The holidays are full of joy and wonder, but for many families they also bring busy calendars, money pressure and difficult family situations. In this episode, Garrett, Daniel and Staci talk about how parents can do more than just survive the season. They share ways to enjoy it and use it to point their kids toward Jesus.

In this episode:

• Clarify your purpose: Decide what you’re celebrating, like gratitude at Thanksgiving and Christ’s birth at Christmas. Then look for ways your traditions, even the cultural ones, can point to it. Before the calendar fills up, sit down and list the five or six things your family most wants to do this season.
• Manage expectations: Let your purpose shape your plans instead of feeling pressure to top last year. Talk with extended family early, clearly and kindly about your schedule. Setting boundaries is about protecting your own household, not pushing extended family away.
• Navigate family drama: The holidays won’t fix long-standing conflict, so make a plan ahead of time. Sometimes that means setting your frustrations aside to show up and love well. Other times it means drawing a firm line to protect your kids. Either way, let your kids see what forgiveness and reconciliation look like.

Resources

• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones: read through it in the weeks before Christmas, ending with the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve
• Need prayer or wisdom this season? Reach out to the team at FBC Boerne.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

Discipline That Draws Near

In this episode, Garrett and Daniel look at what Scripture says about disciplining our children and how to put it into practice at every age. Hebrews 12:10 says God disciplines those He loves “for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” Starting there, they make the case that discipline is an act of love that aims at the heart, not just at behavior.

In this episode:

• The purpose of discipline: Discipline is about shaping a child’s heart, not just changing their behavior, and the way parents discipline shapes how kids see God.
• Restorative discipline: A good correction ends with the relationship restored, and with toddlers that looks different than it does with teenagers.
• Clear discipline: Set expectations ahead of time, use consistent language, and know when a moment calls for consequences and when it’s a chance to show mercy.
• The parent’s heart: Check your own motives (frustration, inconvenience, embarrassment) and stay rooted in your walk with the Lord and in community. Take a pause when you need one.

Resources

• Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley: see the chapter on the practice of discipline
• Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles by Paul David Tripp: the chapters on the heart and on discipline
• Need support? Reach out to the team at FBC Boerne.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

Daniel and Teresa sit down with Amanda Farrar, a mom of three, middle school science teacher and longtime member of FBC Boerne, to talk about her book Small Talks. Amanda explains why kids learn best through connection, and why playtime is often a better place than discipline moments to share the gospel. She also walks through her simple NAP framework (Need, Action, Provision), which turns spilled milk and overdue library fines into 20-second gospel conversations. Her biggest takeaway: just play with your kids.

Resources

• Small Talks: Everyday Gospel with Everyday Play: Amanda’s book for parents ($15)
• Small Talks Activity Cards: ready-to-read gospel prompts to use during play ($15)
• Book + Activity Cards Bundle: both together ($25)
• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones: Amanda’s top pick for parents who are new to the Bible

All of Amanda’s resources are at smalltalksgospel.com.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/