts 1:16-17; Ephesians 4:29, 5:15-21; 1 Peter 1:...

Missions have been discussed multiple times on this podcast, but Tim and Matt want parents to be aware of what goes into getting ready for a mission trip. Preparing for a mission trip is not just about finding a place and contact, but it includes getting hearts ready to be sent and used by God. In this episode, the guys want to show what that looks like and where we find these things in Scripture....

Tim and Matt just got back from church camp this past week, and boy are they fired up! There is plenty of follow-up to do with their students, but part of it is this episode where they talk about the importance of parents sending their kids to camp. No matter how tedious life can get, it's the moments when we get away from normal life that God can use for His incredible purposes. Resources (u...

It can be difficult confronting our past sin, but there comes a time when people deal with the consequences. Kids might be tempted to replicate our past mistakes, so parents should be prepared to explain why God's grace allows people to deal with the consequences and be blessed. Matt and Tim work through this process while Matt is TOTALLY in England when they recorded this episode. Passages –...