Sparking Everyday Discipleship

Terrie Hellard-Brown

A Podcast about Discipleship in the 21st Century providing tools for Everyday Discipleship Every Day

  1. Oct 16

    What to Do When Your Child Doubts God (and You Don't Know the Answer) with Elizabeth Urbanowicz

    Questions Aren't the Opposite of Faith: Preparing Kids for the Questions They'll Face Our kids are hearing hard questions about God, the Bible, and faith from friends, influencers, and the internet. Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, returns to talk about how to make home the safest place to ask them. She and Terrie discuss what to do when your child doubts, when you don't know the answer, and when someone has twisted Scripture to hurt them. In this episode: Welcome questions: The opposite of faith is unbelief, not questions. Affirm the question before you answer it. When you don't know the answer: Faking an answer trains kids to trust blindly, and that trust eventually moves to a peer, an influencer, or a professor. Instead, research the answer together and teach your kids how to judge whether a source is reliable, including asking AI tools to cite their sources. When your child doubts God exists: Doubt can be an invitation to discover whether what they believe is true. Ask questions first to find the root of the doubt. An intellectual objection calls for evidence. A painful experience calls for comfort first. When a friend walks away from faith: Help your kids come up with good questions that uncover why the friend left. The listening ball activity: A simple game that teaches kids to ask questions and repeat back what they heard before they respond. When Scripture has been twisted: Teach kids the whole story of the Bible, how to read a passage in context, and the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages. Remind them that God takes it seriously when shepherds harm His sheep. Literal or symbolic? Using John 6 as the example, Elizabeth explains how genre, context, and the resurrection help kids interpret hard passages. Moving past "the Jesus answer": When kids default to "Jesus," ask them to explain why. Timestamps 00:11 Welcome 01:54 New Foundation Worldview resources for kids 02:44 Preparing kids for the questions they'll face 03:19 Making your home a place that welcomes questions 06:12 What if I don't know the answer? 08:30 When your child starts doubting God 11:13 Finding the root cause of doubt 14:43 When a friend walks away from faith 18:06 The listening ball activity 20:57 When kids have been taught twisted Scripture 25:54 When church hurt affects your kids 29:55 John 6: Is it literal or symbolic? 33:42 Why Jesus used shocking language 36:00 How a doctoral assignment turned into a family Bible study 37:55 Moving kids past "the Jesus answer" 40:51 Closing Resources mentioned Foundation Worldview: apologetics and biblical worldview curriculum for kids, plus parent training. foundationworldview.com. Use code SPARK10 for 10% off. Coming soon from Foundation Worldview: Trusting the Bible (ages 8–12) and Bearing God's Image (ages 4–7, working title) GotQuestions.org: answers to Bible questions, footnoted with Scripture We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment or question below. Sparking Everyday Discipleship is sponsored by Hypurpley Publishing, bridging the gap between Sunday school lessons and Monday morning life.

    What to Do When Your Child Doubts God (and You Don't Know the Answer) with Elizabeth Urbanowicz
  2. Oct 8

    When Should You Talk to Your Kids About Sex? (Earlier Than You Think) with John Fort

    Don't Stress Talking Sex: Starting Honest, Healthy Conversations with Your Kids Most of us dread "the talk." John Fort didn't want to have it either. But after his own childhood exposure to pornography, with parents who never addressed it, he knew his kids wouldn't stand a chance if he stayed silent. Decades of ministry later, Focus on the Family asked him to write the book. In this episode, John and Terrie talk about why these conversations are part of discipling our kids, how early to start, and what to do when your child has already been exposed. He also covers how your own messy past can become your most powerful teaching tool. In this episode: When to start: "Two years before you think you should." John walks through Scripture's example of reading the whole law, including its sexual content, to "all the little ones," and gives age guidelines. Body parts and respect come at ages 3–6, how sex works at 8–9, and the reproductive system at 10–11. Preparing kids for exposure: By age 8, kids need to know they will encounter sexual content, what to do when it happens, and that they won't be in trouble for telling you. Arousal, temptation, and sin: A simple framework that helped John's son understand that a bodily reaction isn't sin, and that this understanding makes walking away easier. Processing exposure without lecturing: What did you see? How did it happen? How did it make you feel? How can we prevent it? Then pray together. When your child has sought out pornography: Start with "I'm so glad you told me," and share your own story first. Parents with a past: The number one reason Christian parents avoid this conversation is fear their kids will learn about their past. John explains why your story is the bridge. Neurodivergent kids: Why online content can feel safer than real social interaction, and how to build positive social experiences. Kids with intellectual disabilities: Lower impulse control means greater protection is needed. Timestamps 00:12 Welcome 01:11 Meet John Fort and the backstory behind the book 04:53 When should you start talking about sex? 06:52 Respecting our bodies and moving beyond purity culture 10:36 Preparing kids for exposure 12:17 Arousal vs. temptation vs. sin 14:43 How to help kids process exposure 15:39 When your child has sought out pornography 20:03 What if you messed up when you were young? 22:32 Neurodivergent kids and online compulsions 27:18 Kids with intellectual disabilities 28:24 John's books 29:35 Closing thought: these conversations draw you closer 30:13 New homeschool teen writing class Resources mentioned Don't Stress Talking Sex by John W. Fort: [Amazon link] John's other books, including his identity book and the Elias Turner series: [Amazon author page] Homeschool teen writing and publishing class: three semesters on Zoom, from first idea to published book, limited to 10 students per class. [Link] We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment or question below. Sparking Everyday Discipleship is sponsored by Hypurpley Publishing, bridging the gap between Sunday school lessons and Monday morning life.

    When Should You Talk to Your Kids About Sex? (Earlier Than You Think) with John Fort
  3. Oct 2

    Is "It's Okay" Hurting Our Kids? Rethinking Forgiveness and Repentance

    What does the Bible really say about forgiveness and repentance, and how do we teach kids forgiveness that goes beyond "it's okay"? We teach children to say "it's okay" when someone hurts them, but that isn't what Scripture means by forgiveness. In this episode, Terrie uses Luke 17:3–4 and a scene from Izzy's Notebook to look at the difference between letting go of bitterness and true forgiveness. Real forgiveness isn't only for our own peace of mind. It seeks the other person's good, which sometimes means confronting an offense in love so reconciliation with us, and with God, can happen. In this episode: - Why "say it's okay" can teach children the wrong thing - Luke 17:3–4: rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness - Letting go of bitterness vs. true forgiveness - Forgiving someone who isn't safe: reconciliation without blind trust - Why we need to tell people when they've hurt us - How to start these conversations with your kids Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 0:34 Hypurpley Publishing 2:22 The One Another series and Izzy's Notebook 5:45 What is forgiveness? 8:25 Luke 17:3–4 and repentance 10:25 Letting go of bitterness vs. true forgiveness 11:17 When the person isn't safe 14:00 "You know what you did": when we don't know how we've hurt someone 17:05 Stop playing games with forgiveness 19:14 Closing Scripture referenced: Luke 17:3–4 | Hebrews 13:16 Resources mentioned: 📖 Izzy's Notebook: https://terriehellardbrown.com/shop  🃏 One Another Discipleship Deck: https://terriehellardbrown.com/shop  🎧 The podcast episode that shaped this discussion: https://youtu.be/KCdBZVVEU3I?si=MI6M1OGU2ePIPQJC  Connect with Terrie: 🌐 Blog post and comments for this episode: https://terriehellardbrown.com/blog 📚 Hypurpley Publishing: https://hypurpleypublishing.com  Have a book on your heart? Hypurpley Publishing has openings for new authors. Reach out through the website to talk about next steps. Sparking Everyday Discipleship discusses books and resources for discipling our children, encouraging and empowering parents to spark important conversations every day. #BiblicalForgiveness #ChristianParenting #EverydayDiscipleship

    Is "It's Okay" Hurting Our Kids? Rethinking Forgiveness and Repentance
  4. Sep 24

    Active Discipleship

    Summary In this episode, Terrie Hellard-Brown shares practical strategies for discipling active children, emphasizing the importance of meeting children where they are and using everyday moments for teaching. She discusses how to handle resistance, the value of teachable moments, and ways to incorporate faith into daily life.   Key Topics Adjusting discipleship to children's activity levels Using mealtime and travel as teaching moments Seizing teachable and defining moments Encouraging independence and respect in teens Handling resistance and resistance in discipleship Incorporating fun activities into faith lessons The importance of gratitude and teachability in children Balancing discipline and joy in parenting Takeaways Meet children where they are, not where you want them to be. Use everyday activities like meals and travel for discipleship. Seize teachable moments to teach when children are receptive. Help children see their unique talents as gifts from God. Balance structured lessons with spontaneous fun. Encourage respect and independence in teens. Use family activities to teach biblical principles. Maintain joy and flexibility in discipleship. Sound Bites "Seize teachable moments when children are receptive." "Respect and boundaries are vital in teen discipleship." "Let go of your plans and embrace God's timing." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Discipling Active Children 02:14 Adjusting Discipleship to Child's Activity Level 03:33 Using Daily Life as Teaching Moments 04:50 Seizing Teachable and Defining Moments 06:13 Helping Children Recognize Their Gifts 07:56 Handling Resistance During Discipleship 08:45 Adapting Lessons to Hyper Children 10:32 Talking to Resistant Children About Discipleship 12:42 Maintaining Respect and Boundaries in Teen Years 14:22 Building Siblings' Relationships for the Future 15:12 Encouraging Gratitude and Teachable Attitudes 16:45 The Importance of Being Teachable 17:38 Letting Go of Rigid Plans and Embracing Flexibility 18:30 Resources for Family Discipleship and Parenting

    Active Discipleship
  5. Sep 17

    Using Copy Work for Language Arts and Discipleship

    Summary Terrie Hellard-Brown shares practical insights on teaching language arts and writing to children, emphasizing modeling, copy work, and motor skills development to enhance learning and Scripture memory. NOTE: I misspoke about fine and gross motor skills in this episode. I recorded a correction. You can listen to that here: https://booksthatspark.libsyn.com/fine-and-gross-motor-skills-a-quick-correction Key Topics The power of modeling in teaching language arts Using copy work to teach grammar and punctuation The TPCASTT method for analyzing poetry The importance of large motor skills in writing Strategies for teaching Bible verses and memorization Addressing fine motor challenges in children Using sidewalk chalk and large paper for handwriting The role of technology and traditional methods in learning Takeaways Copy work helps children learn punctuation and sentence structure naturally. Modeling behavior is more effective than direct instruction for children. Using Word's underlining feature can aid in grammar correction. Copying poetry and Bible verses enhances memorization and understanding. Large motor skills are crucial for developing fine motor control in writing. Starting handwriting practice with sidewalk chalk can reduce fatigue. Teaching children to write from the shoulder prevents wrist fatigue. Using a progression from large to small paper helps develop handwriting skills. Incorporating analysis like TPCASTT deepens literary understanding. Encouraging outdoor and creative writing activities makes learning engaging. Sound Bites "Modeling behavior is more effective than direct instruction." "Copy work helps children learn punctuation and sentence structure naturally." "Using large motor skills prevents wrist fatigue and improves memory." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Teaching Language Arts and Copy Work 02:04 The Power of Modeling in Teaching Children 04:12 Using Word to Help with Grammar and Punctuation 05:59 The TPCASTT Method for Analyzing Poems 07:48 Incorporating Bible Verses and Memorization Strategies 10:01 Using Large Motor Skills and Outdoor Activities for Handwriting 11:52 The Benefits of Traditional Writing and Dictionary Use 14:00 Addressing Motor Challenges with Practical Tips 15:46 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Homeschoolers 17:09 Upcoming Interviews and Closing Remarks

    Using Copy Work for Language Arts and Discipleship
  6. Sep 11

    I Only Needed One Real Friend: A TCK on Belonging, Loneliness, and Discipleship

    Summary In this episode, we explore the vital role of community and friendship in children's development, especially for those growing up as third culture kids and in homeschooling environments. Annie shares her personal experiences of navigating friendships across cultures and the importance of lifelong connections. Key Topics The significance of community and friendship in child development Challenges faced by third culture kids in forming friendships The role of community in emotional and social growth Strategies for homeschooling families to build social networks Lifelong friendships and their impact on well-being The importance of community for neurodivergent children Parenting tips for fostering social skills and connections The impact of expat life on children's social experiences Takeaways Community is essential for emotional and social development. Lifelong friends often form through shared experiences and trust. Parents should actively create opportunities for children to build friendships. Homeschooling groups and activities can provide vital social interaction. Understanding and supporting neurodivergent children's social needs is crucial. Sound Bites "You are who you surround yourself with." "Traveling helps me stay connected worldwide." "Masks can come off when you're with your community." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the importance of community for children 00:14 Annalisa shares her view on friendship and community 00:39 The impact of community on emotional development 00:54 Challenges faced by expat and third culture kids 01:20 Building lifelong friendships across cultures 01:47 The role of community in homeschooling 02:05 Supporting neurodivergent children in social settings 02:29 The significance of masks and authentic community 02:37 Encouragement for parents to foster social connections 02:38 Conclusion and final thoughts on community and friendship

    I Only Needed One Real Friend: A TCK on Belonging, Loneliness, and Discipleship

Ratings & Reviews

5
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A Podcast about Discipleship in the 21st Century providing tools for Everyday Discipleship Every Day