Tuning the Bow

A lot of people have ideas of faithfulness and gentleness in their minds, but do they line up with the biblical principles? In the penultimate section of our study of the fruit of the Spirit, Matt and Tim talk about what it means to be trustworthy and treat people with dignity. Loving your family leads to treating them with dignity. No matter how un-gentle your actions may seem at first, demonstrating a biblical life shows your kids what they must do to achieve the same. Passage – Galatians 5...

03-25

35:00

There is a difference between being nice and being kind as well as a difference between being just and being good. A lot of people conflate the terms and create confusion, so in this episode, Tim and Matt want to give examples of the differences between each term and why they are beneficial to biblical parenting. Let God's love influence your kindness, and let that kindness influence your goodness. Passages – Luke 15:11-31; Galatians 5:19-26 Message us through Buzzsprout here!

03-18

36:44

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

03-11

34:43

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

03-04

35:02

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

02-25

30:11

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

02-18

35:08

The Bible is pretty clear on what God wants believers to know, but there are some things that can get a little confusing. What is intercessory prayer? Who does it? How do I pray for others? In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about what it means for parents to intercede for their kids and why these prayers are important. Our praying should never decrease, but we change the way we pray as our kids get older. No matter what, we should constantly be in prayer for our family, friends, leaders, and...

02-12

34:03

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

02-04

40:29

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

01-29

45:31

Censorship is a hot topic in the political realm, but it is not always bad. What does it mean for parents to censor things for their kids? In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about this question and how it is played out in the way we approach entertainment. Books, movies, YouTube videos, and more might contain adult themes parents are not aware of, so there should be plenty of research done in order to make sure children know the ways of God before they are confronted with the realities of a f...

01-21

33:33

…but not everything is beneficial. There are things that may be legal and moral-ish, but that does not mean they are good for the believer. In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about some of these things and what the Bible says about dealing with things that may not be beneficial to the believer. Parents must be careful that they worship God throughout the week so that they may live in a way that brings Him praise, glory, and honor. Passages – Romans 7:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:12-17; Philippians...

01-14

40:25

How does God work? Does He only use big moments to create incredible situations and miracles? Or does He use the faithfulness of those who trust and obey Him? In this episode, Tim recounts a story of an act of faithfulness that changed the course of his family, showing that God can use anyone to accomplish His will. Little acts of faithfulness lead to big moments of power. Parents must play the long game in praying for their families, even if it takes fifteen years and beyond. Passage – Phil...

01-07

32:14

Things can be going smoothly for a time, and then everything seems to crumble and fall. In these times, we must remember how great God is and how much we need to continue to rely on Him. In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about Bible study that stalls and feels like there is no progression or learning. Your faith is not dependent on your performance, and your parenting must be grounded in the fact that God is working all situations for His glory and your good. Passage – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ...

12-31

31:37

Part 2 is here for you! In this episode, Matt and Tim talk about the Bible study resources they use and recommend to you. SPOILER, get a study Bible. Though commentaries are important and can benefit you greatly, prayerfully working through Scripture through the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit will get you the knowledge to obey God's commands. Obedience, not complete knowledge, is the expectation of the believer. Resources – The ESV Study Bible The CSB Study Bible The NET Online Bible ...

Unless you have a seminary education to some degree, you have mostly been left on your own to figure out how to study the Bible. Sadly, many churches do not give classes or examples of how this is done. In this episode, Tim and Matt bring their seminary-educated minds together to give the first of a few episodes focused on giving parents the basics they need to begin their journey in studying the Bible for themselves. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, every believer has what they need to ...