We tackle the desperately needed topics of responsibility and resilience in today's anxiety-riddled youth culture, exploring how summer provides the perfect opportunity to develop these qualities in our children.

• 77% of Gen Z struggles with anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and fearing failure according to Barna research
• Scripture teaches us to persevere through hardship rather than avoid it completely
• Responsibility connects to the biblical concept of stewardship—managing what God has entrusted to us
• Start early with clear expectations and accountability—assign meaningful chores and responsibilities
• Allow natural consequences to teach cause and effect—don't always rescue children from their mistakes
• Celebrate character development (faithfulness, diligence) rather than just outcomes
• Give children heroes who endured difficulty—consider missionary biographies for summer reading
• Anchor children in their identity in Christ—resilience flows from knowing both who you are and whose you are
• Stats show today's 18-year-olds have responsibility levels comparable to 15-year-olds from previous decades
• Only 8% of parents believed their college-bound teens could make a doctor's appointment independently
• Start small by having children order their own food at restaurants—a simple step toward independence

Email us your questions or comments at podcast@waynechristian.org. Subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help other parents equip their children to stand firm in their faith and influence the world for Christ.

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

We explore the unique characteristics and challenges of Generation Alpha, those born between 2010 and the mid-2030s, and provide practical strategies for discipling these digital natives in a world of constant information and changing values.

• Gen Alpha is the first generation to grow up completely immersed in digital technology, never knowing a world without screens
• Most had their pictures posted online before they could walk or talk
• Four major forces shape this generation: digital technology, constant information access, moral fluidity, and global instability
• Despite having unlimited information, Gen Alpha needs guidance to develop wisdom
• Mental health challenges, moral confusion, and disconnection from real relationships are significant issues
• Practical discipleship tools include asking open-ended questions, setting tech boundaries, modeling resilience, cultivating wonder, and anchoring identity in Christ
• Helping children order their own food at restaurants and engage in face-to-face conversations builds essential social skills
• Raising spiritually resilient children requires consistent discipleship that counters cultural messages

Resources mentioned:
Check out Axis's "A Parent's Guide to Gen Alpha" for more practical resources and discussion starters: https://live-oak.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Axis-Parent-Guide-Gen-Alpha.pdf

The Anxious Generation by: Jonathan Haidt https://amzn.to/3GX77Yb

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

Happy Mother's Day!

Motherhood is a God-ordained calling where mothers serve as the first evangelists and Bible teachers in their children's lives. Scripture and history reveal how mothers like Timothy's mother Eunice, Susanna Wesley, and Augustine's mother Monica profoundly shaped their children's faith journeys through intentional spiritual formation.

• Mothers are disciples and disciple-makers, not just caregivers
• Timothy's sincere faith originated with his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5)
• Susanna Wesley, mother of 19, dedicated one hour weekly to each child's spiritual development
• Augustine's mother Monica prayed persistently for his salvation despite his rebellious years
• Modern moms face unique challenges with social media comparisons and unrealistic expectations
• Children spend approximately 4,000 hours annually with mothers in early years
• Faithful small moments matter more than Instagram-perfect parenting
• Dads, pastors and church leaders should actively support mothers in their spiritual leadership
• Moms are raising image-bearers who will either impact the world for Christ or be shaped by it

Share this episode with a mom who needs encouragement this Mother's Day, and subscribe so you don't miss our next episode.

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

We dive into the challenge of keeping Christ at the center during busy seasons like May, offering practical ways to stay spiritually grounded when life feels chaotic.

• Abiding in Christ means staying connected to the vine, not trying harder or doing more
• Protect one sacred family rhythm weekly (Sunday dinner, screen-free evening, family devotions)
• Model what matters - let your kids catch you reading scripture and praying
• Set guardrails around extracurriculars to prevent them from displacing spiritual priorities
• Don't sacrifice Sunday worship when possible - find creative alternatives when traveling
• Limit weekly commitments to protect family margin and rest
• Teach kids that "no" is a complete sentence - following Christ sometimes means choosing Him over popularity
• Remember discipleship isn't about performance but presence - God isn't grading you, He's inviting you

Pick one moment in your daily routine and invite Jesus into it. Watch how He multiplies that small offering in your family life.

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

We continue our series on responding to cultural challenges biblically, focusing on raising kids to be salt and light in today's world.

• Only 4% of Gen Z holds a biblical worldview
• Christians are called to represent, not retreat
• Daniel provides an excellent biblical example of standing firm in a pagan culture
• Normalizing faith conversations at home builds a foundation for biblical thinking
• Starting conversations can be awkward but perseverance is essential
• Using media as conversation starters helps identify worldview messages
• Role-playing cultural scenarios prepares children for real-world encounters
• Parents must teach truth boldly and early to beat cultural influences
• Fuller Youth Institute research shows kids whose parents regularly discuss faith are 5x more likely to stay rooted in Christ
• "A sheltered faith is a shallow faith, and a tested faith becomes a trusted faith" - Sean McDowell
• The Truth-Impact-Mission framework helps evaluate cultural messages
• Building biblical thinking is an ongoing process, not a one-time conversation

Share this episode with parents who might find it helpful and subscribe so you don't miss our next episode on keeping Christ at the center during busy seasons. Send us your questions at podcast@waynechristian.org.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Raising Kingdom Kids by Tony Evans https://amzn.to/4jnWITB
• Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul Tripp https://amzn.to/4iAMPRx

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

We explore the challenges and opportunities of family devotions with missionary and youth ministry coach Chad Harwell, who shares practical insights for parents seeking to disciple their children at home. Chad offers a refreshingly honest perspective on spiritual leadership, emphasizing that parents don't need to be Bible experts to lead effectively.

• Scripture in Deuteronomy 6 as the foundation for family discipleship
• The impact of having a 3-year-old daughter who reminded Chad to have devotions
• Why it's never too late to start, regardless of your children's ages
• Simple strategies for overcoming feelings of inadequacy when leading devotions
• Practical tools and resources like YouVersion, Word of Life Quiet Time, and Axis
• The power of asking "What did God show you today?" to start spiritual conversations
• How family devotions evolve as children grow from parent-led to ownership of faith
• The importance of empowering older children to help lead younger siblings
• Finding time for devotions amid busy schedules by prioritizing what matters most
• Keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus even when days don't go as planned

Choose something you heard today and take a small step toward leading your family spiritually. We'd love to hear how it goes! Email us at podcast@waynechristian.org with your questions or experiences.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• WOL.org
• Physical Quiet Time book available at https://wolstore.org/ and online version at https://www.quiettime.life/
• Axis.org

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

We explore how Christian parents can equip their children to engage culture with biblical boldness instead of retreating from it or conforming to it.

• Review of three cultural engagement options: isolation/retreat, conformity/compromise, or biblical boldness
• Example of Jesus with the woman at the well—engaging in conversation while standing firm in truth
• Paul's approach in Athens—using culture as a bridge to the gospel without compromising beliefs
• The early church's model of speaking truth with grace even under persecution
• Four practical steps for parents: teaching biblical discernment, sharing truth with grace, normalizing faith conversations, and modeling bold faith
• Resources for staying informed: The Briefing podcast, Axis.org, and the Colson Center

Share this episode with other parents who might find it helpful, and please rate our podcast if you've found it valuable. Reach out with questions or episode ideas at podcast@waynechristian.org.

Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org

Cultural influences constantly bombard our children with messages contradicting biblical truth, creating a critical need for parents to develop a biblical framework for addressing challenging issues.

• Only 4% of Gen Z holds a biblical worldview, reflecting a discipleship crisis
• Even within church leadership, only 37% of pastors maintain biblical worldviews, with youth pastors at just 12%
• Moral relativism promotes the false idea that "truth is whatever you want it to be"
• The deconstruction movement often tears down faith without rebuilding on biblical foundations
• Three possible responses to culture: retreat/isolation, conformity, or biblical engagement
• Jesus demonstrates biblical cultural engagement through His interaction with the Samaritan woman
• Effective engagement means asking questions, showing compassion, and speaking truth in love

Please share this episode with other parents who might find it helpful, subscribe so you don't miss part two of this discussion, and leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Resources:

• The Gathering Strom: Secularism, Culture, and the Church by Al Mohler https://amzn.to/4j7Sgbg
• A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by: John Stonestreet https://amzn.to/4i1eJ8S
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Send any questions you want answered to podcast@waynechristian.org

This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org