Rooted Parent: Recent Episodes
Rooted Ministry, Anna Meade Harris, Cameron Cole, David Thomas
The Rooted Parent Podcast, hosted by Rooted Chairman Cameron Cole, aims to equip and encourage parents as they disciple their children to lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. Rooted Parent is a part of the Rooted Family of Podcasts.
Perhaps the most painful consequence of the Fall lies in broken relationships with God, with each other, with ourselves, and with creation. One of the incredible benefits of the gospel is that Jesus has made reconciliation possible! In this episode, Cameron and Anna explore this here-and-now, concrete benefit of the gospel of reconciliation–a gift we can experience in our relationships even now.
Rooted 2016: Michael Horton on Reconciliation
Rooted 2016: Cameron Cole on Reconciliation with the Father
Rooted 2016: Liz Edrington on Reconciliation with the Self
Colossians 1:19-23
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
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Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Being a parent can be isolating in any number of ways. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss the enormous comfort believers derive from the continuous presence of Christ, who will never leave us or forsake us.
Resources:
How Union with Christ Makes Salvation Click For Students by Joshua Madl
J-Curve and Being In Harvard or In Christ by Chelsea Kingston Erickson
John 14:20
Col. 1:27
Eph. 6:5
Col. 3:1-3
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss the riches of the doctrine of adoption. If parents can begin to grasp the reality that we are in fact God's adopted children, we can disciple our own children out of the perfect parenting of our heavenly Father, rather than the imperfect parenting of our earthly parents. Taking hold of the riches of our adoption- our status, our belonging, and our secure belovedness in God's family- all this is a true game-changer for parents who long to love their children well.
From Fear to Father: How Understanding Our Adoption Frees Parents from Anxiety by Melissa Powell
Rooted In and Through Adoption by Liz Edrington
1 John 3:1
John 1:11-13
Romans 8:15-21
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
If Christian parents can begin to live out the truth that they have the righteousness of Christ and no longer have anything to prove, they will be free to love their children even more. In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna unpack the doctrine of justification. Of all the glorious benefits of our salvation (Psalm 103:2), justification is one of our favorites.
The Seculosity of Parenting by Kristen Hatton
Three Ways We Can Rest as Parents Who Are Justified by Connie Leung Nelson
Inside Out 2 (a secular film with great insight into the adolescent psyche)
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Anna sports down with mother of two Sharonda Cooper to discuss her new devotional study, Wisdom for Parenting. The wisdom principles they discuss are applicable to parents at every stage of the parenting journey.
Sharonda Cooper serves as a content coordinator of women's initiatives at the Gospel Coalition. She holds two engineering degrees from MIT and is pursuing an MDiv in apologetics and philosophy from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. An author and contributor to several books, Sharonda and her family live in Texas.
Rooted Recommends: Wisdom For Parenting
Be Thou My Vision: God’s Wisdom, Presence, and Provision in Parenting by Christina Fox
Parenting Out of the Wisdom of Scripture
Parenting on the Precipice by Phil Cotnoir
Wisdom for Parenting by Sharonda Cooper
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Dr. Michael Kruger joins Cameron and Anna to discuss the new family devotional he wrote with his wife, Melissa Kruger: The Good News Family Devotional: 52 Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark. Drawing on his experience as a father of three young adults, Dr. Kruger shares the beauty and the challenges of having a family devotion time. He also shares why they chose Mark for this study, and how this particular gospel lends itself well to family discussion.
Michael J. Kruger (PhD) serves as the Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary. He is one of the leading scholars today in the origins of the New Testament and is the author of 14 books, including Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College.
Rooted Resources:
A Gift for Your Graduate: Michael Kruger’s Surviving Religion 101 by Anna Meade Harris
The Day I Quit Family Devotions by Joey Turner
Why We Do Devotions With Our Teens by Katie Polski
Simplicity and Sincerity: Advice and Encouragement for Reading the Bible With Your Family by Joey Turner
Referenced:
The Good News Family Devotional: 52 Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark by Michael J. Kruger and Melissa B. Kruger
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In the 3rd episode of our Good Good News series, Cameron and Anna discuss the gospel benefit of regeneration. Regeneration is the name for God making us a new creation, whereby we are raised from spiritual death and made alive in Christ. This is good news for parents who cannot seem to change their child's behavior-- or their own, sometimes-- the Holy Spirit will change us from the inside out.
Canons of Dort
John 3:5-8
Ephesians 2:1-5
A Lasting Family Resemblance by Dawson Cooper
How to Change the Heart of Your Teenager with Paul David Tripp (Rooted Parent podcast)
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this episode of the Good Good News, Cameron and Anna continue to examine the benefits of the gospel for parents by taking a thoughtful look at the doctrine of God's foreknowledge—also referred to as election, calling, or predestination. Listen to discover how that is a "soothing comfort" for us as individuals and us as parents.
John 6:34
Romans 8:28
Philippians 2:12-13
Romans 9-10
Ephesians 1:3-5
Gospel Benefits Chart by Cameron Cole
The Doctrine of Election: It’s Not Only About Us, But Them by Mark Howard
Difficult Scripture: A Fresh Approach to Addressing Predestination with Students by Todd Hill
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Welcome to the 11th series of the Rooted Parent Podcast! Cameron and Anna will share with you the good good news of the gospel as it applies specifically to you as a mom or dad. Together we will examine facets of the gospel, such as adoption and regeneration, and discuss how those truths inherent to our salvation actually have real-world, practical implications in our daily lives raising children. In the same way that most of us carry smartphones but do not utilize a fraction of that small computer's power and capacity, believers often do not know or live out of all the treasures of the gospel. Join us this season as we dig deeper to enjoy all that Christ has done for us and learn to love Him more.
Psalm 103
Gospel Benefits chart
Romans 8 for Parents (blog series)
Parenting in the Spirit (podcast season)
Gospel-Astonished Parenting by Rob Yancey
Fallen Condition Focus by Bryan Chappell
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this final episode of our Flourishing Parent series, Cameron and Anna come to the climactic "I Am" statement in the Gospel of John. When Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he demonstrates his power over life and death, and his will to defeat death on our behalf. Knowing the overwhelming goodness of his love for us empowers us to wait when he does not change our circumstances, and shows parents how to wait well with their children during hard seasons and painful circumstances.
Curriculum for the Gospel of John
Fixing Like the Father by Clarissa Moll
Behind a Counselor’s Door: Why Kids Don’t Talk to Their Parents by Kristen Hatton
Don’t Hurry the Hurt by Kristen Hatton
John 11:17-37
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Studies find that a majority of teenagers and young adults cite loneliness as one of their most painful problems. Longtime campus minister Shelby Abbott found this to be true among his students, so he wrote Why We're Feeling Lonely (And What We Can Do About It) (A Christian Guide for Gen Z on Relationships, Friendship, Community, Anxiety, Depression, and Healing Loneliness Through the Gospel) to address this issue head-on with the truth of the gospel. His conversation with Anna offers practical guidance to parents who are raising kids in a digitally connected/relationally disconnected world. You'll be encouraged by his wisdom and trust!
Shelby Abbott is an author, campus minister, emcee, and conference speaker. He's also a husband and dad to two daughters. His passion for university students has led him to speak at college campuses all over the US and author several books for the next generation, including such topics as doubt, pressure, and cohabitation before marriage. Find him at shelbyabbott.com
Pushing Back on the Loneliness Epidemic Among Young People by Shelby Abbott
Fear Factor in Parenting: Will My Child Lose Their Faith in College? with Shelby Abbott
Rooted Loneliness Resources
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Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
If there is one key thing Christian parents can "do" to facilitate flourishing for their children and themselves, it would be abiding in Christ. In this episode Cameron and Anna explore some of the riches of John 15, and how staying relationally connected to Jesus helps us to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces. If there's a single key to the flourishing life in Christ, this is it.
Breathe in, Breathe Out: How the Holy Spirit Revives and Refreshes the Weary Parent by Dawson Cooper
Abiding in Christ: The Firm Foundation of Parenting by Dawson Cooper
John 15
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
One of the greatest struggles humans have is with our pressing need to feel like we belong. We were created for fellowship and connection with God and others, so the desire for belonging is a proper human need that has been bent and twisted by sin. In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss the fact that our basic desire is actually to belong to God, and then with others, and Jesus is the way into our belonging. Belonging to Jesus, we find the true satisfaction and flourishing that we, and our kids, long to experience.
How Jesus Satisfies Our Teenagers’ Greatest Longings - Rooted Ministry
Series: Creating a Culture of Belonging
Fear Factor in Parenting: Facing the FOMO
John 14 ESV
The Inner Ring by C.S. Lewis
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this episode of our season "Lifegiving Parenthood," Cameron and Anna discuss the wonderful truth that our Good Shepherd Jesus guides parents through all the thousands of decisions, large and small, that we make on our children's behalf. When we feel burdened by the incessant choices we must make for our children-- and especially when we don't know what is best -- we can trust that Jesus delights to lead us into His wisdom.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Isaiah 30:21
Psalm 23
Proverbs 3:5-6
John 10:1-15, 27-28
Be Thou My Vision: God’s Wisdom, Presence, and Provision in Parenting - Rooted Ministry
Parenting Out of the Wisdom of Scripture - Podcasts
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Kristen Hatton unpacks the five P's of parenting to help parents become more self-aware, stay motivated toward their children, and lead their homes with gospel-centered purpose and hope.
Kristen is a counselor who works with teenage girls, parents, and families. She’s the author of Parenting Ahead, Face Time, Get Your Story Straight, and The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus for Students. Kristen lives in Dallas with her pastor husband and is the mom of three young adults and a son-in-law. Learn more at www.kristenhatton.com.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this special Christmas episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, father and veteran youth pastor Syler Thomas join Cameron and Anna to discuss about the misadventures of Kevin McAllister and his family. They talk about parenting failures, regrets, and redemption, and how, because of Christ, we are not condemned for our shortcomings as moms and dads.
Home Alone: We are All Kevinsby Matt Brown
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Continuing in our season, Lifegiving Parenthood, Cameron and Anna discuss how Jesus's promise that he is the Light of the World illuminates the path forward for parents in a dark and uncertain world. Just as light leads, reveals, guides, brightens, and encourages, Jesus is present with parents who want to lead their families well.
John 8:12-36
Exodus 12:21-22
Psalm 119:105
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
What do you think you actually want for your child? Answering the question reveals a lot about what drives our decisions as parents. In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss how finding contentment and satisfaction in Christ can lead to a more abundant, meaningful life with your family.
Parents, Don't Treat The Bread of Life like Green Beans - Rooted Ministry
Family Ministry Curriculum
John 6:22-40
Half-Truth Series: God Wants My Child to Be Happy by Katie Polski
The Value of a Soul: Talking with Teenagers About Relationships by Luke Paiva
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In the second episode of our series Lifegiving Parenthood, Cameron and Anna discuss the powerful name "I AM" that God shares with Moses. When Jesus calls himself "I AM," he is asserting his own divinity and union with the Father, and this is good, good news for parents indeed.
Colossians 1:15-17
Hebrews 1: 3
John 14:9
Exodus 3:1-14
John 8: 57-59
John 6:20
Isaiah 43:25
John 18:4-6
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Anna Meade Harris, author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, and Cameron Cole, author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth and Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
In this conversation with author Adam Griffin, Cameron and Anna explore the relief the gospel brings to exhausted, overwhelmed, weary parents. They lean into the truth that parents need the freedom of Christ and the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to parent their children with joy and perseverance. Adam Griffin is a husband and father to 3 boys; he also is the lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas and the host of the Family Discipleship podcast.
Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin
Good News for Parents: How God Can Restore Our Joy and Relieve Our Burdens by Adam Griffin
Rooted Book Awards 2020: Best New Parenting Books
Breathe in, Breathe Out: How the Holy Spirit Revives and Refreshes the Weary Parent by Dawson Cooper
Sour Grapes Are Not a Fruit of the Spirit by Kristin Couch
Parenting in the Spirit podcast series
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
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In our newest season, Lifegiving Parenthood, Cameron and Anna will unpack the I AM statements of Jesus in John's Gospel. They seek to answer the question: can raising kids be life-giving? By grasping the truth of who Jesus is, we can walk in greater confidence, joy, and peace as we raise our children. They unpack biblical terms like believe, trust, and life in order to establish a better understanding of what it does–and does not–mean to flourish as a Christian parent. Throughout it all, we’ll see how trusting Jesus as our great I AM provides the strength and hope we parents need.
Jesus, Friend of Teenagers and Over-Functioning Parents by Melissa Powell
Mom Guilt and the Goodness of God by Brook Preus
Basic Parenting Principles video course
John 20:30-31
John 10:10
Galatians 5:22-23
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Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
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In this episode of Asian American Parenting, Danny is joined by longtime youth pastor Justin Wong. Justin has served students and families for the past 25 years within the Asian American church community and most recently completed his second doctorate degree researching Gen Z students and the Asian American Church. They discuss aspects of the hit show K-Pop Demon Hunters and how parents can engage with their own children and teenagers about it. They also discuss social media in general and its influence on teenagers and children.
How to Teach the Gospel To Teenagers Through Culture by Chelsea Kingston Erickson
What Teenagers Need From Parents: Understand the Challenges of Technology by Christina Fox
Discipling Your Teenagers, a Rooted video course
The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World by Brett McCracken
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
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Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference!
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this final episode of our season Can't Do It All, Anna welcomes back Rooted podcaster Alice Churnock and introduces our brand-new executive director Hannah Dow. We invited them to talk about the (potential) overwhelm of being a mother. Both of these moms juggle full-time jobs while running their households, caring for elderly parents, serving at church, and attempting to maintain friendships and good health. Additionally, Hannah is a single mother. You'll want to hear how they find rest in the gospel, but you'll also glean some practical tips. Be encouraged by their wholehearted pursuit of Jesus in the midst of their busy lives.
Alice Churnock is the Founder of BrainCore of Birmingham, and a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor with more than 20 years of experience counseling adolescents. She and her husband have two teenage boys.
Hannah Dow is the Executive Director of Rooted; she previously served on Rooted’s Board of Directors and wrote articles for the blog. She and her daughter, Neal, love road trips, local bookstores, and dabbling with watercolors.
Ask Alice podcast on Rooted
Alice Churnock author page
Hannah Dow author page
Rest for Your Soul: A Bible Study on Solitude, Silence, and Prayer by Wendy Blight
Matthew 11:28-30
Phil 1:6, 4:13
Daniel 3
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Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
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In this very special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna welcome Kelly Kapic. His work on human limits was part of the inspiration for this Can't Do It All season. In this episode, you will learn how God-given limits are not only not sin, they are blessings, God's good plan for our flourishing. Kelly touches on humility, academics, faithfulness, and hard work.
In addition to being a husband and father, Kelly is a professor of theological studies at Covenant College, and the author of more than 15 books, including Christianity Today book award winner You’re Only Human, and most recently, a devotional called You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human. Kelly is already a friend of the ministry, having been a main speaker at our 2023 conference in Franklin, TN.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
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Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Author Justin Whitmel Earley joins Cameron and Anna for this special episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast. When life taught Earley that he truly could not do it all, he developed a "rule of life" to guide the choices he makes for his family, and for his own growth as a believer, a father, a husband, and a dual- career professional. Justin Whitmel Earley is the creator of The Common Rule, a program of habits designed to form us in the love of God and neighbor. He is also a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. Justin and his wife, Lauren, have four sons.
Most recent release: The Common Rule Youth Edition: Growing Your Faith in a Distracted World by Justin Whitmel Earley
Upcoming Book for JWE: The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life
On Rooted: Scripture Before Phone by Justin Whitmel Earley
Books cited:
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch
Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster
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Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Parents often live with the fear that they won't be able to give their children everything they need- much less the things they want. And let's face it, with the rising costs of housing and groceries, parents have a lot to juggle just to pay the bills. In this episode, Cameron and Anna address the heartache that comes with our limited financial resources, and they offer the reminder that God does not expect us to provide Disney vacations and private tutors for our children. Rather, he asks us to show our children what it looks like to love him, and this is something where every Christian parent has ample resources to give their family.
Luke 18:18-30
Parents, What Are You Teaching Your Kids about Money? by Tracey Rector
The Grace of Giving by Katie Polski
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
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David Zahl's new book The Big Relief offers a mess of help for parents who are in urgent need of grace in this worn-out world. David will take some big theological concepts like justification, imputation, and surrender, and show how these terms are not just ideas, but solid truths that set parents free from the pressure to do it all, and do it all perfectly, for the kids they love.
David Zahl is the director of Mockingbird Ministries and editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird website. David and his wife Cate reside in Charlottesville, VA with their three boys, where David also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church. He is the author of numerous books, including Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What To Do About It.
The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World
Mockingbird
Burn Babywise Burn by Cameron Cole
Paul Zahl - New Persuasive Words, Talk 1 Pt 1
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Parents in the 21st century are particularly burdened by the sense that they don’t have time to do all that needs to be done. Ask any parent-friend of yours how they are and they’re likely to say: “busy.” With all the things we try to provide for our kids- school, piano lessons, soccer, playdates, time with extended family- and, oh yeah, by the way, church… it all feels like too much. In this episode, Cameron and Anna explore what God's Word tells us about the gift of time, and how we can learn to steward it wisely.
Luke 12:16-21
Psalm 90:12
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
A Time to Hold Close and a Time to Let Go by Meredith Exline
Full Schedules and Family Bible Time Can Coexist by Joey Turner
Redeeming the Time by Vanessa Doughty
Follow us @rootedministry!
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna address parental burnout: what causes it, and how can parents respond in a way that is faithful to God and loving to their children? Through examining the story of Elijah, whose burnout led him to despair, you'll be reminded that you can't do it all- and God has never expected you to.
1 Kings 19: 1-8
Jesus for the Weary Mother by Dawson Cooper
A Grandmother’s Encouragement To Weary Moms by Tracey Rector
A Father’s Day Gift for Dead-Tired Dads by Davis Lacey
Grace for the Non-Supermom by Jenny Lisa
Follow us @rootedministry!
Please rate and review the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child, but we get into trouble when we try to make those dreams come true instead of leaving the future in God's hands where it belongs. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna examine the biblical story of Rebecca and her two sons, and how her best intentions cause her family a world of hurt.
Genesis 25:21-26
Genesis 27
When We Don’t Know What the Future Holds For Our Children by Meredith Exline
Rooted 2017: Scott Sauls on the Creator’s Plan: Our Hope for the Future
In-Person Vs. Online: Starting Back to School in a Pandemic (Or, Here We Go Again) by Anna Meade Harris
Her Children Arise and Call Her #Blessed by Ashley Hales, Christianity Today
Follow us @rootedministry!
Please rate and review the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Meditating on the incommunicable attributes of our limitless God can bring such comfort to finite human beings. In this episode, Cameron and Anna talk about the ways that humans cannot be like God- and don't even need to try to be like God. Much of the trouble we get into as parents (or with sin, in general) comes from trying to be "like God." But the boundaries God put around his creation are for our good and flourishing.
Psalm 16: 5-8
None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That's a Good Thing) by Jen Wilkin
A Parent’s Limits: God’s Gift or Satan’s Trap? by Joey Turner
Knowing What We Don’t Know: How Our Spiritual Limits Bring Us Closer to God by Tracey Rector
Good News For Parents: God Knows Everything by Carolyn Lankford
Rooted 2017: Jen Wilkin on Living as Those with a Living Hope
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Have you ever said, "It's all too much!" "How are we going to do it all?" "There aren't enough hours in the day!" If so, this episode is for you. Cameron and Anna discuss the overwhelm of being a parent today. Because the gospel begins with bringing us to the spiritual end of ourselves, Jesus is where we find hope and yes, even rest, when we have too much to do. Romans 8:31-37Psalm 61:1-4 Romans 8 for ParentsWhy Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by DanHallock Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
With this episode, Cameron and Anna begin a new series for parents, "Can't Do It All." Parents today are under enormous pressure to "do it all" for their families, and yet our human problem with limits goes all the way back to Eden. Cameron and Anna explore God's good - and finite- design for human beings, and discuss how living within our God-ordained limits will lead to greater spiritual health and thriving for our entire family.
Genesis chapter 2
You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News by Kelly Kapic
Rooted Recommends: You’re Only Human by Kelly Kapic
Discovering the Joy of Being a Creature with Kelly Kapic
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Join us for a very special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast addressing the real and painful topic of parental anxiety in raising teenagers. Speaking live at a Rooted event for parents, Katie and Chris Polski share their story of raising three teenagers. With honesty and vulnerability, they confess the challenges they faced with one of their children, and the goodness of God in those difficult times. They found peace and comfort in Scripture, in prayer, and in counsel with mentors in their church. Chris and Katie serve together as lead pastor and worship director at Trinity Church in St. Louis, Missouri, and both have contributed to Rooted in significant ways over the years. Katie is the author of the upcoming Beyond the Back Row: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Local Church for Your Family (Christian Focus, May 2025).Exodus 33Psalm 46:10Matthew 7:7-8 Romans 8:31-37Psalm 61:1-4 Romans 8 for ParentsWhy Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by DanHallock Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this final episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast season "Parenting in the Spirit," Cameron and Anna reach the crescendo of Romans 8 in verses 31-37. For us, and for our kids, God is the most stable person in the universe, and he holds all things in his more-than-capable hands. We can rest and rejoice, living out of the incredible stability that his love and power offer us. Romans 8:31-37Psalm 61:1-4 Romans 8 for ParentsWhy Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by DanHallock Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Sometimes, when our lives feel hard and the news is bad, we can struggle to understand God's sovereignty alongside man's free will to choose good or evil. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna examine why God's sovereignty strengthens us as we raise our children in an uncertain world. Knowing he is in control of all things will not be much comfort if we do not believe that God is good- but knowing his goodness and love for us led Jesus to the Cross to die for us gives us confidence even when we cannot understand the operation of his sovereign will.
Resources:
- Romans 8:26- 30
- God's Sovereignty and Your Family's Suffering by Davis Lacey
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Sometimes the burden of expectations adds unnecessary weight to the already difficult job or raising kids. How does Romans 8 help us live out of the optimism that springs from the resurrection of Jesus, while also considering the pessimism that comes from living in a fallen world. Considering Romans 8: 16-24, Cameron and Anna will talk about living with high hopes in the goodness of God to us through Christ.
Resources:
- Romans 8:16-24
- What Stressed Out Kids Need from Their Parents…Who are Stressing Them Out by Kristen Hatton
- Destination Wally World: How to Not Lose Sight of the Gospel on Your Family Vacation by Anna Meade Harris
- God’s Goodness When Parenting is Hard by Emily Menendez
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this episode, Cameron and Anna turn to Romans 8: 12-17 to determine how the gospel helps parents let go of fear and control. When the US Surgeon General feels compelled to release a mental health report for parents, anxiety and stress are at an all-time high. How does the indwelling Holy Spirit free parents from living "according to the flesh"?
Resources:
- Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents
- The Parents Aren't All Right podcast
- Romans 8:12-17
- Parenting and the Idol of Control by Christina Fox
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Examining Romans 8:9-11, Cameron and Anna describe the ways that the indwelling Holy Spirit helps a parent who is lonely, exhausted, and in need of wisdom. Relying on the power of the Spirit and nurturing our union with Christ gives us the strength we need to persevere in the hard times of rising kids.
Resources:
- Romans 8:9-11
- 2 Tim 2:1
- Breathe in, Breathe Out: How the Holy Spirit Revives and Refreshes the Weary Parent by Dawson Cooper
- Rooted 2017: Scott Sauls on the Holy Spirit Within: Our Hope for Change
- One Dad and Three Kids in a Minivan: Evidence of the Indwelling Spirit by Joey Turner
- From Rumination to Repentance: Parenting With Our Minds Set on the Spirit by Anna Meade Harris
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this 8th and final episode of the mini-season, husband and wife Danny and Monica Kwon talk about working with the parents of teenagers as it relates to the mental health issues of teenagers and their families. They speak from their experience dealing with the mental health issues of one of their own teenagers, but also as Danny spent 29 years serving as the youth pastor at one church, while Monica is both a psychologist and a Christian counselor. In speaking from these three distinct but overlapping perspectives, they discuss how youth ministry, youth pastors, and churches, can work with parents and their teenagers, to help them navigate the potential mental health issues of their teenagers.
Resources: Listen to more episodes of the Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast: Rooted Youth Ministry Archives - Rooted Ministry * Follow @therootedministry on Instagram! * Purchase Anxiety: Finding the Better Story* by Liz Edrington today.
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
One of the most difficult things about raising kids is the tendency we parents have to lose perspective. We can take the smallest situation and catastrophize; we are equally prone to focus on insignificant things and miss the big picture. Romans 8:5-8 urges us to set our minds on the Spirit, which will bring us life and peace in the hardest circumstances, as well as the most trivial. It’s our hope that this episode is so encouraging that you'll bookmark it to return to when you need it; we loved recording it for you.
“What does it practically look like, to set your mind on the Spirit? A lot of it is to prayerfully remember, with the hope of the Spirit, what Jesus has done.”
Resources:
- Romans 8:5-8
- Philippians 1:6
- Gospel Benefits Chart
- Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth by Cameron Cole
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss what it means to parent out of the "law of sin and death" versus "the law of the Spirit of life." Parents can learn to notice and know, in order to determine what their families need (hint: what we need is to understand and live under the gospel!).
Resources:
- Romans 8:2-4
- Romans 5:5b
- Romans 7:23
- Inside Out
Romans 8:31-37
Psalm 61:1-4
Romans 8 for Parents
Why Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon
Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates
Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago
Cameron and Anna spend this episode in the series “Parenting in the Spirit” talking about the glorious truth of Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Though parents may feel judgment from a variety of sources: other parents, parenting advice, church, extended family, and even from themselves, God does not judge us for our parenting failures, nor are we judged for our children’s behavior. Because we share in the perfect record of Jesus Christ, God does not condemn believing parents but forgives us and covers our transgressions.
Resources:
- Romans 5:1
- Romans 5:6
- Romans 7:6
- Romans 7:21-25
- The Ultimate Judge: How Jesus as Judge Shapes Our Parenting by Tracey Rector
Follow us @rootedministry!
Welcome to our newest season of the Rooted Parent Podcast. In this season, Cameron and Anna will dive into possibly the most beloved chapter in all of Scripture: Romans 8. They will discuss the nuts and bolts of what it means to “walk in the Spirit,” and what that looks like for moms and dads in everyday life with their children. In this first episode, Cameron and Anna begin in Galatians 5 with the fruit of the Spirit and give some context for what it actually means to take one step at a time in the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit. Join us for this new season; we hope it will offer parents comfort, wisdom, and peace in the companionship of our good God.
“We are very vulnerable to slipping into the flesh when it comes to our kids.”
References:
- Galatians 5
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In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Melissa Kruger, the Director of Women’s Content at The Gospel Coalition, joins Cameron and Anna to discuss her new book Parenting With Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Written from her own experience of raising teenagers, Parenting With Hope encourages parents to seek the Lord’s wisdom as they parent out of the basic guiding principles of Scripture. Listen in as Cameron, Anna, and Melissa discuss the power of prayer, the value of weekly church attendance, and the most common idols parents face. Finally, you’ll hear them share some tools that can help parents cultivate a home where faith can flourish and parent out of the hope of the gospel.
Resources:
- Parenting With Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa Kruger
- Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teensby Paul David Tripp
- The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults by Frances E. Jensen
- The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids by Madeline Levine
- Check out more Rooted resources on prayer here
- Check out more Rooted resources on church here
- Parents, we hope you’ll join us for our 2024 conference in Dallas, TX.
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna sit down with mother-daughter duo Clarissa and Fiona Moll, authors of the recent book Hurt, Help, and Hope: A Real Conversation About Teen Grief and Life After Loss. Drawing from their own personal experience of loss, Clarissa and Fiona have created an invaluable resource for teenagers— and those who love them!— as they navigate loss. Cameron and Anna discuss with the Molls how children, teenagers, and parents grieve in different ways and how parents can navigate that dynamic in the home. Clarissa and Fiona also share some practical tools to implement in a season of grief. Most importantly, listen to hear them share about the healing balm Jesus offers in the midst of ongoing grief.
Resources:
- Hurt, Help, Hope: A Real Conversation About Teen Grief and Life After Loss by Clarissa Moll and Fiona Moll
- Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving After Loss by Clarissa Moll
- Check out more Rooted resources on grief here.
- Parents, we hope you’ll join us for our 2024 conference in Dallas, TX.
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna talk with Faith Chang about Christian perfectionism in parenting. Faith is a pastor’s wife and mom of 4 who works with Westminster Books and serves on the editorial board of the SOLA Network. She is also the author of the book Peace Over Perfection: Enjoying a Good God When You Feel You’re Never Good Enough. Listen in as Cameron, Anna, and Faith discuss what exactly Christian perfectionism is and how it tends to manifest itself in our parenting. They also share advice for parents who see their own children struggle with perfectionism. Weary parents who constantly fear failing their children will be encouraged to rest in God’s sovereignty and his invitation to “come and rest."
Resources:
- Peace Over Perfection by Faith Chang
- Check out more Rooted resources on gospel-centered parenting here.
- Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington
- Parents, we hope you’ll join us for our 2024 conference in Dallas, TX.
Follow us @rootedministry!
Rooted introduces a new podcast focused on youth ministry in an Asian American context. It features a rotating panel of youth ministers who will talk about issues affecting Asian American youth and anyone ministering to them, whether in the home or in the church. This episode is a sample of what you will hear. The first full episode is available now at RootedMinistry.com/Podcasts. Or subscribe to the Asian American Youth Ministry Roundtable wherever you listen to podcasts.
Bios of PanelistsDorothy Lau Dorothy is the youth director at the Chinese Bible Church of Maryland (Rockville, MD) in the Washington D.C. metropolitan. She is passionate to serve the Lord through discipleship, musical worship, administration, and multimedia. Dorothy is a massive foodie, enjoys cooking for loved ones, and delights in trips to her home city of Chicago.
Huey Lee Huey Lee has been serving the local church in the youth ministry context for over 15 years, and holds a Masters of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. He currently serves as a Pastor of Youth Ministry at Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville, VA. He is married to his beautiful wife, Alice, and they are parents to 4 sons: Matthew, Ethan, Christian, and Lucas. He loves reading, Korean food, a good cup of coffee, and the growing pains that come with learning to play golf.
Justin WongJustin serves as the Pastor of Youth at Chinese Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He has worked with students, parents, and families for the past 23 years. He graduated from Houston Baptist University with a biology degree and later received his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently finishing his Masters of Theology and Doctorate of Education from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married Tina and they have two girls, Ella and Mia.
Terrence ShayTerrence serves as the Family Pastor at First Chinese Baptist Church, Walnut, located in Los Angeles County with the largest Asian population in the US. He has grown up in the immigrant church and believes unashamedly in its role to fulfill Jesus’ call to make disciples across all cultures and generations. He is gladly married to Regina and forever growing as a father of three children from middle school to college. He will go out of his way to cheer on LA sports (Lakers, Dodgers, UCLA Bruins) and to engage in a meaningful conversation.
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In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron talks with special guest Jennifer Kvamme, author of More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships. As a 21-year veteran youth worker, wife and mom of 3, Kvamme sees that issues of sexuality and gender have become central to the faith development for teenagers. She wants her teenage readers to understand that God's design for male and female really is good news, that sexuality does not equal identity, and that the narrative of creation, fall, and redemption sweeps us into the great story of Jesus.
Resources:
- More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationshipsby Jennifer Kvamme
- related articles by Jennifer:
- A Bad Trade: Helping Teenagers See Sexual Sin Clearly
- Parents, Let’s Reframe the Sexuality Conversation
- Order Anxiety: Finding the Better Storyby Liz Edrington today!
- Join us at Rooted 2024 October 24-26 in Dallas Texas!
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this follow-up episode, Cameron interviews Anna about her book, The Grace of God from Single-Parent Families, with a particular emphasis on how brothers and sisters in Christ can serve single parents in their communities and churches. For married parents and singles, being aware of the particular challenges single parent families face is the first step towards understanding how to love their families well.
Resources:
- God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris
- Some Blunt Challenges to the Church About Single Parents by Eric Tonjes
- Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast Episode on Growing Up with a Single Parent
- Join us for Rooted 2024 in Dallas, TX, October 24-26
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron interviews Anna about her life as a single mom raising 3 sons after the death of her husband. They talk about the challenges single parents face, at home and in church, and the goodness of God to single parent families.
Resources:
- God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris
- Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington
- Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast Episode on Growing Up with a Single Parent
- Join us for Rooted 2024 in Dallas, TX, October 24-26.
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna urge parents to talk to their children about heaven. It's helpful to have these conversations throughout our everyday lives, so that we are not just explaining what the Bible says about heaven when a loved one (or a pet) dies. In this episode, Cameron and Anna break down the what, the why, and the how of having these important spiritual conversations.
"I do think there is something we can learn from kids... hear these stories."
Resources:
- Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life On Earth by Cameron Cole
- Heaven: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything the Bible Says About Our Eternal Home (Clear Answers to 44 Real Questions About the Afterlife, Angels, Resurrection, and the Kingdom of God) by Randy Alcorn
- Heaven: Your Real Home...From a Higher Perspective by Joni Eareckson Tada
- Join us at Rooted 2024 in Dallas, October 24-26!
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss Cameron's new book Heavenward: How Eternity Impacts Your Life on Earth. In particular, how does a biblical view of heaven impact how you parent your children? For parents who have a child in heaven, you'll find the same comfort Cole found in the writing of Paul. For parents whose children are on earth, you'll discover how a heavenward view will lend depth and richness to your view of raising your children.
"Eternity sheds light on the finitude of this life, and it forces us to be intentional."
Resources:
- Join us in Dallas October 24-26 for Rooted 2024!
- Heavenward: How Eternity Impacts Your Life on Earth by Cameron Cole
- Purchase Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington today.
Follow us @rootedministry!
Tune in to a fascinating conversation where host Cameron Cole interviews author Samuel James about his new book, Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age. You'll want to hear his discussion of "content vs. form"; "software vs. hardware," prompting us to ask the question: how is the technology itself- not just the content we view- shaping our loves, our views of what life should be like?
"The internet is a major secular liturgy."
Resources:
- Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age
- You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith
- The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr
- You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News by Kelly Kapic
- The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries by Sara Hagerty
- Join us for Rooted 2024 in Dallas, October 24-26!
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode, Cameron and Anna are excited to sit down with guest Collin Hansen of The Gospel Coalition. As an astute thought leader for Christians wrestling with contemporary culture, Hansen shares what he has seen and heard about the impact of smartphones and social media on children and teenagers. He invites us to trust God, but also to be informed and make wise decisions to protect our children. You won't want to miss this episode!
"It's easy in these conversations to come across as analog or Amish, and that might be a good decision for a lot of people, but it's about learning to control those things so that they don't control you, to use them so they don't use you, and to understand that there are people who get paid a lot more money than you do, who are a lot smarter than any of us, who are trying to grab that attention, that we have to demand to grab back."
Resources:
- Collin Hansen
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Generations by Jean Twenge
- Purchase Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington today.
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna encourage parents whose kids are NOT HAPPY with the family rules regarding smartphones. We hope this episode will help you hold the line for your child's good.
"Listening well and showing compassion is going to go a long way towards staying connected with your child."
Resources:
- Join us at Rooted 2024 in Dallas Texas, October 24-26!
- Purchase Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington today.
Follow us @rootedministry!
Licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock of "Ask Alice" podcast fame sits down with Anna to talk about what she has learned from her teenaged clients about the impacts of social media. Because Alice is also a mom, she offers wise practical advice for parents of young teens, who don't yet have a smartphone. Alice also shares guidance for parents who want to pull back on their child's technology use. Finally, she offers the comfort of the gospel for every parent navigating these tricky challenges.
"What are the four things social media satisfies?... It satisfies communication, it satisfies comparisons, it satisfies curiosity, and it satisfies confidence."
Resources:
- Ask Alice podcast
- Cell Phone Contract
- Does Social Media Use Cause Depression?
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of our technology series, Cameron and Anna discuss the enormous amount of time teenagers (and often, their parents) spend in front of screens on a daily basis. We find that Scripture has a lot to say about "numbering our days [so} that we may get a heart of wisdom" concerning how we spend the time God has given us.
"We need to be really careful not to send the message that doing schoolwork or being productive are the only ways to honor God with your time."
References:
Ephesians 5:15-17
Colossians 4:5
Psalm 90:12
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
Philippians 4:8
Psalm 101:2
Matthew 5:29
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In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna tackle a tough topic: the unjust conduct of social media giants like Meta, TikTok, and Pornhub, who knowingly prey on preteens and teens with the intent to create addicts. Much like the tobacco industry, these companies exploit the vulnerability of children and young adults for profit, despite overwhelming evidence of harm to younger users. God cares deeply about the protection of the vulnerable, so be encouraged that while you may frustrate your child with protective measures, you are actually doing God's work.
"If you see exploitation of the vulnerable, then you need to stand between that person and their oppressor."
Resources:
- Zechariah 7:9-10
- Malachi 3:5
- Isaiah 1:17
- The Social Dilemma
- Join us at the next Rooted Conference!
Follow us @rootedministry!
Human beings live perpetually aware of their shortcomings, so we are always seeking to justify ourselves by some demonstration of "enoughness." In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna talk about how we use social media filters as self-justification tools, and how we can teach our kids that the gospel answers our nagging sense of inadequacy.
Resources:
- Psalm 139: 13-15
- Galatians 2:10-21
- Order Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington today!
Follow us @rootedministry!
Instagram is unparalleled in its capacity to stir up envy within us; and envy is unparalleled in its power to destroy relationships. In this episode, Cameron and Anna uncover the backbone of envy and talk about the truths from God's word that provide the corrective for our jealousy and covetousness.
Resources:
The Agony of Instagram by Alex Williams
The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World by Melissa Kruger
The Problem of Demandingness by Larry Crabb
Scriptures:
- Cain and Abel (Gen 4)
- Jacon and Esau (Gen 27-29)
- Saul and David (1 Samuel 18-31)
- Joseph and His Brothers (Gen 37)
- Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Num. 16)
The Backbone of Envy:
- Not recognizing and being grateful for what you have.
- Believing God is holding out on you.
- Believing that getting what you want will make you happy.
- Demandingness- wanting what you want RIGHT NOW!
- Not desiring good things to happen to other people.
- Not trusting in God's providence.
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If there's one thing Christian parents know, it's that walking with Jesus will put us in conflict with the dominant culture. In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss the difficulty and the imperative of raising children who are willing to be different from their peers, for God's glory and their own thriving.
"But when we live Christian lives, we are swimming against the stream of popular culture, because Christ Himself was counter cultural. To follow Christ is to be against the stream, but fully alive." G.K. Chesterton
Resources:
Exodus 19:5-6
1 Peter 2:9-12
Galatians 5:16-17
Instagram Addicted Your Teenager Because She's Worth $270 to Them by Chris Martin, Termsofservice.com.
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this episode of our technology series, Cameron and Anna examine the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke's gospel. When we lead our children to understand that their audience is a good God who loves them and finds them flawless in Christ, they will begin to break free from needing to perform for other people and find rest under the smile of their heavenly Father.
"Measuring up to the standard does not come through effort or performance, but instead it comes through grace."
Resources:
Luke 18:9-14
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The longing for secure belonging is part of being human, but the longing can be particularly acute for teenagers. In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss how this longing feeds into our children's participation on social media platforms.
"So much of the tension and the anxiety that involves social media and technology and kids has to do with this developmental, human reality. It's particularly amplified at the middle school age."
Resources:
The Inner Ring by CS Lewis
Ephesians 2:11-22
Life Actually By Kari Kampakis: When your daughter feels surrounded… yet alone
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In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss the God-ordained goodness of our bodies. Since the early days of the church, Christians have fought the Greek teaching that matter and the body are bad, and we must escape the physical world. Through the Incarnation of Jesus and the goodness of God's creation, we know that God intends for us to embrace our embodied humanity. To the extent that social media allows us to resist the physical world, we must help our teenagers pursue in-person community and face-to-face relationships.
"Sin creates an adversarial relationship between us and the physical world."
Resources:
Join us for Rooted 2023!
Follow us @rootedministry!
1 John 1: 1-4
Luke 24:36-43
Hebrews 10:24-25
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Continuing the conversation about viewing technology through the lens of biblical discipleship, Cameron and Anna encourage parents to communicate gently with their children on the topic of technology. Listening well and asking good questions may not make your child feel better about your rules, but these things do dignify the image of God in your child.
"The number one developmental question that an early adolescent has is this: where do I fit in the group? The deepest darkest fear of a middle schooler is being left out."
Resources:
Mark 2
John 11
Is It Time for a Phone? Practical Guidance for Parents of New Smartphone Users
Join us for Rooted 2023!
Follow us @rootedministry!
Follow us @rootedministry!
In the first episode of our new season, Cameron and Anna will talk about what it looks like to have a discipleship mindset regarding our kids and technology. Our desire as parents is to raise children who love Jesus and have their own relationship with him. With Scripture as our guide, we can teach our children to handle technological tools with godly wisdom, to be faithful to God's Word when they are outside of our homes.
"The reality is your child is going to go out in the real world, and they are going to have their own phone, and they aren't going to have a parent to monitor or filter the internet."
Resources:
Matthew 15:10-28
Recorded podcast with Sarah Zylstra Scrolling Alone: How Instagram Is Making a Generation of Girls Lonely, Anxious, and Sad
Please see also our resources tab for Rooted articles on technology and social media.
Is It Time for a Phone? Practical Guidance for Parents of New Smartphone Users
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Join Cameron and Anna for this fascinating interview with Jim Davis and Michael Graham, authors of The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? According to the research commissioned by Davis and Graham, 40 million people have left the American church in the last several decades. Americans are most vulnerable to dechurching between the ages of 13-30. This important new book uncovers the primary reasons why people leave the church. Parents will be particularly interested in knowing how they might influence their child's decision to dechurch.
"The American Church has tended to work best for those who fit the 'American path': marriage, then children after marriage. If you get off that path, the American church doesn't work as well for you, which is really sad because if you go back to the early church, the people church worked best for were the disenfranchised." Jim Davis
Resources:
The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? by Jim Davis and Michael Graham
The Next Generation: Forming Middle and High School Students for Lifelong Faith (As In Heaven podcast episode with Cameron Cole)
Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation by Christian Smith
God's Grace For Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches that Seek to Love them Well by Anna Meade Harris
Join us November 2-4 for Rooted 2023!
Follow us @rootedministry!
In this joint episode with Danny Kwon, host of the Rooted Youth Ministry podcast, Anna welcomes Mike McGarry, author of a newly released book for teenagers, Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith. As a veteran youth worker, father and husband, Mike is no stranger to the difficult questions kids ask. In his book, Mike answers twenty tough questions with insight, compassion, and theological integrity. In our podcast, you'll hear him discuss how to make questions welcome in your home and ministry.
"When we shame kids for asking questions, we're making it more difficult for them emotionally to ask their questions."
Resources:
Join us at Rooted 2023 to hear Mike's workshop on teaching theology to teenagers.
Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith
Teenagers Need a Safe Place to Ask Hard Questions by Anna Meade Harris
In this final episode of our three-part series, Cameron and Anna focus on what it looks like to parent out of the grace of Jesus. Almost as soon as our babies are born, parents discover that our best efforts are not enough, our sin trips us up continually, and we often don't have a clue if we have done well or made things worse for our children. Into this difficult place come the immeasurable riches of God's grace towards us in Christ Jesus.
"The law is positive, in that it shows us our sin and our need for grace, but it doesn't transform us."
References:
Titus 2: 11-14
Ephesians 2: 4-7
Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington
Join us for Rooted 2023 in Franklin TN and take advantage of the 1-day parent pass!
Cameron and Anna take a pause in the summertime to review what it means to parent out of the rest of the gospel, the wisdom of Scripture, and the grace of Jesus. In this second episode of a three-part series, they examine what it looks like for parents to let the wisdom of Scripture guide their decision-making.
"The Holy Spirit of God is stronger than both the internal and the external pressures that we parents are facing."
Resources:
Join us in Franklin, TN for the 2023 Rooted Conference November 2-4; take advantage of the special one day parent pass for Saturday!
Romans 8:3-9a
Psalm 19:7-12
Cameron and Anna take a pause in the summertime to review what it means to parent out of the rest of the gospel, the wisdom of Scripture, and the grace of Jesus. In this first episode of a three-part series, they examine the gospel and what it looks like for parents to rest in the finished work of Christ even as we do the hard work of parenting. Rather than trying to justify ourselves either through our good parenting or the success of our children, parents have peace with God through Christ.
Join us in Franklin, TN, November 4 for a morning of parent workshops; check out our special one-day ticket for parents!
References:
Romans 5:1-5, 3:21-26
Hebrews 4:11
Rooted Parent podcast Fear Factor season
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Anna talks with Jared Kennedy, husband and father of three daughters. Jared works as an editor with The Gospel Coalition and is the founder of The Gospel-Centered Family. Jared shares what he believes a gospel-centered family looks like- and it's a combination of dedicated family time, chickens, prayer requests, and lots of ice cream, among other things. You won't want to miss this joyful, encouraging episode!
Resources:
If you'd like to hear more from Jared, please join us for the Rooted conference in Nashville, November 2-4.
Psalm 78: 1-8
Gospel-Centered Family
Oklahoma Girls' Softball Press Conference
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, we share an interview from our sister podcast, Ask Alice.
Alice Churnock interviews author and mental health counselor, Liz Edrington on her 31-day teen devotional: Anxiety: Finding the Better Story. Listen in as these two experts in teenage anxiety discuss common misconceptions of anxiety, how to spot patterns of anxious behavior in your child, and how to walk with a child or teenager who is struggling with anxiety. Using her own story with anxiety, Liz invites us to consider how Jesus invites both us and our children into wholeness in the face of anxiety.
Resources:
Order Anxiety: Finding the Better Storyby Liz Edrington today!
Subscribe to Ask Alice and check out all the other Rooted podcasts!
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram!
Check out our YouTube Channel!
For parents who dread the hormones, changes, and challenges of the teen years: you will find so much comfort and hope in our interview with author and counselor Kristen Hatton. Kristen is a mother of three grown children, a pastors' wife, and a counselor, and she is well acquainted with how parents anxiously anticipate what life will be like with teenagers in the house. In her newest book, Parenting Ahead: Preparing Now for the Teen Years, Hatton lays a foundation for discipleship that will help parents maintain warm and loving connection with their children, all while teaching them about the redemptive love and sacrifice of Jesus. Listen in on her conversation with Cameron and Anna and find rest in God's goodness towards us as moms and dads.
Resources:
Rooted Recommends: Parenting Ahead: Preparing Now for the Teen Years by Kristen Hatton
Kristen Hatton Author Page
In the final episode of our season "What the Bible Says About Parenting," Cameron and Anna take a look at Salome, the mother of James and John, the sister of Mary- who happens to be Jesus' aunt. When she requests that her sons be allowed to sit at the right and left hands of Jesus in his kingdom, she seeks earthly power for her sons, she thinks it is up to manage her boys' lives, and she fails to understand the priceless position they already enjoy as believers in Jesus.
Resources:
Matthew 20: 20-28
What’s Driving Our Lawnmower Parenting? by Kristen Hatton
Our Kids Don’t Win When We Fight their Battles for Them by Kristen Hatton
Dads, Daughters, and a Willingness to Learn and Grow by Gordon Bals
Hope Amidst College Admissions Insanity by Cameron Cole
Join us at Rooted 2023 in Nashville; special discount day for parents!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna take a look at Mary and Joseph's "Home Alone" moment. When they accidentally leave Jesus behind at the temple for four days, Mary and Joseph weren't at the peak of their parenting skills. But no human parent is perfect, and God's grace covers our shortcomings as our children learn to walk out his best for their lives.
Resources:
Luke 2:41-52
Grace for the Non-Supermom by Jenny Lisa
Talk to Your Kids about Failure – and Share Stories from Your Life by Kari Kampakis
This week Cameron and Anna examine the annunciation, the moment in Scripture when the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear God's child. Mary's idea of what marriage and family would look like did not meet whatever expectations she might have had. Parents have much to learn from how God helped Mary cope with the gap between what she had hoped for, and the painful reality of being the mother of the Savior of the world.
Resources:
Luke 1:26-38
Rooted Podcast: Julie Sparkman on When A Good Desire Becomes a False God
Rooted Podcast: Julie Sparkman on Our Good Design for Desire
Looking at two different father-son relationships in the Bible (Saul & Jonathan, and Hezekiah & Manasseh,) Cameron and Anna unpack the comforting truth that parents are not ultimately responsible for how their children turn out. Thankfully, God is. Saul was a faithless, unrighteous king, but his son Jonathan was a humble, loving, loyal son and friend. Hezekiah was a good king, banishing idolatry from Judah but his son wicked Manasseh indulged in every sort of evil. Although we know that parenting impacts children in profound ways, parents cannot control how their children respond to that parenting. Parents can rest in the sovereignty of God and his goodness towards our children.
Resources:
Have I Failed My Children? by Amy Medina
Join us for the Rooted Conference in Nashville November 2-4!
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In an episode youth pastors and parents will not want to miss, Cameron interviews Christian writer and apologist Alisa Childers about why biblical truth matters so much as we disciple our kids. Their conversation covers, among many things, the linguistic theft of words like "love" and "tolerance"; cultural lies like YOLO and "God just wants you to be happy"; and the importance of teaching kids to suffer in light of the Cross. Alisa also shares two important pieces of advice for parents, and two for youth pastors.
Christian recording artist, writer, wife, mom, and lifelong follower of Jesus, Alisa Childers has written two excellent books on apologetics: Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity and Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed.
Resources:
On Rooted: Answering Our Teenagers’ Hard Questions About Culture
Rooted Recommends: 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity
Youth Pastor, Your Students Need Apologetics by Bradley Blaylock
Our Resource Page for Apologetics
Also referenced:
The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Christian Orthodoxy by C. Fitzsimmons Allison
Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies by Hilary Morgan Ferrer
Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast
Follow @therootedministry on Instagram
Sign up to join us for our 2023 conference in Nashville, TN!
In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna discuss the pitfalls of permissive parenting. Despite best intentions, sometimes parents fall into the trap of pleasing their kids rather than wisely frustrating their whims and desires. The tale of the priest Eli and his sons, contrasted with the story of Hannah and Samuel, helps us to see how permissive parenting can truly contribute to our kids' ruin, while choosing to serve God in our parenting can lead our kids to a fruitful adulthood. Certainly, children become adults and make their own choices. At some point parents are not responsible for their kids' behavior, be it "worthless" or wise, but bringing our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is a much more loving path for parents to choose.
References:
1 Samuel chapters 1-3
Matthew 10:34-39
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Looking at the example of Jesse and his sons, Cameron and Anna discuss how parents can focus on outward appearances and overlook a child's heart. Parents must learn to resist labeling children, to ask God for help seeing our children clearly, and to focus on developing godly character rather than outward appearances.
References:
1 Samuel 16
Looking at Genesis 37, Cameron and Anna discuss the pain that favoritism causes in families. When parents demonstrate partiality, everyone suffers. By God's grace, we can learn to treat all our children with equity and love.
Resources:
Ask Alice: The Impact of Birth Order and Family Roles on Sibling Dynamics
Summertime Blues: Sibling Love – Or Lack Thereof by Katie Polski
Sanctification By Sibling: Seven Encouragements for the Parents Who Love Them by Anna Meade Harris
A Gospel Vision for Helping Students Love Their Siblings by Chelsea Kingston Erickson
The Five Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman
Ephesians 4:32- 33
Most parents would like to think we would never use our children to serve our own agendas, but the temptation to manipulate our children to get what we want is more subtle than it might appear. In this episode of the podcast, Cameron and Anna examine the shocking example of Laban, who tricks Jacob into marrying both of his daughters. Upon closer examination, every person in the story is using the others to fulfill their own needs and wants, though some are more sinned against than sinning. The end result is complete dysfunction that divides a father from his daughters, alienates two sisters who need each other, and traps Jacob in two contentious marriages. What does this have to do with our contemporary families? Parents have a lot to learn from this unfortunate family.
Looking at one of the most difficult and ultimately beautiful passages in the Bible, Cameron and Anna discuss the freedom parents will experience when they remember their children belong to the Lord. In this light, children become gifts and parents let go of anxious ownership. Knowing the grace of God given to us through Jesus enables a parent to surrender control and trust God to fulfill his purposes for our children.
References
Genesis chapter 22
In this special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Cameron and Anna welcome renowned researcher Dr. Kara Powell. As the Director of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Seminary, Dr. Powell has spent her career studying the spiritual lives of American teenagers. She shares their findings from the past twenty years (first shared in her seminal 2011 work, Sticky Faith), and then talks about how parents can apply the research to discipling their teenagers. Knowing that teenagers are searching for identity, belonging, and purpose helps parents understand how offering their children the gospel meets all of these needs. Dr. Powell also shares practical ideas for how to engage kids in hard conversations- and how to actually have the conversations that answer the questions kids are asking. You won't want to miss this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast!
Resources:
Fuller Youth Institute
Dr. Kara Powell
Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making the Most of Your Conversations and Connections by Kara Powell
Three Big Questions That Shape Every Teenage, A 60-Day Exploration of Who You Were Made to Beby Kara Powell, Kristal Acevedo, and Brad M Griffin
Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith Into Your Kids by Kara Powell and Chap Clark
Making Sure Kids Know the Gospel: A Gospel Catechism for Teenagers by Cameron Cole
Ask Alice: How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen; How to Listen So Your Kids Will Talk
Teenagers Need A Safe Place to Ask Hard Questions by Anna Meade Harris
One of the greatest challenges for a Christian parent is striking the balance between being a wise authority and being a humble servant in the lives of their children. Parents must discipline effectively, training children to obey, while at the same time they must meet their children's needs with timely warmth and affection. Most of us tend to err toward one or the other, preferring to command respect ("because I said so") or to orient family life around keeping their children happy (often out of that parent's need to be loved).
In this episode, Cameron and Anna discuss the radical nature of the Christian household code found in Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 (see also 1 Peter 2). In these letters, Paul demonstrates how the Christian exercises authority- that is to say, they follow the servant leader example of Christ. As parents learn to hold the roles of leader and servant in tension, they avoid "provoking" their children to anger and discouragement and raise young women and men who will walk in obedience to God and love for others.
References
Ephesians 5-6:1-4
Colossians 3
Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord by Rebecca McLaughlin
In this special episode, Cameron interviews Amanda Smith about how a parent can respond with love and compassion when their teenager comes out as LGBTQ. She reminds parents how much courage, fear, and pain their teenager may have already experienced before this conversation, and she urges parents to affirm their love and care for their child, who may fear rejection. Parents should also be aware of their own fear and pain in these moments, and they need to find those who will care well for them as they come to terms with their child's revelation. She invites parents to hold to a biblical view of sexuality while maintaining warm and affectionate relationship with their LGBTQ child. Amanda and Cameron suggest that parents can affirm teenagers by reminding them that they are made in the image of God, and their true and lasting identity is found in Christ alone. Parents can rest, understanding that God is their teenager's eternal loving faithful and perfect Father.
Episode Notes
Amanda Smith is Care Minister at Redeemer Kansas City in Kansas City MO. She specializes in caring for people who experience sexual and relational brokenness.
This week on the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna dive into the book of Proverbs. Noting that wisdom literature offers principles, not promises, they demonstrate that the foundational principle that guides the entire book is found in Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This is good news for parents because our hope is not in ourselves, but in the Lord. Our hosts examine the general themes of discipline, authority, modeling, correction, and character. Loving and delighting in our children means that we will discipline them- not necessarily sparing them from "pain" or confrontation.
Other resources:
Fear Factor in Parenting: Taking Refuge in the Fear of the Lord
Fear Factor in Parenting: Fear of the Teenage Years with Paul David Tripp
Don’t Be Afraid of the Teen Years with Paul David Tripp
We are thrilled to welcome you to the first installment of our newest Rooted Parent Podcast season: What the Bible Says About Parenting. The Bible is not about us, but it is for us. God's Word is an invitation to relationship with him, given to us that we may know who he is. As God disciples parents, parents in turn disciple their children to know God. So as we examine what the Word has to say to parents, we remember that while there's not a lot of explicit instruction to moms and dads, Scripture contains many principles that we can derive from letting our Father show us who he is.
Cameron and Anna examine the Genesis narrative and the famous Shema passage in Deuteronomy, as both of these passages demonstrate how God intends for discipleship to happen in warm, loving, intimate relationship.
Episode Notes:
Genesis 1:26-28
Genesis 2 selected
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
The End of Youth Ministry: Why Parents Don't Really Care About Youth Groups and What Parents Should Do About It by Andrew Root
The Hurried Child by Davis Elkind
Our guest today on the Rooted Parent Podcast is Evan Barber of Axis, a ministry that creates resources to "bridge the gap" between parents and teens. Axis creates content for parents that explains trends and fads in pop culture, along with issues of "mental health, relationships, social media, and spiritual formation." Cameron and Anna ask Evan to explain a little bit about what makes Gen Z different from past generations, and what parents can do to overcome some of the communication challenges between parents and children. Evan gives some practical advice, particularly about how to avoid shutting down the conversation when differing opinions arise. Best of all, Evan shares with us what aspects of the gospel will resonate most deeply with today's teenagers, and how parents can demonstrate living in the tension between the now and the not yet of God's kingdom.
Resources:
Axis.org: "Connecting Parents, Teens, and Jesus in a Disconnected World.
for the Culture Translator newsletter, subscribe here
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-14
Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation by Christian Smith
3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager: Making the Most of Your Conversations and Connections by Kara Powell
Further Resources on Rooted:
Fear Factor in Parenting: Fear of the Culture with Collin Hansen
How to Engage Culture with Your Students and Kids by Seth Stewart
What Youth Pastors Would Like to Tell Parents: The Culture is More Hostile Than You Think by Taylor Mendoza
Utilizing Youth Culture Series: Part One and Part Two by Mark Howard
How to Engage Culture with Your Kids - podcast with Seth Stewart
In this special episode of the podcast, Cameron and Anna have the pleasure of speaking with Rooted writer Clarissa Moll, whose new book Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving After Loss is a wonderfully helpful guide for families in grief. After her husband Rob's death in a hiking accident, Clarissa has parented their four children, shouldering their grief as well as her own.
Topics they discuss include:
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how children grieve differently than adults
-
what "re-grieving" looks like
-
going back to church after a death or major loss
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how their youth pastor helped her kids
-
flourishing after loss
Links mentioned:
Surprised by Grief podcast, Christianity Today
"Parenting Grieving Kids Through the Winter Doldrums"
"4 Ways Churches Can Help Grieving Children"
Therefore I Have Hope, a Video Devotion Series with Cameron Cole
Nashville-based counselor David Thomas is no stranger to the Rooted Parent Podcast: he hosted the entire first season, All About Boys. For this special episode, David is back, sharing with us about his newest book, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life. For anyone who raises or mentors boys, David offers excellent insight on several important topics. To name a few:
-
teaching the three R's: recognize, regulate, repair
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helping boys manage and channel the physicality of their emotions
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the trap of numbing emotions, particularly through gaming and social media
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how to help a boy who's "stuck"
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teaching boys to regulate their own emotions, rather than "anchoring" with an adult
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the comfort and hope parents can find in praying the Serenity Prayer
In this episode of the Rooted Parent podcast, Anna interviews author Christina Fox about her newest book, Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for Our Parenting. They discuss how Christina came to recognize that her best guide in parenting her sons was the way that God parents all of us, and how God's fatherhood helps her in her anxiety as a mom. They also go in-depth discussing boundaries and discipline with kids, and how the fear of the Lord transforms our fear of everything else. Finally, Christina ends with a word of grace for parents. Listen- and be encouraged- as she relates gardening to God to parenting our children.
Rooted review of Like Our Father
Rooted review of A Holy Fear
Rooted Review of Sufficient Hope
Christina's Rooted author page
Cameron and Anna were so excited to record this episode with our friend, licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock, who also happens to be the host of Ask Alice, a part of the Rooted family of podcasts. We were glad to be with her not just because we love her, but because she is seasoned counselor who can speak to the trends in teen mental health while also offering us the comfort and encouragement of the gospel. Alice shares that since Covid, teenagers are profoundly disappointed and scared to hope, and we can minister to them most profoundly when we teach them to lament their sadness and loss and teach them to hope in the goodness of Jesus.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel Siegel
In the season finale of the Fear Factor, Cameron and Anna highlight some of the most valuable insights and tools we gleaned from our conversations about parenting and fear. Remembering always that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” we find that learning to trust God with our children protects us from being motivated by fear as we lead our families. Hear some of our favorite moments on the podcast and stay tuned till the end to hear what’s ahead for the Rooted Parent podcast next season!
Fear Factor Episodes
Good Fear (of the Lord) vs. Bad Fear (of Everything Else)
Fear of Judgment
Facing Threats Against Our Children
Taking Refuge in the Fear of the Lord
The Fear of Shortchanging Our Kids
The Fear of Becoming Like Your Parents
Facing the FOMO
We Dread Seeing Our Children Suffer, with Tish Harrison Warren
Fear of the Culture with Collin Hansen
Fear of Talking with Our Children About Race with Dr. Michelle Reyes
Fear of the Teenage Years with Paul David Tripp
Joshua Chapter One, Psalm 34, Proverbs 9:10
Paul Tripp's name is synonymous with wise Christian parenting practices, and his book Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens is one of the most hopeful, practical resources available today.
Our culture tends to see teenagers as problematic: hormones, inexperience, and expanding freedom create a potentially combustible mix in a young person's life, and parents can only hope that they, and their children, can survive the teenage years with a measure of sanity intact. Or so the narrative goes.
Paul Tripp pushed back against this notion, arguing that the teen years are in fact a marvelous opportunity for us to peer into our children's hearts -- and our own. The sovereignty of God and His gracious gospel are more than powerful enough to meet the needs of parents and kids during this exciting time of growth into adulthood.
Cameron and Anna interview Paul Tripp in this special episode of the Rooted Parent podcast. You will especially want to hear Tripp remind us that biology is not destiny, and that the power that raised Christ from the dead is strong enough to enable parents to respond wisely to lively teenagers. You'll especially want to hear Tripp's five questions that will help you apply the gospel to your child's heart. Be encouraged as Tripp reminds us that we serve a practical God, and the truth of his gospel has helpful, practical applications as we seek to raise children who will glorify God and serve him with gladness.
When Your Kids Won’t Bow Down to Your Idols by Jennifer Phillips
Four Signs I Have Made My Child My Idol by Anna Meade Harris
Four Plumblines to Parent With Grace by Seth Stewart
Law and Gospel in Youth Ministry with David Zahl: Rooted 2020 Conference Workshop (excellent podcast for parents, too)
In this important episode, Cameron and Anna talk with Michelle Reyes about the excellent new book she coauthored with Helen Lee: The Race-Wise Family: Ten Postures to Becoming Households of Healing Hope. The authors write: "When we are talking about an area as complex and challenging as race, our underlying inclinations combined with our uncertainties and hesitations often result in inertia, ignorance, and apathy, even for the most well-intentioned Christians" (123). Reyes discusses how being race-wise stems from a right fear of the Lord. She also shares the particular fears of Black and Brown- skinned parents, and why they chose the word "postures" for the practices they advocate in the book. Michelle challenges us to see the vision Scripture casts for us: "... behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9), a vision where race and ethnicity are not erased but united in worship of our common, diversity-loving Creator. She encourages us that posturing our families to move toward that heavenly vision is what we mean when we pray "your kingdom come, your will be done," and this is the very heart of God for all his people.
Show Notes:
Fear Factor: When Our Asian American Children Face Racism with Owen Lee, Tracy Yi and Kevin Yi
Thanos to Theos Episode 25: Eternally Conflicted
The Jesus I Wish I Knew In High School
Rooted Recommends: Becoming All Things
Learning Together: An Asian American Perspective On Racial Justice and Reconciliation
Prayers for Our Asian American Friends
Black History Month Resources from Dorena Williamson
Top Ten for Youth Workers and Parents: Racial Justice Resources
Show notes:
John 17:11-14
"We Should Talk About Disney," by Trevin Wax, TGC
"Why Are All the Kids Reading Dystopian? And How the Gospel Gives Us a Better Story to Tell" by Chelsea Erickson, Rooted
"How Parents Can Use Brett McCracken's Wisdom Pyramid," by Anna Meade Harris
"Rooted Recommends: 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity"
"Good News for Teenagers" recurring feature on Rooted
Tish Harrison Warren expands on thoughts from her most recent book Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep, especially the prayer of parents who long for God to "shield the joyous" and protect their kids in their suffering.
Warren is also the author of Christianity Today's 2018 book of the year Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. An Anglican priest, wife. and mother of three, Warren writes a weekly newsletter for The New York Times.
Owen Lee is the senior pastor at Christ Central Presbyterian in Centreville, VA. He and his wife Margaret have three teenage and young adult children.
Tracy and Kevin Yi serve and work at Church Everyday in Northridge CA, where both wear numerous official and unofficial hats. They have three young children.
Resources from Shelby:
DoubtLess: Because Faith Is Hard
Pressure Points: A Guide to Navigating Student Stress
Please check out Shelby's website for more resources and a link to his brand-new monthly podcast with Paul David Tripp, The Connecting Podcast.
Resources:
1 Corinthians 2:9
Ephesians 2:11-22
Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp (re-release coming in 2022)
Oftentimes adults will look back on the way they were raised with a critical eye, telling themselves “I would never relate to my kids the way my mom or dad related to me”—but we can fall into the trap of calling that wisdom, rather than recognizing the fear (and self-righteousness) that lurks under that perspective. Certainly our relationships with our parents can be very complicated and we can learn from their mistakes, but we will make mistakes of our own if we allow ourselves to be driven by fear instead of led by the Holy Spirit. In this episode Cameron and Anna discuss ways to recognize when we are parenting in reaction to our own upbringing, and how to respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we disciple our own families.
"Family" – a sermon by Tim Keller
Scripture:
Matthew 20: 20-28 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020%3A20-28&version=NIV)
Luke 18:9-14 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+18%3A9-14&version=NIV)
Resources:
The Attributes of God by AW Tozer
Trusting In the Names of God: Drawing Strength From Knowing Who He Is by Catherine Martin
A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Ed Welch
Psalm 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.”
Psalm 121
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
Isaiah 51:7 "Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed by their reviling."
Find more resources for parents on Susan's website, SusanAlexanderYates.com. Susan also blogs here weekly under the theme "Wisdom for Every Season."
Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope
Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us
Resources:
The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School (edited by Cameron Cole and Charlotte Getz)
A Habit Called Faith: 40 Days in the Bible to Find and Follow Jesus (Jen Pollock Michel)
Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of "And" in an Either-Or-World (Jen Pollock Michel)
Teach Us to Want: Longing, Ambition and the Life of Faith (Jen Pollock Michel)
Resources from Susan:
Character Matters: Raising Kids With Values That Last (co-authored with her husband, pastor John Yates)
And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens
31 Days of Prayer for My Teen: A Parent’s Guide
Resources referenced:
A Habit Called Faith: 40 Days in the Bible to Find and Follow Jesus by Jen Pollock Michel
The Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken (see our review, our guidelines for using with your families, and the Rooted Youth Ministry podcast with McCracken)
The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
Please see also these resources on Rooted:
Rooted Recommends: A Habit Called Faith
You’ll want to check out Michel’s other work as well. Her first book, Teach Us To Want: Longing, Ambition, and the Life of Faith, won Christianity Today’s Book of the Year in 2015. Keeping Place; Reflections On the Meaning Of Home and Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of “And” in an Either-Or World are equally rich and insightful. She has twice been a guest on the Rooted podcast, speaking about shepherding students through paradoxes of faith and about helping students lean into faith during difficult times.
John 11:1-44
2 Cor. 1:3-7
Other podcasts on Gospel Attitude:
How the Gospel Leads Parents and Kids to Gratitude
How the Gospel Leads Parents and Kids to Humility
Gospel Identity Catechism for Teenagers:
Who does the Spirit say you are? One who is washed and clean
Who does Jesus say you are? One who is forgiven and righteous
Who does the Father say you are? One who is an adopted child of God
Who are you? A sinner saved by grace
More Rooted Articles:
Let Them See You Sweat: Humbling Yourself in Front of Your Kids by Anna Meade Harris
Parenting from Proverbs by Ben Beswick
Book Recommendation:
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World
Click here to order a Parenting with Patience workbook. For listeners, Chap Bettis is offering the limited-time opportunity to access Parenting with Patience videos for free! Here are instructions for accessing the videos:
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See more from the Rooted Parent Podcast
View all Rooted's podcasts here!
Transition of Elliot Page
Please see also these resources on Rooted:
Pastoring With Truth in Love to Transgender Teens by Seth Stewart
Two Resources for Ministering to Students with Gender Dysphoria by Mike McGarry
Preparing Christian Children For the Transgender Moment by Cameron Cole
More from Rooted Parent Podcast:
Rooted Parent Podcast: Talking to Your Kids About Loving Their Enemies
Rooted Parent Podcast: Parents, Turn Off the News (Responsibly)
Find all Rooted Ministry Podcasts Here!
More from Cameron:
Ministry to Young Women Is Not A "Check Your Brains at the Door" Endeavor
Matthew 5:43-48
Conflict Without Casualties: A Field Guide to Compassionate Accountability by Nate Regier
Please see also these resources on Rooted:
Three Political Truths I Want My Kids to Know by Mark Howard
The God Who Loves His Enemies by Anna Meade Harris
2020 Political Principles for Teenagers by Luke Paiva
Youth Ministers as a Bridge Between Parents and Children by Mark Culton
Sibling Rivalry: The Poisonous Tie That Binds
by Tracey Rector
Romans 12:1-2
How 2020 Is Taking a Toll On Your Soul by Alan Shlemon
Please see also these resources on Rooted:
Parents, Just Turn Off the News (Responsibly)
by Cameron Cole
Psalm 137
Cole references Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie's work with parents in grief. Here is her excellent workshop from the Rooted 2018 conference: Nancy Guthrie on What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps and What Really Hurts
Additionally, Cameron Cole has written a book about God's faithfulness in the loss of his son: Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy.
Please see also these resources on Rooted:
Helping Our Kids Through Grief and Disappointment Caused by COVID-19 by Kristen Hatton
ASK Rooted: How Do You Minister to a Student Whose Loved One Is Sick Or Has Died?
Don't Hurry the Hurt by Kristen Hatton
The Lost Season: Helping Student Athletes Thrive During COVID by Arek O'Connell
Rooted Podcast: Helping Kids Deal With Grief
In this episode of All About Boys, David takes questions. He answers questions ranging from how to help boys choose friends wisely to helping boys navigate fear and anxiety. He discusses what to do when kids question their identity and how to help boys develop more empathy. He also previews some exciting news about Season 2.
In past episodes, we’ve focused our attention on a boy’s relationships with his mom and dad, and also with his friends. This episode looks at a boy’s relationships with girls - how he relates to the opposite sex, whether in friendship or in the context of dating.
We’ll take a look at unique differences in boys and girls with four important social milestones, as well as some areas of struggle and support. We’ll discuss how to determine when a boy is ready to date and how to offer coaching for his relationships with the girls in his life.
In this episode, David talks about The Mind of Boys and how they learn. He discusses the role of the brain, barriers to learning and ideas for supporting boys as students. He discusses the five ways boys learn, and five ideas parents and educators could implement easily to allow boys to feel more competent and capable in any learning environment, and while doing homework.
David references the first episode of All About Boys, which outlines the five stages of development for boys. You can access that episode at the following link: https://www.rootedministry.com/podcast/all-about-boys-with-dave-thomas-episode-one/
For "Young, Underemployed, and Optimistic," see https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/02/09/young-underemployed-and-optimistic/
5 Guiding Principles
- Parent in Community
- Take a Training Wheels Approach to Technology
- Use Technology to Your Advantage
- Take Technology Breaks
- Create a Contract
Recommended Resources
- Modern Parents, Vintage Values: Instilling Character in Today's Kids by Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan
- AAP Family Media Plan Calculator
- The Healthy Mind Platter
Sponsored by: Kairos Greek
Recommended Resources:
- Are My Kids on Track?: The 12 Emotional, Social and Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach
- The Mask You Live In
This Episode is Sonsored by: Biola University
Recommended Resources
- Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys
Recommended Resources
- Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys
Also check out: Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James and David Thomas
The Five stages of Male Development:
the Explorer
the Lover
the Individual
the Wanderer
the Warrior
Also check out: Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James and David Thomas